Tackova Fountain

The water is safe for drinking

Tackova Fountain is one of the most recognizable public fountains in Zaječar, erected in 1935, as evidenced by the inscription on the fountain itself: “This fountain was built in 1935 under President Gojko Ničić, and under the supervision of Eng. Jovan Jovanović. Depth: 193 meters.” Like other fountains in Zaječar, it was named after a nearby hospitality establishment—the former Tacko’s tavern and hotel—which once stood in its immediate vicinity. Initially, the fountain was supplied with water from Kraljevica, but later that same year, water from an artesian well began to flow here. In the early 1980s, the water flow significantly decreased, and the issue was resolved by lowering the outflow point approximately 1.5 meters below ground level.

The fountain is situated in a small, landscaped square that has, for decades, been one of the favorite gathering places for the town’s residents, especially young people. During summer evenings and weekends, the area around the fountain becomes a pleasant space for socializing and relaxation, where new acquaintances are formed spontaneously and the spirit of urban life is cultivated. The square is particularly lively during the Gitarijada festival, when it becomes an important meeting point before heading to the event, as well as a place where visitors from different cities come together. This location has also hosted protests, small exhibitions, performances by local musicians, and gatherings of supporters of the football club “Timok 1919“, which is why Tackova Fountain occupies a special place in the city’s urban memory.

An urban legend is also associated with Tackova Fountain: it is said that in the late 1990s, six people over the age of one hundred lived in its immediate surroundings, and according to local stories, they drank exclusively water from this fountain. For this reason, as well as for the place it holds in the collective memory of the citizens, Tackova Fountain remains to this day one of the important symbols of the city’s urban identity.