Today I will introduce you to a great website for anyone interested in traveling in Serbia. In fact, Serbia can hardly be considered a popular tourist destination, there is no sea and the service often leaves much to be desired. The number of commercial tours to this country is an order of magnitude, if not two, less than to neighboring Montenegro.

Well, let it be - the more interesting this country is for connoisseurs of authentic recreation and genuine beauty!

If you are planning your trip to Serbia, the portal http://srbija.superodmor.rs/ - a complete online guide to Serbia - will be of great help.

Natural resources

The nature of the country itself is already a unique museum and a collection of natural attractions created over many millennia by powerful natural forces. National parks and reserves overgrown with protected forests, a variety of fauna, clear blue lakes, deep canyons and underground cave systems - after looking at these beauties at least once, you will want to come back here again and again and, without a doubt, will deeply fall in love with the rich nature of this little countries!

For active adventurers

Culture and art

Perhaps the most common type of tourism in Serbia is religious. There are more than 300 monasteries, temples and churches in the country. The famous Studenica, built in the 12th century. Stefan Nemanja, is the cradle of Serbian Orthodoxy. The Milesheva Monastery houses a unique fresco “White Angel” - a masterpiece of world icon painting. Many monuments are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Other cultural attractions include:

Where to stay and what to eat

The Balkans are a suitable region for traveling not only in space, but also in time. Following this, we have prepared a similar guide for Serbia. Where should you go in Serbia to find yourself in a certain era: from the Paleolithic to modern history?

Paleolithic: Risovac Cave

In Risovac Cave ( Pećina Risovača) lived Neolithic hunters. During excavations, archaeologists found in it the remains of both people and prehistoric animals, as well as various tools. Few caves of this kind are open to the public, and this is a rare chance to feel like you're part of the ancient world. The effect is complemented by an installation depicting a family in the daily activities of the time.

Practical information: The cave is located near the town of Arandjelovac, which can be reached from Belgrade by bus in an hour and a half. Open from 9:00 to 17:00 all year round, ticket costs 150 dinars (1.28 €).

Mesolithic: Lepenski Vir

The Djerdap Gorge is worthy of a visit in itself; it is very picturesque. But there is also something to explore: it is in the gorge that the site of the Mesolithic hunters Lepenski Vir is located ( Lepenski vir). Thanks to these excavations, archaeologists have reconstructed various aspects of the life of Mesolithic people: from funeral rituals to the social structure.

Practical information: The most convenient way to get to Lepenski Vir and Djerdap National Park is to rent a car. Alternatively there is a bus to the village of Donji Milanovac plus a local taxi. A ticket to the archaeological center costs 450 dinars ( 3.83 €), and its opening hours vary by month. To immerse yourself in the atmosphere before your trip, take a virtual walk or watch a short documentary about excavations.

Neolithic: Vinča – Belo Brdo

Another place for lovers of primitive sculpture is located very close to Belgrade, in the village of Vinča. Here, on the banks of the Danube, you can see an excavation site with cultural layers from different periods: people have inhabited Vinca since 6000 BC. The exhibition in Vinča includes artifacts from the Vinča culture itself: tools, ceramics and mysterious-looking anthropomorphic sculptures.

P practical information: From Belgrade you can get to Vinci by suburban bus No. 307. The place is open to visitors from April 1 to October 31 (at other times - by agreement). We advise you to come on weekends, as excursions are available on these days. The entrance ticket costs 200 dinars (1.70 €).

Antiquity: Sirmium, Mediana, Felix Romuliana

In the ancient period, Serbia was inhabited by Illyrians, Thracians, Dacians and even Celts, who are considered the founders of Singidunum, that is, Belgrade. Little has survived, but in Sremska Mitrovica, then called Sirmium ( Sirmium), you can see the heritage of the Romans: Sirmium was the imperial residence for several centuries, and the ruins of the palace remain here.

Another option for lovers of antiquity is Nis, also known as the ancient city of Nais ( Naissus). Emperor Constantine the Great was born here, and laterOn his orders, the Villa Mediana was built near Nais ( Medijana), which was preserved and became the center of the archaeological park of the same name. There is ruins of various structures: the villa itself, thermal baths, wine cellar, water tower. Another pride of Median is its antique mosaics.

Practical information: the complex of the imperial palace in Sremska Mitrovica can be visited from 9 to 17, the ticket costs 150 dinars ( 1.28 €). The Mediajana Archaeological Park can be reached on foot in about an hour from the center of Niš or by city bus. The park is open to the public from April 1 to October 31, the ticket costs 150 dinars (1.28 €).

In the east of Serbia, far from large cities and tourist routes, lies another treasure for lovers of Ancient Rome: the Felix Romuliana fortress (Gamzigrad). In addition to the fortifications, the ensemble includes the ruins of a palace, a triumphal arch, a basilica and other objects.

Practical information: the closest major city to Gamzigrad is Zajecar, from where you can get there by shuttle bus. WITH From April 1 to October 31, the complex is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the rest of the time from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. B The ticket costs 300 dinars (2.55 €).

Middle Ages: Stari Ras and monasteries

In the Middle Ages, Slavic peoples came to these lands and the first independent Serbian states appeared: the Principality of Serbia (VIII-X centuries) and the Kingdom of Serbia (XIII-XIV centuries). These states included the south of modern Serbia, as well as the territories of Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Herzegovina. To feel the spirit of the Middle Ages, you can head south to Stari Ras. This fortress was the political center of the state formation of Raska, which later turned into the Kingdom of Serbia. There is also the oldest church in Serbia - Petrova Tsrkva, and the medieval monasteries of Sopocani and Djurdjevi Stupovi.

Stari-Ras

Peter's Church

Sopocani

Djurdjevi step

In general, monasteries are the most characteristic buildings of the Serbian Middle Ages. On the territory of modern Serbia there are the monasteries of Studenica and Milesheva, the second is especially famous for its frescoes - for example, “The White Angel”. Two more legendary monasteries of that era are located on the territory of Kosovo - these are Vysoki Decani and Gracanica. Kosovo is important for understanding the history of Serbia, primarily because of the Battle of Kosovo, where in 1389 the Serbian army suffered a crushing defeat from the Ottoman army.

Studenica

Milesheva

White angel

Visoki Decani

Gracanica

Gazimestan: monument at the site of the Battle of Kosovo

Ottoman rule: Smederevo and Novi Pazar

After the Battle of Kosovo, the fate of the Serbian state was decided, but the Ottomans finally conquered Serbia only in 1459. The site of the tragedy was the fortress in Smederevo, which was the capital and last stronghold of the Serbs. The fortress is massive and impressive, it even withstood several attacks by the Ottoman army. Even now, when walking around the fortress, you can feel the atmosphere of impending threat.

The Ottoman period lasted until the beginning of the 19th century, but traces of it are difficult to find. Most cities underwent de-Ottomanization, and only a few buildings survived: mosques and clock towers. To imagine yourself back in the Ottoman Empire, head to Novi Pazar: the center of the Sandzak region, where Ottoman rule lasted almost a century longer than the rest of Serbia. In Sanjak, Muslims still make up half of the population. Novi Pazar has many mosques, including those from the 16th century, the remains of an Ottoman fortress, a hammam and the traditional house of the nobility, the konak.

Practical information: You can get to Smederevo by bus from Belgrade in just over an hour. A ticket to the fortress costs 120 dinars (1.02 €). You can also take a virtual walk around the fortress. In addition to its own attractions, Novi Pazar is a convenient point for visiting the Stari Ras fortress and surrounding monasteries.

18th century: Vojvodina

The northern part of modern Serbia, the autonomous region of Vojvodina, was already conquered from the Ottomans by the Habsburgs by the 18th century. Therefore, it is worth going to the small towns of Vojvodina - for example, Sombor - to be transported into the atmosphere of the Austrian Baroque. Novi Sad became the Serbian cultural and economic center during this period.

Sombor

Novi Sad

XIX: Nis and Kragujevac

In the 19th century, the struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire led to autonomy and then to the formation of an independent principality. The most impressive evidence of this struggle is Chele-Kula in Niš. The Ottomans built this tower on the skulls of Serbian soldiers who died in the Battle of Cegra during the First Serbian Uprising.

Kragujevac became the capital: the first Serbian independent political and cultural institutions opened here. To immerse yourself in the era, it is worth visiting the Old Parliament building ( Stara Skupshtina) and the house-konak of Prince Milos. The Kragujevac Museum complex also includes the exhibition “City Life in Kragujevac in the Second Half of the 19th Century”, where in the interiors of an old house you can imagine yourself as a resident of the city of that period.

Old Parliament

Old Parliament: inside view

Konak of Prince Milos

Kitchen of an old house

Practical information: a visit to Chele-Kula is included in the ticket to Mediana Park, which costs 150 dinars (1.28 €).A ticket to the Kragujevac Museum costs 100 dinars (0.85 €). The museum is open from 10 to 17 on weekdays, on weekends from 10 to 14. You can only enter the Old Parliament building on Tuesday or Thursday from 10 to 13.

Interwar period: Belgrade

After World War I, Belgrade became the capital of the newly formed Kingdom of Slovenia of Croatia and Serbia, later known as the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The new status required drastic changes, so Belgrade underwent a radical restructuring. If you want to see the pathos of the administrative buildings, go for a walk along the wide streets of the center. An alternative is the outskirts of the time, where residential areas were built en masse: go to Dedinje, Neimar streets or the Professors' Colony to feel the charm of everyday life in interwar Belgrade among cozy mansions of different styles.

World War II: Uzice

Many of the famous Yugoslav modernist monuments of the people's liberation struggle are located in Serbia. For example, near Niš there is a Buban memorial park with monumental sculptures in the form of fists. But the first place to go is Užice, where communist partisans briefly succeeded in founding an independent republic in 1941. There is even a Hostel Republik in Uzice dedicated to this event. Not far from Užice there is also the Kadinjača Memorial Park, dedicated to the tragic battle that put an end to the republic.

Memorial Park Buban

Kadinjac Memorial Park

Kadinjac Memorial Park

Practical information : Bubanj Memorial Park can be reached in an hour's walk from the center of Niš or by city bus. It is more convenient to go to Kadinjaci from Uzhitz by rented car or taxi.

The Age of Socialism: Novi Belgrade

It was planned to build a new, improved version of Belgrade on the other side of the Sava River already in the interwar period, but it only came to fruition after the Second World War. As a result, Novi Belgrade turned into a socialist utopia. Unlike the impersonal Soviet high-rise buildings, the blocks of New Belgrade are very different from each other and sometimes look quite crazy. New Belgrade is also home to the new Museum of Contemporary Art.

“TV” - the building is so called because of the windows

Architecture of Block 23

The house known as "Little Red Riding Hood"

Modern Art Museum

Interesting socialist architecture can also be found in the southwestern part of Belgrade. For example, the Tserak-Vinohrady district is a unique attempt to overcome the shortcomings of socialist urbanism by crossing it with a garden city. Nearby is the Knezevac-Kievo complex, famous for its alien-looking transformer substation.

Cerak-Vinogradi

Knezevac-Kievo, now Vidikovac

Transformer station, Vidikovac

90s and modern times: Belgrade

Serbia did not participate in the wars of the collapse of Yugoslavia, so military operations were not carried out on its territory. However, the situation in Kosovo became increasingly difficult, leading to the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999. Many cities were hit by air strikes, but administrative buildings in Belgrade suffered the most damage. The impressive ruins of the General Staff remained reminders of these tragic events for a long time.

Now most of the damaged buildings, including the General Staff, are being demolished and dismantled. They plan to build hotels and shopping centers in their place. Citizens perceive this as a threat to the city's heritage. Investment projects are also planned in other parts of Belgrade: for example, part of the old Savamala district was demolished for the construction of a huge tower " Beograd on the water", which local residents desperately opposed.

Despite the fact that there is no sea in Serbia, holidays in this country are varied and varied. There are balneological and ski resorts, architectural monuments and amazing nature. Accordingly, the country is attractive for tourism at any time of the year - it all depends on the purpose of the visit.

in winter

Thanks to the mountain ranges in the south of the country and the ski slopes located there, winter time in Serbia is attractive for ski lovers. Winter here is warm but snowy. Temperatures are very comfortable for sports, but sometimes there is heavy snowfall. If you are planning a trip to other regions, then strong, cold winds, constant rains, snowstorms may await you here; winter is still not the best time for European countries, and Serbia is no exception. However, there are also advantages in winter: prices at the balneological resorts of Serbia, which are already quite low compared to other countries, are still falling, and the number of vacationers is decreasing. And during the winter holidays, large cities such as Belgrade and Novi Sad simply transform. In February, a film festival is held in Belgrade.

in spring

The first half of spring in Serbia is still quite cold, windy, and rainy. In March, the ski season ends in the mountains, the snow becomes sticky, and the slopes become uncomfortable for skiing. But then comes the real European spring – long and leisurely. This time, in my opinion, is the best for traveling around the country, meeting... Read completely

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The discreet charm of Belgrade

The trip to Belgrade was initially somewhat alarming. There was too much conflicting knowledge about Eastern Europe in general, and about the capital of the former Yugoslavia in particular. Nevertheless, the choice was made. And here we are at Belgrade airport. The first impression is pleasantly positive - the border guards simply looked at the passport and, without asking questions or putting any stamps, let you into the country. Indeed, we have visa-free entry with Serbia, but to be so informal... It felt like we had simply arrived in one of the regions of Russia. This feeling was later repeatedly confirmed in the city. There are posters everywhere dedicated to the theme of Russian-Serbian friendship. We even found several posters with President Putin on the main street. We got from the airport to the hotel very easily on some kind of PAZ bus. Greetings from the 70-80s of the last century. It goes through the entire city center to Slavia Square, where our hotel of the same name stood. By the way, this is, besides a taxi, the only way to get to the city from the airport.

In the guidebook "Serbia" in addition to...

The publishing house "Ajax-Press" presents the guidebook "Serbia" in the series "Russian Guide. Polyglot". The authors of the guidebook, Vlad and Yulia Petrovich, included in it a lot of new things that have changed in the country in a year and a half (since the release of the first edition) and what they learned about, including from travel readers. The guidebook is supplemented with a detailed map of the country (in the patch pocket on the cover).
Serbia is a country with unique tourism potential. No one will be indifferent to the color of its cities and villages, rich cultural and historical heritage, including ancient Orthodox churches and monasteries. The special pride of Serbia is the majestic Danube! In addition to Belgrade, be sure to visit the city of Novi Sad, where the famous Petrovaradin Fortress is located. If time permits, take a look at the ethno-village of Emir Kusturica - Drvengrad, ride along the mountain narrow-gauge railway "Sharganska osmitsa", relax in one of the Serbian baths (as the Serbs call balneological resorts).
In addition to convenient maps (10) and proven routes (9) with descriptions of attractions, the Serbia guide also contains practical information - useful links, addresses, museum schedules and public transport routes, directions to popular natural attractions and resorts.
In the Serbia guide you will find
sections that will help you prepare for your trip. This is a brief history of the state, information about transport links, a calendar of the most important festivals and holidays. The climate section will help you choose the best time to travel, and information about hotels and restaurants will help you navigate the variety of offers.
as well as unique routes around the country.
Together with the authors, you will take a fascinating journey through Belgrade, whose history goes back 2000 years, and get acquainted with the sights of Niš, the hometown of Constantine the Great. Fortresses and monasteries, Orthodox shrines await you. Be sure to visit the ethno-village of Kusturica (Serbian Drvengrad), built by the director for the filming of the film “Life is a Miracle” and try the famous Serbian wine in numerous wineries.
Welcome to hospitable Serbia!
Contains: 9 routes, 10 maps.