SERBIA
GEOGRAPHY
Serbia is largely mountainous. Its northeast part is part of the rich, fertile Danubian Plain drained by the Danube, Tisa, Sava, and Morava river systems. Serbia was one of 6 republics that made up the country of Yugoslavia, which broke up in the 1990s. In 2006, Montenegro tore apart from Serbia. The fall down of the Yugoslav Republic in 1991 wreaked havoc on the economy of the region. There is at present an unemployment rate of 30%.
SERBIA BRIEFING
Sixty-five percent of the population belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Nineteen percent are Muslim; 4 percent are Roman Catholic; 1 percent is Protestant; and the remaining 11% practice other religions.
PLACES TO VISIT A BRIEF HISTORY
The Djerdap National Park, located on the banks of the Danube along the border with Romania in eastern Serbia, contains some of the most impressive natural beauty of Serbia. The main characteristic of the national park is the Djerdap Gorge, known as Iron Gate. The gorge extends for almost 100 kilometers, the gorge is actually a river valley formed by three gorges (Gornja klisura, Gospodjin vir, Veliki and Mali Kazan), separated by ravines. Close to Kazan, where the river narrows to just 150 meters wide, the cliffs rises over 300 meters, forming an impressive landscape.
Zlatibor Serbia photoThere are two artificial lakes on Zlatibor. The largest lake is in Ribnica on the river Rzav and the smaller lake is in the very center of the tourist settlement of Zlatibor. The lakes are bounded by pleasant walkways and benches for the guests to rest. In summer the guests can bathe and sunbathe and in winter skate on the ice-covered lake surface.
Conserved nature, the soft climate, the fresh air spiced by the smell of hay and wild flowers, the rivers and the lakes with crystalline water and the extraordinary flora and fauna, make Serbia the destination number 1 in rural tourism! Communities of Kosjeric, Valjevo, Ljig, Cacak, Požega, Knic, Lucani, Mionica, Užice, Sokobanja, Cajetina, Prijepolje, Brus, Šabac, Kraljevo, Ivanjica, Raca Kragujevacka and Gornji Milanovac are ready to accommodate the tourists from all over the world.
Between middle mountains, hills and planes, Serbia is offering potential of the tourism in the nature. The deliberated developed mountain slopes are found in the splendid landscapes permit the amateurs of VTT, paragliding and skiing to enjoy both in summer and in winter time. The mountain slopes, sometimes abrupt, as well as very numerous caves arranged or wild, will excite those loving the climbing and the speleologist.
The foremost ecological town in Serbia and the spa of Sokobanja represent one of the greatest reservoirs of the oxygen in Europe. Perfect for regaining good form or just for relaxing from stressful everyday life!
Vrnjacka Banja is the mainly celebrated spa of Serbia and at same time a very attractive recreative centre. Located in a very great park full of trees with particular very charming houses, Vrnjacka Banja is promising a great future.
Today, these monasteries exert a pull on the tourists from all over the world who come to admire their extraordinary architecture, frescos, icons and manuscripts. During the XIII and the XIV century, the construction of these monasteries was influenced by two disciplines of architecture.
On height of a hill and bounded by a little forest, its medieval aspect gives it a certain seal. Founded in 1168, then reconstructed in the XIII century by King Dragutin, it suffered a tragically destruction during the Balkan Wars 1912, but it still keeps its charms.
16 orthodox monasteries, united in a space 40 km long! Every single one monastery had been constructed between XV and XVI century and the best known are Grgeteg, Hopovo, Jazak, Krusedol and Velika Remeta. Nature and spirituality joint in one place.
Founded in 1235 by King Vladislav, the monastery of Mileseva is known in the world by its wall fresco of the “White Angel”. Today after many reinstatements, the residence of King Vladislav and St. Sava.
East Serbia that is also the thermal stations always positioned in an agreeable environment. And even of they have been manifested by the age, they are still offering numerous activities in leisure time. In short, they are the places to rest and to regain fitness. Lastly, this region has also been marked by the history, but in a manner different if that in other parts o Serbia. Numerous Roman locations as Gamzigrad and Caricin Grad in addition to other archaeological locations disseminated on the territory. Or else the town of Nis has been a good example of this history with its Ottoman and Roman remnants.
Arandjelovac presents distinctiveness perhaps unique in Europe: the spa of Bukovicka is wedged in a park itself in the heart of a town of 50,000 populations. Recognized for its mineral water - "Knjaz Milos", Arandjelovac represents a typical town of the Central Serbia.
The little village, known for the Guca Festival, the most noisy and fantastic folklore music festival in Europe! Three days of total craziness followed by the music of the trompets and traditional food and drinks!
In the heart of Sumadija, “the city of the kings” is a charming little town of 80.000 populations where it is very pleasant to stay. Very energetic cultural life and the always animated evenings are not to be missed!
With its 180 000 population Kragujevac is the 3rd town in Serbia and the economic lungs of Sumadija. Its population can only be proud on the cultural and historical richness that this charming town possesses!
The multifaceted ethno which gathers the most beautiful traditional houses located on the mountains of Zlatibor! A characteristic village of Western Serbia entirely reconstituted!
An outstanding park in the west of Serbia! This group of young mountains has a very wealthy fauna and flora in rare species. Numerous valleys, canyons and two lakes - Perucac and Zaovine situated in the heart of this nature ressort will leave you breathless with their beauty!
The canyon of Uvac is one of the best natural sites in Serbia-Montenegro. Forming the meanders on the distance of more than 2,000m the river Uvac breaks its way through the walls of a slight rocky slope. A thick forest, in autumn and in spring decorated by many colours covers the environmental massifs from foot to the top...
Zlatibor is the most inclusive tourist centre of Serbia. This group of old mountains and of great green prairies forms a milieu of particular beauty. Many brooks and water sources, as well as the majestic fir tree forests contributed to imprint the name of zlati-exceptional, and bor-fir tree.
In the near vicinity of state border with the Hungary, near Subotica, it's one of the best touristic sites in Serbia with its charming hotels and an amount of sport and fun activities.
Novi Sad, the capital city of the Vojvodina, is located in the center of the Balkans and will surely offer a great experience in discovering all of his historical and cultural treasuries that are in the root of the Serbian culture.
This great fortress high up on an elevation seemed to observe the peaceful activity of its neighbor Novi Sad. It has been interesting not only for its museum and its restaurant, but also for the romantic walks and for the painters’ and sculptors’ ateliers – houses of painters and sculptors in the rock caves.
45 kms East from Belgrade, the first important stage on the road of fortresses. Controlling the river Danube, its medieval fortress imposes a respect by its dimensions and by its history. Smederevo is also the most significant river port on the way to Romania because of its strategic position downstream from Belgrade.
A town of culture in any logic of the word: in the center the Serbian Orthodox Church and the first Serbian lyceum. Sremski Karlovci is also the city of the status of the vineyards since Antiquity and the middle Ages.
The attention of Belgrade is that many historical towns and important cultural monuments from the history of Serbs are in its immediate vicinity, the Austro-Hungarian town of Zemun leaning on the Danube, the memorial park of the mountain Avala that overholds all the town, but also a little more far the Mausoleum of the dynasty of Karadjordje in Topola and the regional park of Carska Bara full of the migratory birds are the nicest walking places for the Sunday which one could do. Not taking account of numerous monasteries in a circle of 30 kilometers and the archaeological site of Vinca or the memorial park of Jajinci. One does not risk boredom with so many tourist activities.
Zemun located in front of the fortress of Kalemegdan and wedged between the hill of Gardos and the Danube is a clad town with many trumps of its own. Along the Danube, a walking pathway with the trees and a lot of cafes and fish restaurants of reputation will make you never forget this visit!
The hill of Avala is at the same time a monument site and an impressive massive which dominates the town and controls the access to Sumadija. On 15 kilometres away from the town center and in half an hour drive you could approve of the most beautiful landscape of central Serbia and you will take a walk in a park of many hectares.
CONCLUSION
Belgrade, the city at the confluence of the Danube and the Sava has forged to itself the confluence of cultures as different as the East Ottoman, the Austrian Europe and the Slav civilization. Destroyed more than twenty times in the course of its millennial history,
All in all, "the white city", illuminated by thousand night lights, opens its arms to you! One is for sure, Belgrade will certainly not disappoint you!
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