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Serbia
The Republic of Serbia is a democratic state for all the citizens inhabiting its territory. It is
a landlocked country
in Central and
Southeastern Europe,
covering the
southern part of the
Pannonian Plain and
the central part of
the Balkan
Peninsula.
It is bordered by
Hungary on the
north; Romania and
Bulgaria on the
east; Albania and
Macedonia on the
south; and
Montenegro, Croatia
and Bosnia and
Herzegovina being
its neighbours on
the west.
Serbia covers an
area of 88.361 km2,
with a population of
about 9.800.000.
Serbia has two
autonomous
provinces: Kosovo
and Metohija in the
south and Vojvodina
in the north.
The capital is
Belgrade, which is
also the country’s
largest city. It has
approximately
1.600.000
inhabitants.
Welcome to
Serbia!
Serbia is located in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, on the most important route linking Europe and Asia. It is one of the last undiscovered tourist destinations in Europe, with its bustling cities, beautiful countryside and friendly, passionate people...
For centuries, Serbia’s capital city, Belgrade, has shaped itself on the banks of the Danube and Sava rivers, meandering around its jewel, the Kalemegdan Fortress. It is a city where living with charm and hedonism is a way of life. The city has a range of museums and galleries for those seeking to enjoy a more cultural experience: the Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Museum and the Ethnographic Museum, the Gallery of Frescoes and the Palace of Princess Ljubica. Belgrade boasts some of the greatest nightlife to be found anywhere in Europe. Like the rest of Serbia, Belgrade offers a range of restaurants and hotels which, compared to those in most European cities, offer great value. The city was awarded the accolade “City of the Future for Southern Europe” by the Financial Times, UK.
Novi Sad is the elegant capital of Vojvodina, the northern region of Serbia. The city is known for being a heaven of tranquillity and tolerance. Its architectural jewel is Petrovaradin fortress, which hosts museums and art galleries, and in the summer the hippest of Eastern European summer music festivals, EXIT. UK Festival Awards 2007, together with Yourope, the European Association of the 40 largest festivals in Europe, awarded EXIT as the Best European Festival.
In the vicinity of Novi Sad is Fruska Gora, a national park situated near the banks of the Danube. It contains mountains, fertile valleys, unspoiled rivers, vineyards and orchards, as well as the greatest concentration of linden trees in Europe. Travellers can also visit 17 Orthodox monasteries located within the park that date from the 15th to the 18th centuries and are known for their beautiful sites and interior decoration.
The hill of Oplenac, in the heart of the picturesque Sumadija region, is a foundation of the modern Serbian State. This is where the first rebellion against the Ottoman Empire took place, 200 years ago, when Serbia started building a modern State. Church of Saint George, a unique monument to Serbia’s cultural and historical heritage, stands on its peak. This white marbled five-domed mausoleum of Karadjordjevic dynasty, is decorated with an impressive 15,000 pieces mosaic, depicting biblical scenes copied from medieval frescoes from more than 70 Serbian Orthodox Monasteries. Oplenac is also home to the “Triumph” white wine, once produced exclusively for King Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, based on an original recipe of German winemakers.
Sports lovers will find many possibilities in Serbia. The country’s top ski resort is Kopaonik Mountain, which is also a national park. Kopaonik is famous for its natural beauty and in the summer it is a perfect destination for hikers, mountaineers, bikers and river rafters. Situated in the western part of Serbia, the “golden mountain” of Zlatibor with its cool mountain climate, clean air, long summer days and heavy winter snows, is an ideal getaway in any season.
Nearby is the famed ethno-village of Sirogojno and Drvengrad, creation of world-renowned film director Emir Kusturica. A ride on the Sargan 8 steam engine, which ascends the side of the mountain in a figure-8 pattern, is an enjoyable experience and feat of engineering.
Serbian countryside provides a rich cultural experience reflected in traditional architecture, numerous monasteries and traditional arts and crafts still widely practiced today. Rural Serbia offers popular activities such as hiking, bird-watching, fishing, horseback-riding, and mountaineering.
There are many spas in Serbia that are highly respected for their unique medicinal and vitality programs. The emphasis is placed on treating specific ailments and devising on-going treatments to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul. The most visited spas are Vrnjacka Banja, Sokobanja, Kanjiza, Koviljaca and Zlatibor.
Another unforgettable experience for visitors is cruising down the Danube. Travellers will be enchanted by stunning views of the cities of Novi Sad and Belgrade, the medieval fortresses of Smederevo and Golubac and the Trayan’s tabula marking the spot where the Roman Emperors crossed the Danube.
One of Serbia’s cultural attractions is Lepenski vir, a prehistoric settlement discovered only around 20 years ago that is unique in the Balkan region. It contains a number of monumental stone sculptures carved 6,000 to 7,000 years ago as well as other artefacts, and is an invaluable source of information about the lives of prehistoric Europeans.
The country is also rich with monuments that have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage list of cultural and natural treasures. These are the monasteries of Sopoćani, Studenica, Dečani and Gračanica, the Patriarchate of Peć Monastery, and the Church of the Virgin of Gračanica Ljeviška. Felix Romuliana, in eastern Serbia, is Serbia’s first archaeological site to be inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List.
Wine growing has been common in the region since Roman times. Riesling, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon, Cabernet and Merlot are some of the enchanting varieties grown in Oplenac, Fruska Gora, Vrsac and Palic regions. “Ausbruch” and “Bermet”, the official wines of Austrian and German Courts are still grown in Sremski Karlovci. This is wine making like it used to be – grapes from old family root stock, barrels, bottles, cork – and of course, time. In an age of mass production, sometimes it is good to get back to good old fashioned basics!
Throughout the year visitors can enjoy numerous events which reflect Serbia’s creative force and spiritual wealth. Some of the most popular events are “Dragacevo Trumpet Festival” in Guca, “Homolje Motifs” in Kucevo, “Shepherd Days” in Kosjeric, and the grape-harvesting festivals in Vrsac, Topola, Smerderevo, Aleksandrovac and Sremski Karlovci.
Next year Serbia will proudly host the Eurovision Song Contest and in 2009 the 25th Universiade.
For more information
visit
www.serbia.travel
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