Serbia where is that country. Holidays in the resorts of serbia

18.10.2021

Basic moments

The kindness and hospitality of the Serbs is one of the main features of the country. The protracted military conflict at the end of the 20th century taught the Serbian people to love and respect all living things, to look to the future with optimism. European tourists are attracted to this amazing country not by the chic and luxury of tourist services, but by the cleanest air, virgin nature and human, not commercial, relationships between people. Serbia has a unique culture dating back to the times of the Byzantine Empire. This is the homeland of world-famous scientists: the inventor Nikola Tesla, the naturalist Josif Pancic, the geographer Jovan Tsviich, the mathematician Mikhailo Petrovich, the astronomer Milyutin Milankovich, the chemist Pavle Savich. In the last century alone, the country has given the world the beloved film director Emir Kusturica, poet Milorad Pavic, singer and composer Djorzhde Maryanovich and many other outstanding personalities. It was Serbia that had a strong influence on the development of modern painting and sculpture, and was nominated for the title of European Capital of Culture 2020.

In recent years, tourism has been actively developing in Serbia, and there are many reasons for this: bright national traditions, a large number of interesting places, wonderful health resorts, friendly people. And, importantly, all this at very loyal prices: not too inferior in level to other European states, Serbia will delight guests with a low cost of accommodation, food and shopping.

Serbia cities

All cities in Serbia

Climate

Serbia has an area of 88,407 km², and for a small country that ranks 111th in the world in terms of size, its climate is extremely diverse. It is determined by the relief: in the north of the country is the Middle Danube lowland with huge fertile plains, the central part is characterized by hilly terrain, and the East Serbian mountains rise in the southeast. The warm seas - Black, Aegean and Adriatic, washing the shores of the Balkan Peninsula have a huge impact on the weather in Serbia. As a result, a continental climate prevails in the north of the country, a temperate continental climate in the center and south, and a mountainous climate in the mountains.

Life strictly according to the calendar is a distinctive feature of the climate in Serbia. Every three months corresponds to a different season. But, unlike in Russia, there are no strong snowstorms in winter, frosts are moderate, easily tolerated without wind. There is a lot of snow here, so ski resorts are able to offer excellent tracks during the season.

In spring, the weather in Serbia is changeable: from +15 degrees in the sun to -5 in frost. The real warmth returns at the beginning of April. Fields, gardens and forests are blooming all over the country at this time, so it makes sense for lovers of natural beauty to come to Serbia in mid-late spring.

Summer heat comes in August. Abundant rains at this time of the year are short-lived, and gloomy cloudy weather never lasts all day.

Winters in Serbia are usually short (no more than 2 months) and mild, but quite snowy. The average air temperature during this period is approximately 0 ... + 5 ° C. Summer is long and hot (+ 28… + 30 ° C). Most rainfall occurs in May and June.

The mild Serbian winters are often marred by piercing cold winds, which even have their own names:

Koshava - cold wind blowing from October to April in the north of the country and bringing with it freezing rains and snowstorms;
Severac - north wind from Hungary;
Moravac is a cold north wind in the Morava river valley.

Nature

In the north of the country, on the territory of the Middle Danube Lowland (or the Pannonian Plain, as it is called in Hungary) is the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina. Today there are almost no forests here. The land of Vojvodina is very fertile and is actively used for agricultural crops of corn, wheat, vegetables and, of course, sunflowers. A blooming field of sunflowers in beauty can compete with the most spectacular landscapes that only exist on the planet Earth!

Serbia ranks second in Europe, after Hungary, in terms of the number of rivers and lakes. The largest and most majestic among the Serbian rivers, of course, is the Danube, which forms many bays, oxbows, swamps and a magnificent one, the narrowest part of which is often called the "iron gate". consists of four gorges and three basins. In some places, sheer cliffs rise 300 meters above the Danube waters. Here the river abounds in numerous pools up to 90 meters deep. On the territory of the Djerdap Gorge, there is a national park of the same name, the pride of which is the numerous relict plants that have long disappeared in most of Europe.

The southern part of western and eastern Serbia is mountainous. There are 4 mountain systems on the territory of the country: the Dinaric Highlands, the Balkan Mountains, the East Serbian Mountains and part of the Rila-Rhodope system. The height of 15 mountains in Serbia exceeds 2000 meters. The highest point is considered to be Djeravitsa with a height of 2656 meters. In the mountains of Serbia, endless oak forests, beech and linden forests have found refuge.

Population and language

Serbia is home to about 7 million people. The majority of the population are Serbs, the second largest are Hungarians. The bright national mosaic is complemented by Bulgarians, Albanians, Bosnians, Slovaks, Gypsies, Macedonians, Romanians.

The official language is Serbian, but twelve regional languages are actively used along with it. Most of the inhabitants of Serbia profess Christianity of various confessions, most of all here are Orthodox, which somewhat makes local traditions and culture similar to Russia.

History

The historical roots of Serbia date back to the 6th century. The settlement of the ancient Slavs in the Balkan Peninsula marked the emergence of the first proto-state formations. By the end of the 9th century, the main principalities were formed here: Duklia, Travunia, Pagania, Zahumye, Serbia.

The first known ruler of these lands is considered to be Prince Vysheslav, who lived in the 8th century. His descendant Vlastimir freed the Balkan Slavs from the rule of the Byzantine Empire, after which the Serbian state expanded to almost the entire peninsula. The power gaining power entered into confrontation with its largest neighbor - the Bulgarian kingdom - alternately losing and then recapturing lands. After the conclusion of peace with Bulgaria, princely wars for the primacy of power began in Serbia.

The era of the Middle Ages is considered the heyday of the Serbian state, which became possible thanks to the wise rule of Stefan Dusan, who lived in the middle of the 14th century.

The battle on the Kosovo field is considered a tragic turn in the history of the country. After an unsuccessful battle in 1389, Serbia was forced to recognize the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire, becoming its vassal, and from 1459 it was ruled by the Turks for 350 years.

The wave of national uprisings that swept in 1804-1813 made it possible to make a breakthrough towards liberation. On July 13, 1878, Serbia gained independence under the terms of the Berlin Peace. After 4 years, the state proclaimed itself a kingdom and existed in this format until the occupation by German troops in 1941. In 1945, a new entity appeared on the political map of Europe - the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. It included the People's Republic of Serbia, which was renamed the Socialist Republic of Serbia in 1963.

The decline of socialism here was accompanied by interethnic confrontations, which led to a large-scale bloody war. In 2000, NATO was forced to use aerial bombardment, and the UN Security Council decided to send peacekeeping troops to Kosovo. Massive destruction of houses, the flow of refugees, the loss of unique monuments of church architecture - this is not a complete list of what modern Serbs have faced.

After the collapse of Yugoslavia in 2003, a union of two states - Serbia and Montenegro was formed, which existed for only 3 years. The Serbian people came up with an initiative to reform the state system, as a result of which, on June 5, 2006, Serbia became a separate full-fledged state, and a new Constitution was adopted. Pro-European democratic forces came to power, leading the process of rebuilding Serbia. This made it possible to bring the country out of international isolation in order to establish good-neighborly relations, including with Kosovo.

Attractions and tourism in Serbia

Tourism in Serbia is at the stage of development, however, this country can already pleasantly surprise and delight guests. Unique monastery buildings, fortresses, mansions, ski and balneological resorts, national parks and unique nature reserves await vacationers all year round.

The Serbian capital has absorbed the historical spirit of different eras, combining Western and Eastern culture. The city was destroyed almost forty times, but it was successfully rebuilt again and again, which affected the appearance of modern buildings.

The old part is located next to the fortress. It is called that - Stari-Grad. On the local streets you can see many sights and places for recreation - cozy restaurants, coffee shops, pastry shops. The guests are especially interested in the rich expositions of the National Museum, located on Republic Square. If you are looking for shops selling souvenirs, look for them in the Skadarlie quarter and near the Ada Siganlija park - these are great places to walk. There are also religious attractions in this part of the capital of Serbia - the majestic temple of St. Sava and the only surviving mosque, Bayrakly-Jami.

Modern buildings, wide boulevards, spacious streets, alleys and recreation parks - all this tourists will find in the new part of the city, located to the south of the fortress. The area's key attractions include the Museum of the Revolution, the Allied Executive Veche, the tomb and former residence of Marshal Tito.

History buffs can be advised to go to the surroundings to see with their own eyes the largest flat outpost in Europe, the Brankovic Fortress.

- This is the financial and spiritual center of Serbia, not in vain called "Serbian Athens". The city became the nucleus of the formation of the national culture, since for several centuries it was here that the Metropolitanate of the Serbian Orthodox Church was located.

Tourists are attracted by walking tours around the local area. During the walk, with or without a guide, you can see the Petrovaradin Fortress, the Serbian National Theater, the Danube Park, Freedom Square, an Orthodox church and a church.

In the suburban area is the Fruska Gora National Park, one of the Seven Wonders of Serbia. This amazing reserve is home to over 1,500 protected plant species.

Another treasure of these places is hidden in dense deciduous forests. The complex of medieval monasteries "Holy Mountain", among which the most famous are Hopovo, Velika Remeta, Grgetek, annually receives a large number of pilgrims.

Souls are not the only cures in this paradise. Nearby is the Banja Vrdnik spa, which specializes in rheumatic diseases, soft tissue injuries, peripheral paralysis and common back pain. The team of specialists uses advanced technologies, including cryotherapy, magnetotherapy, kinesitherapy, acupuncture.

Subotica is the gastronomic capital of Serbia. The mixing of the national cuisines of Serbs, Hungarians and Croats has led to the emergence of incredibly tasty dishes. Paprikash is considered the visiting card of the city. Made from pork, chicken or fish, it contains an irreplaceable ingredient - paprika. Such a culinary masterpiece will be served to a guest in any restaurant and cafe.

In addition, Subotica is famous for its defensive fortress. Once the city was the outskirts of the Ottoman Empire, and later was part of the Austro-Hungarian lands, so the fortified border outposts here are really impressive.

The urban landscape is varied and colorful: buildings with undulating patterns, wide facades and rounded lines are ubiquitous in Subotica.

The City Hall is an exemplary example of the local architectural style. Today, there is an extensive exposition of the Historical Museum, and an excellent observation deck awaits tourists at the top, where you can see a vivid panorama of Subotica and its environs.

The oldest architectural monument of the city is the Franciscan monastery, which survived two world wars and the NATO bombing. This Catholic shrine was erected on the site of an old fortress in the 18th century. On its territory there is a chapel and a church in honor of the Archangel Michael, crowned with two towers. The altar of the monastery is decorated with the image of the Black Madonna.

People come to Subotica to get to Lake Palić. Its width is 4.2 thousand km², but its depth does not exceed 2 meters. The mineral water and mud of the lake have medicinal properties and have a positive effect on the skin and joints. For the convenience of vacationers along the coast there are cafes, bike paths, a picturesque park.

Is a ski resort in Serbia located in the south of. The subalpine climate allows you to enjoy the beauty of the mountains regardless of the season.

Thanks to the developed tourist infrastructure and ski slopes of various difficulty levels, the resort quickly won the love of travelers and began to compete with many European mountain complexes. What will pleasantly surprise guests: the prices for the services offered here are much lower than the European average.

The ski season lasts from November to May, the snow cover persists 160 days a year. The average air temperature is from -1 to -3 ° С during the day, from -8 to -15 ° С at night. Special lifts take tourists to the peaks, where you can get the necessary equipment for rent. There are special slopes for children, a large 20-kilometer track for flat skiing. Lovers of winter romance can ride along the illuminated track "Malo Ezero".

In summer, there is also something to see: the mountains are mesmerizing with dense forests, green meadows and flower meadows. Healing springs gush in the shady thickets, and recreation centers are located next to them.

All sights of Serbia

Serbian national cuisine

Local cuisine has absorbed the best from neighbors and conquerors. In fact, it is a mixture of Eastern European traditions with Turkish-Arabic ones.

Serbs are avid meat eaters. Deliciously cooked pork is served in all restaurants, while roasted lamb is more popular in the eastern regions of the country. Traditionally, meat in Serbia is used to prepare chops, chopped sausages, small kebabs, meat fried in a cauldron, and dried hams. Gourmets will definitely like the cold cuts, which consists of fried liver, pork cutlets, meatballs with onions and sausages. Mustard or cream is served as a sauce for meat.

Dairy products are not inferior in culinary demand, the main of which is kaymak - heavy cream similar to processed cheese. Also, not a single breakfast of local residents begins without feta cheese.

Vegetables are an integral part of the Serb diet. They are on the table, whether it's breakfast or dinner. Coarsely chopped salads and seasoned with vegetable oil are prepared from them. In addition, vegetables are stuffed, cooked in the oven and over an open fire. Sweet red pepper occupies a special place in the national cuisine, which is the basis of such characteristic dishes as paprikash, ayvar and pindzhur.

For dessert in Serbia, you will be served well-known Turkish delicacies: baklava, tulumba, datla, burek, drizzled with syrup. But vanilla buns, pita breads with apples, manniks are considered natively Serbian.

Of the strong drinks, Serbs prefer local wines, moonshine made from grapes, "rakia" on herbs, from plums, pears, and quince.

It is forbidden to grow genetically modified foods throughout the country, so feel free to enjoy the taste of natural vegetables and meat!

Accommodation

Serbia is very actively developing in terms of tourism, so you can easily find 3-4 star hotels and hotels in any large city. In the capital, representatives of world chains - Holiday Inn, Continental and others - offer their highest service to clients. You can book a room using the hotellook service, which will select the most profitable option for you. The cost of living in a double room ranges from 40 to 400 €.

Hostels are very popular among tourists - there are really a lot of them, for every wallet. Serbia's hostels are the cheapest in Europe, the price per bed in them varies from 7 to 15 €. The private rent of apartments, rooms and even beds is not inferior to the position: arriving in the city, you will already at the station see both boards with themed announcements and the Serbs themselves offering accommodation for guests.

Vrnjachka Banya

Thanks to its health and wellness resorts, Serbia has been called the “oasis of health in Europe”. More than 20 health centers operate in the country, offering services for the prevention, rehabilitation and treatment of various diseases with the help of mud, mineral water and the cleanest air.

Vrnjačka Banja specializes in the treatment and rehabilitation of diabetes and diseases of the digestive system;
Soko Banya - on the fight against non-specific lung diseases;
Nishka Banya was created for the treatment of cardiac and rheumatic diseases.
Many mountainous regions in Serbia are climatic centers: Zlatar, Zlatibor and Divchibar.

Lovers of winter sports prefer ski resorts located on the longest mountain range in Serbia, as well as the resort of Brezovica, located on the highest mountain range in Serbia, Shar Planina.

The best rest in the bosom of nature can be offered by the unique national parks of Serbia:

Tara;
Goliya.

A real rarity of nature of global importance is Javol-Varosh ("Devil's City"), which consists of bizarre earthen pyramids.

Fans of the famous film director Emir Kusturica should visit the ethnographic village he created on the top of the Mechavnik mountain. All streets are named after figures from the cinema, for example Federico Fellini Square. Emir Kusturica also became the founder of the international auteur cinema festival Küstendorf film festival in Drvengrad.

Located in the center of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders in the north with Croatia and Hungary, in the west with Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the northeast with Romania, in the east with Bulgaria, in the south with Albania and Macedonia, in the southwest with Montenegro.

The name comes from the ethnonym Serbs (people of the South Slavic tribe).

General information about Serbia

Official name: Republic of Serbia

Capital:

The area of the land: Of 88,361 sq. Km

Total population: 10.8 million people

Administrative division: Serbia includes 2 autonomous regions: Vojvodina and Metohija. The status of Kosovo (also nominally part of Serbia) has not been finalized.

Form of government: Republic.

Head of State: The president.

Population composition: 62% - Serbs, Albanians - 17%. Montenegrins (5%), Hungarians (3%) and a number of national minorities also live in Serbia.

Official language: Serbian. Vojvodina also speaks Hungarian, Slovak, Croatian, Romanian and Ruthenian. In Kosovo and Metohija, the official ones are Serbian and Albanian.

Religion: 90% are Orthodox, 5% are Muslims, 4% are Catholics and representatives of other confessions.

Internet domain: .rs

Mains voltage: ~ 230 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +381

Country barcode: 860

Climate

In Serbia - temperate continental, on the Adriatic coast - Mediterranean. In the central regions of the country it is always somewhat cooler than on the coast, and the influence of subalpine factors is more noticeable. In the seaside region, summer is usually long, hot (+ 23-25 C) and rather dry, winter is short and cool (+ 3-7 C). In mountainous regions, the summer is moderately warm (+ 19-25 C) and relatively cold (from +5 to -10 C), abundant in snow, winter. Precipitation falls from 500 to 1500 mm per year, mainly in the form of rain, in the mountains near the sea coast in some places it falls over 3000 mm.

Geography

State on the Balkan Peninsula, one of the republics of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It borders Hungary in the north, Romania and Bulgaria in the east, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Montenegro in the south, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina in the west, and Kosovo in the southwest.

The area of the country is 88.3 thousand km² (including the territory of Kosovo, whose area is 13 thousand km²).

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

Species-rich natural vegetation, predominantly of a transitional type from Mediterranean to Central European, has been preserved in the underdeveloped inland mountain areas. There is also a large number of endemic plant species, including the remains of the Tertiary flora. Lowlands, hilly hills and convenient plots in the foothills are almost everywhere plowed up, occupied by cultivated vegetation with crops of grain, industrial and other crops, orchards and vineyards.

The forests of Serbia are dominated by deciduous trees, especially oak and beech, which are most used for industrial purposes. In the uppermost layers of mountains (above 1700-1800 m above sea level), shrubs predominate.

Animal world

Thanks to the forests in the country, the natural fauna has been preserved, although not as rich as a century two centuries ago, but still more numerous and diverse than in most other European countries. Large animals are found in mountain-forest regions: brown bears, lynxes, wild boars, wolves, deer, fallow deer, chamois, wild goats, hares, ground squirrels, field mice on the steppe plains; jackals are found on the coast, turtles, snakes, and lizards are found in karst areas. The bird world is very diverse.

Serbia is still relatively rich in freshwater fish that are found in the Danube and its tributaries and in mountain lakes.

Fishing and hunting, which have almost disappeared in many European countries, are a significant sector of the economy in Serbia.

sights

Many historical and cultural monuments have been preserved on the territory of Serbia, and most of them, despite the numerous wars that swept through this land, are in excellent condition. Hundreds of medieval monasteries and ancient cities, dozens of balneological resorts, unique natural complexes of the southern part of the Balkans, tens of kilometers of beaches on the Montenegrin Riviera, good-natured and friendly people - this is not a complete list of the advantages of this country.

Banks and currency

The official currency of Serbia is the dinar (international designation - RSD), equal to 100 pairs. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 5000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 dinars, coins of 10, 20, 5, 2 and 1 dinars, as well as 50 pairs. At the same time, banknotes in denominations of 10, 50, 200, 1000 and 5000 dinars were issued in two versions, and in denominations of 100 dinars - in three. The dinar exchange rate is pegged to the euro.

In Kosovo, only the euro (EUR) is used. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros, coins of 2 and 1 euros, as well as 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent.

Exchange offices of Halyk Bank work from Monday to Friday from 7.00-8.00 to 15.00-16.00 (sometimes with a lunch break), commercial banks are open from Monday to Thursday from 08.00 to 13.00-15.00, on Fridays - from 08.00 to 13.00, on Saturdays most banks are closed. Montenegrin banks usually work from 08.00 to 19.00, on Saturdays - from 08.00 to 13.00, closed on Sunday. In the center of Belgrade and Podgorica, as well as in the resort areas, many currency exchange offices are open on weekends.

Currency exchange can be done at bank branches, official exchange offices and many licensed exchangers. In Serbia, there are currency exchange machines in public places (train stations, airports). The rate even in nearby exchange offices can differ quite strongly. On the territory of Serbia, exchange operations outside official institutions (commercial banks, exchange offices, etc.) are considered a criminal offense and are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 6 months to 5 years with confiscation of currency. In Montenegro, the punishment for such actions is an administrative fine.

The use of credit cards and traveller's checks is difficult practically throughout the country, with the exception of the capitals and resort areas of Montenegro, where Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and Diners Club, as well as travel checks, are almost universally accepted for payment.

Useful information for tourists

In Serbia, respect for the inhabitants of the countries of the former USSR is quite high. There is practically no language barrier - the Serbian and Croatian languages, although they are very distantly similar to Russian, are nevertheless united in their linguistic basis, there is also a large number of people who know Russian “from the old times”. Although English is used almost everywhere in the resort business, it is extremely unpopular for political reasons.

Most of the country's inhabitants are heavy smokers. Even in transport and in public places you can constantly find smokers.

Taking pictures is allowed only in places where there is no prohibition sign (crossed-out camera). It is not allowed to photograph objects of transport infrastructure and energy, port facilities and military facilities.

Tipping in restaurants is generally 5% of the bill.

Belgrade. Serbia.

- the capital of Serbia, located "On the banks of one of the four rivers of paradise", or rather, where the Sava River flows into the Danube.
Belgrade was founded by the Celts in the 4th-3rd centuries. BC, the settlement was called Singidunum, which means "hill". The city still retains its uneven relief, and it is often, like Rome, called the city on the seven hills. In 33 BC. the settlement was conquered by the Romans and a white-stone fortress was erected. In the 7th century, the Slavs appeared, then the name White City was first heard, some sources associate it with the color of the fortress walls, but this can also mean the city of the north wind. In the XI-XII centuries. Belgrade was part of Byzantium, and since 1284 - Serbia.
In 1521 the city was captured by the Turks, the Ottoman period began, which lasted until 1867, with a short break (1718-1739), when Belgrade was part of Austria. In the 17th century, Belgrade was considered the most important city under the rule of the Sultan in Europe, with the exception of Constantinople. In 1806 Belgrade was liberated from Turkish influence, but from 1813 to 1830. the city again fell under the rule of the Ottomans, in 1830 Belgorod became the capital of the Serbian principality, but the fortress in the center of the city remained Turkish until 1867.
Since 1918, Belgrade has become the capital of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, and then since 1929 - Yugoslavia.
In the 1920s, Belgrade was the center of Russian emigration, our countries were linked by a common Christian religion and constant Russian-Slavic relations. According to the "Sovereign Committee", there were about 10 thousand Russians in Belgrade, mainly of intellectual professions. Russian architects left a big mark in the city, for example, the old royal palace in Dedin was erected according to the project of a Russian architect.
During the Second World War, Belgrade was occupied by German troops, after the liberation and the end of the war, the city turned into a large industrial center.
After the collapse of Yugoslavia, in 1992 Serbia and Montenegro founded their own state with the capital in Belgrade, which disintegrated in 2006.
In 1999, Belgrade was bombed by NATO during the Kosovo War.
"In 78 days of air raids on Belgrade and other cities in Serbia, more explosives were detonated than were detonated in Hiroshima at the end of World War II."
In 1876, after the massacre of the Serbian population by the Turks, Victor Hugo published an article “For Serbia”: “People are being killed. Where? In Europe. Are there any witnesses to this act? One: the whole world. Do European governments see it? No". The article, written over a hundred years ago, has not lost its relevance at that time.
During these years, Serbia was in international isolation, there were numerous sanctions against it, and many countries were hostile.

Belgrade is now the capital of Serbia, the city's population is 1.2 million inhabitants.

The historic center is located on the banks of the Sava River.
But before talking about 10 must-see places in Belgrade, let us recall the words of "the most famous writer of the most hated people" Milorad Pavic, in the book "Biography of Belgrade" he writes:
“Anyone who has come to know and love this city today knows and loves it not at all because you can see or touch it with your hand. Not a trace remains of the larger and, perhaps, the most beautiful part of Belgrade, we will never be able to look at it, we will not be able to photograph it or touch it. But history also belongs to another, disappeared part, one that does not lend itself to reconstruction, one that is stored not in the world around us, but in our soul. "

Belgrade. Serbia.

- the core of the old city and the main attraction of Belgrade.

Kalemegdan. Belgrade. Serbia.

Name comes from Turkish: "kale" - "city, fortress" and "megdan" - "battlefield". Turks also called Kalemegdan "Fichir-bair", which means "a hill for reflection".
The Belgrade Fortress rises where the Sava River merges with the Danube. Currently, the fortress is a museum complex of the history of Belgrade, which includes the Upper Town, the Lower Town and the Kalemegdan Park.

The fortress existed in the days of the ancient Romans, when the camp of two legions was located here. And nearby there was a settlement of traders and artisans.
The fortress was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.
At the beginning of the 15th century, under the despot Stefan Lazarevich, Belgrade became the capital of Serbia, and the fortress was additionally fortified, a new palace and a military harbor were built. The despot himself collected a rich collection of books in his house, which formed the basis of the first Belgrade library.
At this time, Belgrade turned into an economic and cultural center, with developed trade and crafts.
The appearance of the city has also changed, now it consisted of two parts - a fortress and a lower city, lying on the banks of the Danube and Sava rivers.
The fortress is located in the upper part, there is a park adjacent to it, which became such in the second half of the 19th century, when the Turks left Serbia for good.
The remains of the palace of despot Stefan Lazarevich, the clock tower erected in 174-89, the Turbe (tomb) of Damad-Ali-Pasha, built in 1738, a Roman well 60 meters deep, as well as the "Winner!" Monument erected in honor of despot Stefan Lazarevich, Ruzica Churches and Holy Heel Chapel.
In the lower part there was a settlement, which Stefan Lazarevich surrounded with a wall.
Here are the remains of the Metropolitan Palace, the Metropolitan Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, the gate of Charles VI, built in 1736 in the Baroque style; gunpowder store 1789-1720; Nebojsa tower, which was the tallest medieval tower, built around 1460.
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located in the northeastern part of the Belgrade fortress. The first church on this site was erected at the beginning of the 15th century, but the Turks destroyed it during the capture of Belgrade in 1521. The current building of the church dates back to 1867-69. At the entrance to Ruzica (rose) there are two statues - Tsar Stefan Dušan and a Serbian soldier from the First World War.

Monument "Winner!" Belgrade.

2. Knez Mihailova Street

Knyaz Mihailo Street is the main pedestrian street in Belgrade and one of the oldest corners of the city, which got its appearance at the end of the 19th century. There are numerous restaurants, bars and shops of well-known brands along the street (shoppers should be noted).

Knyaz Michael Street. Belgrade. Serbia.

Knyaz Michael Street acquired its modern look in 1867.
Until the 1950s, the houses of the wealthy and noble families of Belgrade were located here.
In the house number 7 there is a kafana (tavern) "Russian Tsar", the building was erected in 1922-26. The upper floors were intended for residential premises, below - office buildings, and on the ground floor - a restaurant. Unfortunately, the original interior of the kafana was destroyed in the 1960s.
The magnificent Art Nouveau passage of Nikola Spasich occupies house number 19.
House No. 35 houses the building of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, built in 1923-1924. in an academic style. A pyramid is installed in front of the academy, on four sides of which latitude and longitude are indicated, as well as the height and acceleration of gravity at a given point.
In the house 53-55 there is a gallery of the Academy, founded in 1937. In the late XIX - early XX centuries. the house belonged to Marko Stojanovic, vice-governor of the National Bank and a well-known amateur photographer. Marko Stojanovic was the first in Belgrade to use a typewriter with Cyrillic letters.
As a photographer, Stojanovic left a series of photographs about the life of Belgrade at the turn of the century, which are kept in the archives of the National Bank.
The house number 56 houses the hotel "Srpska Kruna", built in 1869 in the style of romanticism. Now the city library of Belgrade is located here.

3. Temple of St. Sava

Temple of Saint Sava is one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. Its history began in 1894, when it was decided to build a church on the site of the burning in 1594 by the Turks of the most revered Saint Sava in Serbia.
After numerous competitions, the construction of the temple began in 1935; in 1939, Patriarch Gabriel consecrated the altar. The Second World War stopped the work, which continued only in 1986. Three years later, the dome was completed, and the interior decoration of the temple continues to this day.
The area of the temple of St. Sava is almost 17,000 square meters. The interior will be in Byzantine style.

4. Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel

The first mentions of Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel belong to the XVI century. After the Turks destroyed the temple at the beginning of the 18th century, it was rebuilt with voluntary donations. In 1836, the cathedral was demolished and the next year a new building was erected by order of Prince Milos Obrenovic. The facade of the church is made in the style of classicism, the bell tower is an example of the late baroque.
The Serbian princes Milos and Mikhail Obrenovici, St. Prince Stefan Shtilyanovich, Metropolitan Michael, Metropolitan and Partiarch Innokenty and Patriarch Gabriel.
Opposite is the building of the Patriarchate.

Patriarchy. Belgrade. Serbia.

5. Kafana "Question mark"

At the intersection with Kralja Petra Street is the oldest Belgrade kafana "Question mark", the sign just depicts a question mark "?".
Kafana is a restaurant specializing in Serbian cuisine. Legend has it that the owner of the kafana could not remember what name he decided to give the establishment, while the artist was already waiting with a brush to place it on the sign. Tired of waiting, he drew a question mark and told the owner to call him when he remembered the name.

Kafana "Question mark". Belgrade.

6. Konak Kneginja Lubice

Konak Kneginja Lubice - the palace of Princess Lubica, the wife of Prince Miloš Obrenovic and their sons, is located on the street of Prince Sim Markovic at house no. 8.. The building was erected in 1829-1830. as the official princely residence designed by the architect Hadji-Nikola Zhivkovich. The palace is a typical example of urban architecture of the first half of the 19th century and belongs to the Serbo-Balkan style.
Lyubica was known as a strict and independent woman, her influence on Serbian politics was very strong, quite often her views diverged from those of her husband. In 1842, supporters of the Karageorgievichs revolted, and representatives of the Obrenovich family were forced to flee abroad. On May 26, 1843, Ljubica Obrenovic died in Vienna. She is buried in the Krushedol monastery on Fruska Gora.
In 1842, with the coming to power of Alexander Karageorgievich, the building served as a lyceum, then a court of cassation and appeal, an art museum, a church museum, a nursing home, an institute for the protection of cultural monuments of Serbia and is currently part of the City Museum.

Princess Lyubitsa. Belgrade.

7. Skadarlija

Skadarlija- the old quarter of Belgrade, which turned into a bohemian area at the end of the 19th century. It is a small but very picturesque area full of restaurants specializing in Serbian cuisine - kafans. The most famous kafans are “Three hats”, “Two white doves”, “Two deer. They brought together people of art, poets, actors, singers and artists.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Skadarlija was outside the city walls, these lands were chosen by the gypsies and they enjoyed a bad reputation. In 1867, the Turkish army left Belgrade, the city began to expand and modernize in a European manner. The Roma were dispersed, and on the site of their settlement, craftsmen's houses, small offices and kafans were built. In 1872, the district (in fact, one street) received its modern name.

considered one of the symbols of Belgrade, it is dedicated to the apostle and evangelist. The church was designed in the Serbian-Byzantine style by architects Petar and Branko Krstic and was erected from 1931 to 1940, on the site of an earlier construction in 1835.

Inside there is a sarcophagus with the remains of the Serbian ruler Stefan Dusan, who created the Serbian kingdom, as well as the graves of King Alexander and Queen Draga, who were brutally killed in 1903 by conspirators, their death in Serbia ended the rule of the House of Obrenovici.
By the way, Queen Draga defended her husband-king until the last minute.

Here is a description of the murder, written in the early 20th century: “... they struck the King with six shots from a revolver and 40 blows of a saber, and the Queen with 63 blows of a saber and two revolving bullets. The Queen was almost completely chopped off, her chest was cut off, her stomach was opened, her cheeks, her arms were also cut, especially large cuts between the fingers - the Queen probably grabbed the saber with her hands when she was killed, which apparently refutes the doctors' opinion that she was killed immediately. In addition, her body was covered with numerous bruises from the blows of the heels of the officers who trampled on her. I prefer not to talk about other abuses over Draghi's corpse, to such an extent they are monstrous and disgusting. When the murderers made fun of the defenseless corpses, they threw them through the window into the palace garden, and Draghi's corpse was completely naked "...

Church of St. Mark. Belgrade. Serbia.

9. Grave of Wrangel

Behind the Church of St. Mark is a small one, built by Russian émigrés in 1924 under the leadership of Valery Stashevsky. They laid an inch of Russian soil at the foundation of the church.

Church of the Holy Trinity. Belgrade. Serbia.

Until 1944, the battle banners of Napoleon and Turkish banners brought to Belgrade by White Guard emigrants were kept here, but in 1944, before the arrival of the Soviet army, they disappeared from the temple without a trace.
To the right of the entrance is grave of Peter Nikolaevich Wrangel.
Baron Wrangel died in 1928 in Brussels after a sudden infection with tuberculosis. Although the relatives were sure that Wrangel had been poisoned.
Subsequently, the ashes of Peter Nikolaevich were transferred to Belgrade, where the baron was solemnly reburied on October 6, 1929. He was buried "in a fraternal Slavic Orthodox country" was the desire of the Russian officer himself.
The iconostasis of the temple includes 48 icons painted by Russian émigré artists in the old Novgorod style.

Church of the Holy Trinity and Wrangel's tomb. Belgrade. Serbia.

The destroyed building of Radio and Television of Serbia can be seen from the Church of the Holy Trinity; they did not begin to restore it, leaving it as a reminder of the terrible events that happened on April 23, 1999. Tomahawk cruise missiles bombed the TV station because it allegedly played a key role in the "Belgrade propaganda campaign." 16 employees, who were at their workplaces at that time, were killed, and the Church of the Holy Trinity was also damaged.

Not far from him there is a monument "Zashto?", On which 16 names are engraved.

Monument "Zashto?"

“In 1999, eighteen Western European countries and the United States, NATO members, attacked Yugoslavia. In seventy-eight days of air raids, these new crusaders unleashed more explosives on Belgrade and other cities in Serbia than were detonated in Hiroshima at the end of World War II. Since then, one of the main streets of Belgrade, Milos Velikogo Street, has become unrecognizable. "
Excerpt from the book: Pavich, Milorad. "Biography of Belgrade"

We would like to thank the Ministry of Tourism of Serbia and Luna-Travel (lunatravelserbia.com) for organizing the trip.

Serbia in terms of area (88,361 sq. Km.) Ranks 113th in the world. In the north, Serbia borders Hungary, in the northeast with Romania, in the east with Bulgaria, in the south with the former Yugoslav Macedonia, in the southwest with Albania and Montenegro, in the west with Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The length of its borders is 2,027 km (with Romania 476 km, with Bulgaria 318 km, with Macedonia 221 km, with Montenegro 203 km, with Albania 115 km, with Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km, with Croatia 241 km, with Hungary 151 km). There are 6,167 registered settlements in Serbia, of which 207 are urban types. Arable land occupies 19.194 km2, forests - 19.499 km2 (without Kosovo).

Extreme points - North: 46 ° 11` N. (near Hajdukovo), South: 41 ° 52` N (near Dragash in Kosovo), East: 23 ° 01` E (Senokos, near Dimitrovgrad), Western: 18 ° 51'E (near Bezdan in Vojvodina). 80 percent of Serbia's territory is located on the Balkan Peninsula, 20 percent is occupied by the Pannonian Lowland. The length of the borders is 2,027 km (with Romania - 476 km, with Bulgaria - 318 km, with Macedonia - 221 km, with Montenegro - 203 km, with Albania - 115 km, with Bosnia and Herzegovina - 302 km, with Croatia - 241 km , with Hungary - 151 km).

Plains prevail in the north of Serbia. 15 mountains in Serbia are over 2,000 meters above sea level. There are 4 mountain systems in Serbia. The Dinaric Highlands occupy a large area in the west, stretching from northwest to southeast. Stara Planina and the East Serbian Mountains are in the east, separated from the Dinaric Highlands by the Morava River. In the south there are ancient mountains - part of the Rila-Rhodope system. The highest point in Serbia is Mount Jeravica (2656 meters)

Relief of Serbia

The relief of Serbia is varied. Vojvodina has fertile plains. In the southeast, there are ancient mountains. Central Serbia is dominated by hills and low mountains.

Mountains occupy most of Central Serbia and Kosovo. There are 4 mountain systems in Serbia. The Dinaric Highlands occupy a large area in the west, stretching from northwest to southeast. Stara Planina and the East Serbian Mountains are in the east, separated from the Dinaric Highlands by the Morava River. In the south there are ancient mountains - part of the Rila-Rhodope system. The highest point in Serbia is Mount Jeravica (2656 m)

Inland waters of Serbia

Most of Serbia (81.646 km2, 92.4%) belongs to the Danube basin, which in Serbia is 588 km long. 5% - to the Adriatic Sea basin, 3% - to the Aegean Sea basin. The length of the Danube in Serbia is 588 km; the border with Romania and Croatia runs along it. The main tributaries of the Danube in Serbia are Tisza (flows from the north), Sava (from the west), Drina (from the south, natural border with Bosnia and Herzegovina), Morava (from the south, completely in Serbia).

Statistical indicators of Serbia
(as of 2012)

In addition to the Danube, navigable rivers are Sava (206 km), Tisza (168 km), Begei (75 km), partially navigable - Velika Morava (3 km out of 185 km) and Tamish (3 km out of 101 km). Other major rivers are West Morava (308 km), South Morava (295 km), Ibar (272 km), Drina (220 km) and Timok (202 km). Part of southern Serbia belongs to the basin of the Beli Dream and Radik rivers (4.771 km, 5.4%), which flow into the Adriatic. Basins of the Pchinya rivers. Lepenac and Dragovishtitsa belong to the Aegean Sea basin. A number of artificial canals have also been built in Serbia, which are used for flood protection, irrigation, etc. Their total length is 939.2 km, of which 385.9 km are used for navigation of vessels with a tonnage of up to 1000 tons. The largest canal system is the Danube-Tisza-Danube. The largest lake in Serbia is Lake Djerdap. The largest natural lake is White Lake. The largest island in Serbia is located on the Danube near Kostolca. There are also waterfalls in Serbia, the largest is Jelovarnik (71 meters), it is located in the Kopaonik National Park.

The abundance of relatively unpolluted surface waters and many sources of underground natural mineral waters provide an opportunity for export and economic development. However, the widespread use and production of bottled water began only recently. Serbia has great geothermal potential.

Natural lakes in Serbia are small and rare. Most of them are located in Vojvodina. But there are many reservoirs in Serbia. The largest of them are Djerdap on the Danube, Perucac on the Drina.

Serbia climate

The best time to visit the country is from May to September-October. The tourist season usually starts in April and lasts until November. The sea temperature for seven months ranges from +20 C to +26 C, so the swimming season is equal in duration to the tourist one.

Serbia is located on the Balkan Peninsula, surrounded by warm seas - the Adriatic, Aegean and Black. North of Serbia is the European continent. Another important factor that determines the Serbian climate is relief. Serbia is dominated by a continental climate in the north, temperate continental in the south and a mountainous climate in the mountainous regions. Winters in Serbia are short, cold and snowy, summers are warm. The coldest month is January, the warmest is July. The average temperature is 10.9 ° C. The average annual precipitation is 896 mm. Most of the rain falls in June and May.

The strongest winds are: Kosava (cold and dry wind in the north of the country), Severac (cold and dry north wind), Moravac (cold and dry north wind blowing in the Morava valley), South wind (warm and dry south wind blowing in the valley of the Morava River). Southwestern wind (warm and humid, blowing from the Adriatic, mainly in the West of Serbia).

Flora and fauna of Serbia

The flora and fauna are very rich. Four-fifths of the forest area is deciduous and one-fifth is coniferous forests. Serbia is home to bears, wild boars, wolves, foxes, hares, wild goats, fallow deer, mouflons, lynxes, deer, martens, chamois ... The bird world is also diverse: out of 666 bird species found in Europe, 508 species live in Serbia, and among them are eagles, falcons, pheasants, partridges, wild ducks, marsh snipe and other wading birds. Rivers, lakes, canals, ponds abound in different types of fish: carp, pike perch, sturgeon, catfish, sterlet, pike, trout, mackerel ...

Serbia population

Population - 7.82 million people (in 2008) (in 1991 - 9.79 million people); including: in Central Serbia - 5.82 million, in Vojvodina - 2 million. 52% of the population lives in cities.

During the disintegration of Yugoslavia in 1991-1995, several hundred thousand refugees from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina arrived in Serbia. In 1999, there was a large wave of emigration of Albanians from Kosovo, and in 2000-2001 - emigration of Kosovo Serbs. The population is dominated by Serbs (62 percent) and Albanians (17 percent). Serbia is also home to Montenegrins (5 percent), Hungarians (3 percent) and a number of national minorities. Before the outbreak of hostilities in 1999, Serbs constituted 85 percent of the population of Serbia proper, 54 percent in Vojvodina and 13 percent in Kosovo; Hungarians and Croats are numerous minorities in Vojvodina.

The official language of the country is Serbian. In Vojvodina, Hungarian, Slovak, Croatian, Romanian, Ukrainian and Ruthenian languages are also spoken. In Kosovo and Metohija, the official ones are Serbian and Albanian.

According to the 2002 census, without Kosovo: Orthodox - 6,371,584 people. (85.0% of the population), Catholics - 410 976 people. (5.5% of the population), Muslims - 239 658 people. (3.2%), Protestants - 80,837 people. (1.1% of the population). Jehovah's Witnesses - 3,871 (0.05% of the population) as of 2009

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/