Where is serbia which country. Serbia (Serbia). Serbian ski resorts, or reason number two

Serbia is perhaps one of the few countries where Russian-speaking guests are treated with special "fraternal" warmth and cordiality. However, it is not a popular tourist destination among Russians and, like the Balkans in general, remains a kind of exotic in the center of Europe. And, I think, in vain! This region is interesting for its rich cultural and historical heritage, unusually beautiful nature and mild climate, ski and health resorts, simple and natural national cuisine and, in addition to this, it attracts with a visa-free regime and low prices compared to Central European prices. Having visited Serbia once, it is impossible to remain indifferent. So, for example, she settled in my heart forever.

Visa and border crossing

Citizens of Russia and most countries of the former USSR do not need a visa to visit Serbia. Entry only with a passport. However, you are allowed to stay in the country for 30 days. If you need more time, you will have to cross the border. Fortunately, Serbia is surrounded by visa-free countries from the west and south, and Macedonia, and the so-called "visa run" (quick crossing the border "back and forth" to get a stamp in the passport) will not be a big problem. Without crossing the border, you can constantly stay in the country with a "borawak" (a kind of visa, it is also often called a residence permit). But to obtain it, you will need grounds: ownership of real estate, employment or registration of your own business, education, marriage to a citizen of Serbia. Plus, you will have to spend at least 200 euros on duty, medical insurance and other fees.

An important point is the mandatory registration ("white cardboard") at your place of residence. It must be done within 24 hours of entering the country. Hotels and hostels usually register guests themselves. If you are staying with friends or renting an apartment, for example, on Airbnb, then ask the host for such a registration. You can get "white cardboard" at the nearest police station with your passport. The procedure will not take more than 15 minutes. When leaving the country, a customs officer may ask you to show "white cardboard", and if you don't have it, you face a fine of 5 to 25 thousand dinars (40-200 euros). In practice, checking registration at customs is a rarity.

As for the customs rules... The import of foreign currency is not limited and its declaration is not required, but the export is limited to the equivalent of 2,000 euros. Duty-free per person, you can import personal items, 1 liter of wine or strong alcohol, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 250 ml of cologne or 100 ml of perfume into Serbia. Well, as a standard, it is forbidden to import drugs, poisonous, psychotropic, explosive, radioactive substances, pesticides, gold bullion, in raw form, in coins, weapons, gasoline in cans. It is forbidden to export objects of historical, cultural or artistic value from Serbia without special permission.

How to get there

Popular ways to get (by plane, train and bus) to Serbia are described in detail by me. I will only note that Serbia has a regular railway connection with neighboring Hungary, Montenegro, Macedonia, Romania and Croatia, as well as Slovenia, Austria, Germany and Greece, the schedule and prices of which can be found on Serbian railways. You can see the options for flights with different connections on this.

By plane

By car

Those who are going to visit the country in their own car need to have an insurance policy (green card), which is better to issue in insurance companies in their home country, but it is also possible at points of sale (kiosks and houses with appropriate signs) before crossing the border. The cost of such insurance today starts from 30 euros and depends on the validity period of the policy and the type of vehicle. International driving license is not required.

Tourist regions

Conventionally, based on the administrative division, Serbia can be divided into two regions: Northern (most of it is occupied by the autonomous region of Vojvodina) and Southern (central and southern Serbia south of the Danube).

The first one is flat, economically developed, preserving samples of the cultural and architectural heritage of Austria-Hungary. It is not rich in natural attractions, the main interest is the cities and the Fruska Gora National Park. The field of agritourism is very developed here.

The second is forest and mountain, it is here that the main natural beauties, ski and health resorts of Serbia are located. On its territory are the largest cities in the country, Kragujevac and. If you want to immerse yourself in a colorful and authentic Serbia, then you will definitely come here.

In this review, we will not consider the disputed territory and Metohija. Firstly, it has the features of a separate state (border posts, visa regime, the euro as a currency, and so on), and secondly, let's leave the disputes to those who are interested in them.

Top cities

Belgrade

The Serbian capital, the capital of the former Yugoslavia, one of the largest cities in the Balkans, dynamic, hospitable and comfortable, "the city that never sleeps." Large detailed material on Belgrade can be found. It remains to add: this is the main attraction of Serbia, a must-see. You can get acquainted with the options for tours.

Novi Sad

The second largest city in Serbia, its cultural capital with numerous museums and educational institutions. It is located only 80 kilometers and 1-1.5 hours drive from Belgrade, has regular bus and train connections with it. much calmer and quieter than the Serbian capital, so many families with children prefer it as a place to live. On the banks of the Danube, opposite the city, is the Petrovaradin Fortress, on the territory of which one of the largest music festivals in Europe EXIT takes place. You can read a detailed city guide.

Nis

A large industrial and commercial city in southeastern Serbia with a rich history and culture. Main attractions: Niš Fortress, the ominous and curious skull tower of Chele Kula, the Median archeological complex, the first Serbian concentration camp (now a museum) of the Red Cross, as well as many churches and monasteries inside and outside the city. - the second city in Serbia with its own airport. Although there are much fewer flights to / from it compared to Belgrade, however, in some cases it can be considered as a destination / departure point for European low-cost airlines such as Wizz Air and Ryanair.

Subotica

A beautiful and cozy town in the north of the country near the border with Hungary with well-preserved buildings in the Hungarian Art Nouveau style of the early 20th century. Not far from Subotica is Palich - one of the best SPA resorts in Eastern Europe with hot artesian springs and healing silt from the bottom of the lake of the same name. In general, if you are traveling along the route "Hungary-Serbia", then I highly advise you to look.

Kragujevac

The first capital of Serbia (1818-1841), a city in the Balkan-Oriental architectural style: the straight lines of Slavic architecture are perfectly combined with arches and ornate patterns of the East. Kragujevac is famous for its restaurant and bar culture. Cheerful and noisy bars, concentrated along the street of King Alexander, open their doors at nightfall and work until the morning.

You can search for hotels in different cities of Serbia, book hotels conveniently on the well-known Booking-by. You can view options for renting private apartments.

Top attractions

Fruska Gora National Park

The picturesque hilly area just 16 kilometers from Novi Sad is known for its complex of 17 ancient monasteries and home apiaries and wineries. This park is one of the favorite vacation spots for residents of nearby cities (many families come for the weekend), a great place for hiking and cycling.

Drvengrad

Ethno-hotel, built by the famous Yugoslav film director Emir Kusturica, is a village with traditional Serbian houses, streets and squares named after historical figures and artists revered by the director. For example, there is Che Guevara Street and Nikita Mikhalkov Square. Drvengrad is located on the territory of the small settlement of Mokra Gora on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The narrow-gauge railway "Sharganska Osmica" operates nearby. It lost its original purpose in the middle of the last century and was closed. It has recently been reopened. Now, winding through the mountains through numerous tunnels, she carries curious and enthusiastic tourists. It is important to note: it is not always possible to stay overnight at the Drvengrad hotel itself (my advice: it is better to book rooms in advance and always by phone - for some reason the administration often does not respond to e-mails), however, there are a large number of houses and rooms for rent from locals residents, besides, their price will be at least two times lower. You can walk and eat at the hotel without any problems.

Tara National Park

Literally 10 kilometers from Drvengrad among the Serbo-Bosnian mountains is the Tara National Park with a beautiful artificial lake in the center. The legendary place of Serbia is recognizable by the famous house in the middle of the Drina River. And here is the shortest river in Europe - Vrelo, the length of which is only 365 meters.

Canyon Uvac

Perhaps the most incredible beauty place in Serbia. Previously, the river Uvats flowed in a zigzag pattern here. Then they built a dam, and the canyon flooded. There are many caves along the way, some of which reach several kilometers in length. In ancient times, they were used by people as roads. The griffon vulture listed in the Red Book also lives here. In warm weather, pleasure boats ply the canyon. I strongly advise you to use them - it's hard to forget such a walk.

Jerdap National Park

First of all, it is interesting for the picturesque gorge of the same name (it is also called the Iron Gates), which separates Serbia and Romania. On the territory of the park there are three more undoubtedly noteworthy sights: the camp of the Mesolithic hunters Lepenski Vir, the world's longest ancient bridge of Trajan (it is also the first bridge across the Danube), and the medieval Golubac fortress, half submerged in the Danube.

Kopaonik

The largest mountain range in Serbia. It is located in its southern part on the border with. A picturesque region with densely forested mountains, clean air and healing springs. In winter, it is the country's main ski resort. On the territory of Kopaonik is one of the main shrines of the Serbian people - the Studenica Cathedral, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Smederevo fortress

One of the largest flat fortresses in Europe has an uncharacteristic triangular shape and stands on the banks of the Danube. Some towers and fortifications of the medieval fortress were destroyed or heavily damaged by the explosion of a German ammunition depot during World War II, and then during the Allied bombing. Inside the long-suffering fortress there is a cozy green park, which in summer becomes the venue for the International Theater Festival.

Zlatibor

A plateau-resort with unique "golden" pines (this species grows only here and nowhere else in the world) and a specific healing microclimate - mountain and sea air mix in an amazing way over Zlatibor. The place perfectly combines modern tourist infrastructure and the opportunity for a quiet secluded holiday. Here is the highest mountain in Serbia - Tornik.

Vrnjacka-Banya

The largest and most popular health resort ("banya") in Serbia. There are seven carbonic and alkaline springs here, the temperature of one of them absolutely coincides with the human temperature - 36.6 °. This is the only one in the world.

Sremski Karlovci

The city is the center of Serbian history and Orthodoxy. It houses the oldest seminary in the country. Interestingly, it was in this city that the headquarters of the white movement was located during the civil war in Russia. The place is famous for its specific drink "bermet" (a mixture of wine, liquor and grape juice), traditionally made according to old recipes that are passed down in the families of winemakers from generation to generation. The town itself is quiet and cozy. Located near Novi Sad. You can successfully capture it for review on the way from Belgrade.

Devil City

A miracle of nature in the south of Serbia, consisting of two hundred stone pillars. The unusual place gave rise to a lot of gloomy legends among the local population. For the thrill, it is recommended to visit at night. The "city" is located in the south of Serbia, 27 kilometers from the village of Kursumliya.

Weather

Serbia is very well located in terms of weather conditions. From the north of the country to the south, the temperate continental climate is replaced by the Mediterranean. In summer, in July and August, it can be quite hot, sometimes the thermometer shows 35-40°C. But the rest of the year is quite comfortable: autumn is dry and warm, winter is short and frost-free (the temperature rarely drops below -10°C). C), spring is often rainy, but the transition to summer can happen as early as March. If we take the regions of Russia for comparison, then the weather conditions of the Krasnodar Territory are most suitable.

Money

The national currency of Serbia is the Serbian dinar. It is rare where you can buy them for rubles (in the Serbian branches of Sberbank you can, but the exchange rate is bad), so you should stock up on euros in advance or withdraw cash from an ATM with a credit card. If your card is issued by Sberbank, then I recommend getting dinars in Serbia at its own ATMs - it will come out without a commission. In ATMs of other banks, the commission can be 100-400 rubles. The euro is not in use, although many large prices, for example, for renting an apartment, are usually indicated in the currency of the European Union. However, many private taxi drivers agree to pay for their services in euros, they also often indicate the prices of souvenirs on the main tourist street of Belgrade - Knez Mihail. In the cities of Serbia there are usually a lot of exchange offices ("changers"), and if you brought euros, you can exchange them there. I advise you to first compare the courses (they may differ significantly) in several and choose the most profitable option.

Bank cards (Visa, Maestro, Mastercard) are accepted in many shops and catering establishments. But it is always better to have cash with you - just in case: the payment terminal may not work, but it happens that it does not exist at all.

Moving around the country

Many of the natural beauties of Serbia (for example, the Uvac Canyon or the Djerdap Gorge) are located in hard-to-reach places that cannot be reached by public transport. Therefore, I recommend renting a car for a deep study of the country. You can do this already at the airport or, having searched for information in advance, familiarize yourself with the offers of numerous "rent-e-cars" and choose the most profitable one. The largest selection of models and prices can be found in the corresponding section travelask -.

For rent, in many cases, only a passport and a deposit will be required, which depends on the brand and class of the car.

Not the best, but still an alternative to a car is a regular bus. Serbia has a very developed bus service, you can get to almost anywhere in the country. For detailed information with links to services where you can check the schedule, read.

A cheaper way is trains. I advise you to choose new modern compositions (they are marked with the RE rank). Older trains are often dirty and uncomfortable.

Connection

If you need a mobile connection, then SIM-cards of local operators can be purchased both in specialized stores and in ordinary newsstands "Moj kiosk", you will not even be asked for a passport. The cost will be 2.5 euros (300 dinars). The price of a minute of conversation within the country is not low by Russian standards - 10 euro cents (12 dinars). You can also connect mobile Internet to the SIM card. Set "calls and Internet" for 4 euros (500 dinars) With infrequent use should be enough for a week or two.

In large cities, in some parks and even public transport, you can connect to free Wi-Fi, which, of course, is also available in many hotels, restaurants and bars.

Language and communication

The official language in the country is Serbian. Interestingly, two alphabets are in use at once: Cyrillic and Latin. Cyrillic is the official alphabet and is more common, for example, in legal documents, government journals and newspapers. In everyday life, both alphabets are used equally. The Serbian language is similar to Russian, many words are recognizable, but may have a different, and sometimes opposite, meaning. For example, "harmful wife" in Serbian means "hard-working wife", and "belly" - "life". Nevertheless, to understand a Serb to a Russian person (and vice versa), accompanying the speech with sign language, is quite simple. In addition, the older generation of Serbs learned Russian at school and many can speak it.

In large cities, especially in Belgrade, young people speak excellent English. If you also own it, then there will be no communication problems. Feel free to use it in shops, catering places and just on the street.

Here are 10 simple words and phrases in Serbian that will make communication easier:

• Dobar dan (dobar dan) - good afternoon, hello,
• Ćao (chao) - hello/bye,
• Doviđenja (dovijenya) - goodbye,
• Hvala (praise) - thank you
• Molim (we pray) - please
• Izvinite (sorry) - I think no translation is required,
• Ne govorim srpski (we don't speak Serbian) - I don't speak Serbian,
• Ne razumem (not razumem) - I don't understand
• What da dođem do..? (how can we get to ..?) - how to get to ..?
• Koliko košta..? (how much cost..?) - how much does it cost..?

Features of the mentality

Serbs are very hospitable and hospitable people. Especially in relation to the Russians. Having learned that you are from Russia, a Serb will be genuinely happy to talk about common historical roots, the brotherhood of peoples, mutual love and support at all times. Sometimes in the market, having learned that you are Russian, the seller can make a good discount, and if you're lucky, you won't take money at all. Serbs are sincere in expressing feelings and unusually polite. A smile and a "warm" word is their main attribute in any communication. However, there are also dubious qualities of their mentality. Like many southern nations, Serbs are a little lazy and slow in keeping promises. So, going to Serbia, stock up on patience and endurance. Be prepared, for example, for the fact that in a supermarket a saleswoman will slowly cut ham and at the same time discuss news from the life of relatives with a random buyer, while a queue of 10 people has accumulated at her counter. No one will say a word, they will patiently wait. So accepted, where to rush?

Food and drink

Serbian national cuisine is simple and natural in a peasant way. It has no culinary delights. Serbs do not treat cooking with aesthetic reverence, as, for example, the French or Italians. Many dishes contain a minimum of ingredients and are easy to prepare. However, something deserves attention.

5 dishes worth trying

Bakery

Serbs are fans of baking. Bakeries ("bakers") are everywhere, literally in every home. The morning of any Serb begins not with coffee, but with pastries and yogurt in his favorite bakery. They have such a variety of assortment that an unprepared person, not knowing what to choose, falls into a stupor. To prevent this from happening to you, I advise you to order a burek or pita first. The food is not easy, but hearty and budget (less than 1 euro per serving).

Roshtil

This is the name of grilled meat dishes: splash, chevapy, sausages. You can order in a restaurant, or you can try in fast food. The difference is not great: in the first case, meat with a side dish will be served on a plate, in the second - in a pita bread. The cost is from 1.5 euros (150 dinars) in fast food and from 4 euros (500 dinars) in a restaurant.

Rakia

A kind of vodka, or fruit "moonshine". It is usually made on the basis of plum, quince, grapes and pears. Worth a look at home. If you take the "shop", then it is better to choose the one that is more expensive (from 8 euros), cheap options are not always good. Drinking rakia in Serbian is worth taking in small sips, enjoying and discussing the taste.

Kaymak and cheeses

Serbia is famous for its dairy products. In its diversity is sometimes not easy to understand. Kaymak (a kind of cream) and young or mature cheeses made from goat, sheep, cow's milk or mixtures thereof deserve special attention. They are easiest to find in the market or in the store. But in order not to make a mistake in choosing, order a Serbian cheese plate in a restaurant. Do not deny yourself the pleasure - try it!

Aivar

Aivar is a Balkan type of vegetable caviar based on red paprika and eggplant. It is usually served with rostil. So, if you order, for example, splash or chevapy, ask to add ajvar to the side dish. A good ajvar can also be bought in the market.

Prosciutto

Serbia has incredibly delicious meat delicacies. The Balkan prosciutto dominates them. The taste and method of preparation resembles Spanish jamon, but not quite. Homemade prosciutto can be bought at the market or ordered at a restaurant. From the "shop" I advise the production of the meat plant "Zlatiborac".

Bermet

And, of course, the same bermet, which was discussed a little higher. The best bermet is undoubtedly made and sold in Sremski Karlovci. But you can find it in other liquor stores as well.

shopping

There is no shopping in Serbia. That is absolutely. If you come here hoping to find a lot of branded goods at low prices, then you are mistaken: there are few brands here, and their prices bite. In this regard, Russia as a whole is much more favorable.

What to bring from this country

The visiting card of Serbia is natural and inexpensive products: from honey and herbal tea to handmade cosmetics. With you and as gifts, you can bring all the same prosciutto, wine and brandy. But remember about the customs allowance for the transport of alcohol - no more than a liter per person.

Security

Serbia is the safest country I have ever visited. Nevertheless, you should not relax at all, because, despite the low level of crime, no one will give guarantees against isolated criminal cases. Follow the standard safety rules - do not carry large sums of money and valuables with you, do not show your wallet in public places - and your stay in Serbia will not be overshadowed by troubles.

Many are frightened by the presence of a large number of gypsies in the country. But they are completely harmless. There are, of course, those who "make a living" by begging or compulsive trading on Knez Mihail Street in Belgrade, but they are few. Most of them work as "city orderlies": they collect and hand over all kinds of waste paper and metal.

Popular types of scams

I only know about taxi scams. For some private traders, the trip ends up being very expensive. So I advise you to contact official taxi services or catch cars with special identification marks. There must be a counter in the cabin.

5 things to do in this country

1. Walk around Belgrade, visit the Kalemegdan fortress, sit relaxed (like locals) in a summer cafe, drinking a cup of coffee.
2. Visit Drvengrad and the narrow-gauge railway "Sharganska Osmica".
3. See the impressive Uvac canyon.
4. Try bermet and rakia.
5. Enjoy the national cuisine. Try rostil and kaimak.

Nearby countries

Serbia is a convenient road junction of Europe. Most border countries can be reached by train or plane, and absolutely everything can be reached by bus or car.

To visit Hungary you will need a Schengen visa, to Romania and Bulgaria - a Schengen or national one.

Many military conflicts and seizures of territory dating back to the time of the Roman Empire made Serbia multinational state, which concentrated the customs of a huge number of nationalities.

But at the same time, today they still prevail Slavic And Turkish traditions. Serbs are distinguished by kindness, cordiality, respect and optimism, so a huge number of tourists constantly come to the country.

Detailed map of Serbia

Serbia is a state in the southeast of Europe and is located in the very center Balkan Peninsula, which is surrounded by warm seas: Adriatic, Aegean and Black. Before the collapse of Yugoslavia, Serbia was part of it. The geographical location of the country made it a kind of corridor between Western and Central Europe, as well as the countries of the Middle East.

Serbia borders on many states, its neighbors are:

1. In the north– Hungary;
2. On South- Albania and;
3. in the east– Romania and Bulgaria;
4. In the West– Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
5. In the South-West- Kosovo.

Serbia is characterized by the cleanest air, unusually beautiful nature and many historical sights. It is also famous for its excellent ski and health resorts, hunting and fishing farms. To date, the state has gained access to coast of the Aegean.

Climate

Serbia has special climatic conditions that directly depend on its relief features. The northern part of the country is Middle Danubian lowland, consisting of large plains with very fertile land, in connection with this, a continental climate has developed here.

The center of Serbia is mainly occupied by hills, so a temperate continental climate prevails there. And the presence of ancient mountains in the southern part of the country, respectively, suggests the presence of a mountain climate.

Summers in Serbia are usually quite hot, and winters, although mild, are long, with a lot of cold winds and an average air temperature of two degrees, but sometimes it drops to twenty-five. The coldest winter month is January, and the hottest summer month is June. Serbia is one of the sunniest countries in Europe.

Nature

The northern part of the country is occupied by agricultural land, where you can see wheat, corn, a variety of vegetables and, of course, a lot of sunflowers.

The south of Serbia is occupied by several mountain ranges:

• Dinaric highlands;
• Balkan East Serbian Mountains;
• Part of the Rilo-Rhodope system.

There are magnificent huge forests of powerful beeches and tender lindens.

The most famous river is Danube. It forms interesting bays, channels, oxbow lakes and swamps on its way. But, the main pride of this river can be called the most beautiful Dzherdap gorge with rocks rising up to three hundred meters above the water level and a huge number of whirlpools with a depth of up to one hundred meters.

IN national park, located on the territory of the gorge, you can get acquainted with a large number of relict plants that you will not find in other European countries for a long time.

Serbia is famous for its lakes and rivers, in this regard, only European countries can compete with it.

Of the most famous and popular lakes can be called Silver (Serbian Sea). In addition to the beauty of the surrounding forest landscape, nearby ancient fortresses and beautiful beach areas, it is famous for its impeccable purity of water, the shimmering of which in the rays of the sun is simply mesmerizing. To preserve this splendor, it was decided to ban the use of any motor boats, water scooters and other similar technical means on the lake.

Clean water, together with the absence of strong noise, make it possible to comfortably live and breed various fish species. The lake has a large number of perch, catfish, carp, bream, pike and many other species.

Administrative division and form of government

Serbia belongs to unitary states, its capital is Belgrade and its administrative divisions are as follows:

• Two autonomous regions- Vojvodina, Kosovo and Metohija;
• twenty nine counties;
• two hundred and eleven communities.

Vojvodina includes seven districts, Kosovo and Metohija five, and Central Serbia seventeen. They do not have local self-government. Each of them is headed by the head of the district, who reports directly to the government of the state and bears full responsibility to it. The district of Belgrade stands apart, in which self-government is allowed.

Serbia consists of twenty-four cities, one hundred and ninety-five large urban-type settlements, and many villages and towns.

The form of government of Serbia is parliamentary republic The head of which is the President, and the Supreme Legislative Body is the Federal Assembly, which includes two chambers - the Veche of Republics and the Veche of Citizens. The government is the highest executive body of the country.

Population and religion

The main population of the country is represented by Serbs. In addition to them, a huge number of national minorities live in Serbia, represented by Hungarians, Croats, Turks, Romanians, Bosnians, Slovaks, Bulgarians, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Chinese and others. In total, the territory of the republic is inhabited by twenty five nationalities which, as a rule, peacefully coexist.

The official language in Serbia is Serbian, which belongs to the Slavic group. National minorities also use Hungarian, Romanian, Albanian, Slovak and Croatian in colloquial speech.

It is not uncommon in Serbia to hear speech in Russian, because in this country there are enough immigrants from.

The laws and the constitution of the republic guarantee its inhabitants religious freedom. The state religion of Serbia is Orthodox, which is practiced by most of the inhabitants of the country. The rest of the population is represented by Catholics, Muslims and Protestants.

Cities and attractions

The largest cities in Serbia are: Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis And Pristina.

Belgrade

Belgrade is the capital and the largest city in the country, which is located at the point where the Danube and Sava rivers intersect. He is very hospitable and always happy to receive tourists and provide them with the most interesting and comfortable stay.

It is a very old city, adorned with splendid palaces, churches, temples, monasteries and fortifications intertwined with bustling avenues and modern high-rise buildings.

The main attraction of Belgrade and, perhaps, the whole country can be called the old Belgrade fortress, which is located in the city center on the Kalemegdan plateau in a park with the same name. Its history goes back over two thousand years. The entrance to it is decorated with a clock tower, which is allowed to climb in the summer.

At present, it contains military museum, where you can get acquainted with tanks, machine guns and a number of trophy exhibits, of which there are more than thirty thousand. In addition to historical values ​​and old graves, in the park near the fortress you can see:

1. Tennis court;
2. basketball court;
3. Various modern design elements;
4. Zoo;
5. In winter - rink.

Both locals and guests of the city come to the park area not only to take a walk, but also to listen to a brass band or ordinary street musicians, visit an observatory, an Orthodox church or a holy spring, admire numerous monuments and statues.

Novi Sad

Novi Sad is located in the northern part of Serbia and is the administrative center of Vojvodina. This is a city in which cultural life is literally in full swing, it was even given a second name - "Serbian Athens".

There are many museums and art galleries dispersed here, as well as various festivals, competitions and exhibitions. Moreover, it is important educational center, which houses a number of universities and a large number of colleges and schools.

Opposite Novi Sad, there is the largest Petrovaradin fortress, which refers to the cultural and historical objects of the country. In order to enter it, you need to climb a steep ascent with more than one hundred steps. Having overcome the rise, and having climbed its walls, you can admire the beautiful view of the Danube and its environs.

The center of the fortress, which previously housed various military installations, is currently occupied by hotels with beautiful, modern rooms and cozy restaurants.

There are also workshops where local artists, sculptors and photographers work. Visiting them, you can get acquainted with their work and even make a personal order. Also on the territory of the fortress is museum of the history of Novi Sad And Art Academy.

Deserves special attention, located on the territory of the Petrovaradin fortress, clock tower. Its specific feature is that, unlike conventional watches, its minute hand is much shorter than the hour hand. Such a move was invented so that those who sailed past the fortress on a ship could at least see what time it was at that time.

Near Novi Sad there is a very beautiful Fruska Gora National Park with unique flora and fauna. Here you can see more than one and a half thousand of the most diverse plants, many of which are rare or completely disappearing.

The animal world is represented by:

• Ungulates;
• foxes;
• By wild cats;
• Rodents;
• reptiles.

Special value are some species of birds that cannot be found on the territory of other European countries. Also, one cannot ignore the monasteries located here with ancient iconostases and medieval frescoes, many of which are considered historical monuments.

Nis

Nis is largest city in the southern part of Serbia and the oldest on the Balkan Peninsula. The city can be called a major industrial, commercial, scientific, economic, cultural, political and religious center in the south of the country.

There are many museums, theaters and other cultural institutions in Nis. The city is famous for its famous symphony orchestra and university.

Due to the large number of respectable restaurants and tourist destinations, Nis began to be called "Pleasure City".

One of the main attractions of Nis is considered Church of Hilandarski Metokh, which is a unique, iconic building of the sixteenth century. Initially, her appearance was completely different than at present. The fact is that in the middle of the seventeenth century it was badly damaged in a fire. But even now it, decorated with magnificent baroque paintings, is no less beautiful and is a favorite place for pilgrims and guests of the city.

Another world-famous and at the same time sinister landmark of Nis is Chele-Kula, built in the early nineteenth century by the Turks using human skulls. This happened after the battle, the place of which was Mount Chagar, the rebel Serbs were defeated by the soldiers of the Ottoman Empire.

The surviving Serbian rebels, not wanting to be captured, blew themselves up with gunpowder reserves, while destroying most of the enemy. After that, the Turks beheaded their bodies, and about a thousand skulls were inserted into a tower under construction to show everyone what will happen to those who try to resist them.

To date, only fifty eight skulls. Therefore, in order to preserve them, it was decided to enclose the collapsing tower with a chapel. Although Chele-Kula is undoubtedly a very terrible monument of history, nevertheless it reminds everyone of the huge and terrible price the freedom-loving Serbs won their independence.

Pristina

Pristina is the capital of Kosovo and its largest city. It is also the cultural, industrial and economic center of the Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija. The panorama of the city is very contrasting; ancient buildings, modern buildings and monuments of history and culture are intertwined in it.

Located in Pristina Monastery Gracanitsa, built at the very beginning of the fourteenth century, and belonging to the most exquisite medieval Orthodox monasteries. Of great interest to tourists visiting it are unique frescoes, icons and ancient manuscripts.

Conducted archaeological research has proved the presence on the territory of Pristina of various ancient peoples.

When visiting Pristina, it is worth seeing House of Eminjik. It is a very beautiful building located in the very center of the city. It was erected during the reign of the Ottoman Empire and is an example of how quite famous and wealthy residents of the city lived at that time.

Also a significant landmark of Serbia is considered monument to Skanderberg, the national hero of the country, who for more than twenty years waged a stubborn struggle against the Ottoman Empire, as a result of which he managed to win back part of the country's territory from the Turks. The monument is located in the central part of the city on Mother Teresa Boulevard.

There are three museums in the city:

1. City Museum, whose exhibits and documents give a complete historical picture of the life and development of Pristina from antiquity to the present day;
2. Ethnographical museum, which contains household items of village life;
3. Museum of Kosovo where you can see the results of the work of archaeologists. There are also things of ancient eras and trophies of the Second World War. The most interesting and famous exhibit is the Goddess of Fertility, whose figurine was made of ordinary clay. It was believed that the goddess produces a change of seasons, increases the vitality of people, protects the harvest.

Devil's settlement

damn city or Javolya Varosh- This is another unique and, perhaps, the brightest and most mysterious sight of Serbia. It is a real miracle of nature with world significance. It is formed by earthen pyramids of the most varied, bizarre shapes. They are formed and destroyed in the process of soil erosion.

Today in Javolya Varosh you can see more than two hundred pillars made of earth. Under the influence of natural factors, they tend to grow, change shape, disappear and reappear.

The location of the Devil's City are surroundings of Kursumlia on Mount Radan. This area is rich in mineral and thermal springs. At the same time, there are few plants here, due to the large amount of minerals in the soil. Such natural conditions contribute to the fact that the soil layers are constantly washed out and weathered. Due to this, such diabolical landscapes are created.

In ancient times, the inhabitants of these places did not find an explanation for this rather strange natural phenomenon, so it was overgrown with many legends, myths and mystical stories. Guests of Serbia are very fond of visiting the Devil's City, apparently wanting to see a unique, mysterious phenomenon with their own eyes. And for greater efficiency, part of the excursions began to be carried out at night.

Serbia is a very friendly country, which, like everyone else, has its own interesting features, the main of which are the following:

• The Republic is famous low prices;
• Here indeed love citizens of our country;
• Serbs are very respect neighbors and try to help them in every little thing;
• The friendliness of the local population contributes crime reduction;
• Serbia is best country for those who want to lead quiet And quiet life;
• Serbs are quite beautiful, their colloquial speech is full of expression, bright colors and feelings. At the same time, it is accompanied by active gestures;
• Most of the population smokes a lot;
• The everyday cuisine of Serbia is tied to Turkish dishes, only a few upgraded;
• In the nineteenth century, the main rule of the Serbian language became: words are spelled the way they are heard;
• It has long been customary in Serbia to get married and have children, usually not before thirty years old;
• Almost all Serbs are crazy love sports especially tennis and football. At the same time, they not only love to cheer for their favorite athletes, but also play themselves;
• Favorite Serbian drink is Turkish coffee, they drink it often and a lot. Serbs practically do not drink tea;
• Serbia is very love to build beautiful and reliable private houses, therefore, almost all villages in the country can be called elite;
• Wine, which we consider red, the Serbs call black;
• The country consumes a wide variety of products based on milk;
• Serbia is very large raspberry exporter to the world market, although its cost in the country is quite high;
• Serbs never do not discuss their problems and don't complain for life;
• In Serbia, as in Russia, they celebrate the Old New Year, calling it Little Christmas.

Basic moments

The kindness and hospitality of the Serbs are 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, with its roots dating back to the times of the Byzantine Empire. This is the birthplace of world-famous scientists: inventor Nikola Tesla, naturalist Josif Pancic, geographer Jovan Cvijch, mathematician Mihailo Petrovich, astronomer Milyutin Milankovic, chemist Pavle Savic. In the last century alone, the country has given the world the beloved film director Emir Kusturica, the poet Milorad Pavic, the singer and composer Djorjde Marjanovic, and many other outstanding personalities. It was Serbia that had a strong influence on the development of contemporary 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 please guests with a low cost of living, food and shopping.

Cities of Serbia

All cities in Serbia

Climate

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

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

In the spring in Serbia, the weather is changeable: from +15 degrees in the sun to -5 degrees in frost. Real warmth returns with 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. Heavy rains at this time of the year are short-lived, and gloomy overcast 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 precipitation falls in May and June.

Mild Serbian winters are often overshadowed by piercing cold winds, which even got their own names:

• Koshava - a 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 district 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. The blooming field of sunflowers in beauty can compete with the most spectacular landscapes that only exist on planet Earth!

Serbia belongs to the second place 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, oxbow lakes, marshes and magnificent, 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 waters of the Danube. Here the river abounds with numerous whirlpools up to 90 meters deep. On the territory of the Dzherdap Gorge there is a national park of the same name, the pride of which are numerous relic plants that have long disappeared in most of Europe.

The southern part of western and eastern Serbia is occupied by mountains. 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 Rilo-Rhodopi system. The height of 15 mountains in Serbia exceeds the mark of 2000 meters. The highest point is Jeravitsa with a height of 2656 meters. In the mountains of Serbia, boundless oak forests, beech and linden forests have found shelter.

Population and language

About 7 million people live in Serbia. Most of the population are Serbs, the second largest are Hungarians. The bright national mosaic is complemented by Bulgarians, Albanians, Bosnians, Slovaks, Gypsies, Macedonians, and 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 denominations, most of all Orthodox here, which somewhat makes local traditions and culture related to Russia.

History

Serbia's historical roots date back to the 6th century. The settlement of the ancient Slavs on the Balkan Peninsula marked the appearance of the first proto-state formations. By the end of the 9th century, the main principalities were formed here: Duklja, Travuniya, Pagania, Zakhumye, Serbia.

The first known ruler of these lands is Prince Vysheslav, who lived in the 8th century. His descendant Vlastimir liberated the Balkan Slavs from the rule of the Byzantine Empire, after which the Serbian state expanded almost to the entire peninsula. The power that was gaining power entered into a confrontation with the largest neighbor - the Bulgarian kingdom - alternately losing or winning back lands. After the conclusion of peace with Bulgaria, princely wars began in Serbia for the supremacy of power.

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 XIV century.

The Battle of Kosovo 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 for as much as 350 years was under the rule of the Turks.

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 formation appeared on the political map of Europe - the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. It included the People's Republic of Serbia, renamed in 1963 into the Socialist Republic of Serbia.

The decline of socialism here was accompanied by inter-ethnic 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 are faced with.

After the collapse of Yugoslavia in 2003, a union of two states was formed - Serbia and Montenegro, which existed for only 3 years. The Serbian people took the initiative to transform 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 and spearheaded 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.

Sights and tourism in Serbia

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

The Serbian capital has absorbed the historical spirit of various eras, combining Western culture with Eastern. The city was destroyed almost forty times, but it was successfully restored again and again, which was reflected in appearance modern buildings.

The old part is located next to the fortress. That's what it's called - Stari-Grad. On the local streets you can see many sights and places for recreation - cozy restaurants, coffee houses, pastry shops. Of particular interest to guests are the rich expositions of the National Museum, located on Republic Square. If you need shops selling souvenirs, look for them in the Skadarlije quarter and near the Ada Ciganlija park - these are great places to walk. There are also religious sights in this part of the capital of Serbia - the majestic temple of St. Sava and the only surviving mosque in Bayrakli-Jami.

Modern buildings, wide boulevards, spacious streets, alleys and recreation parks - tourists will find all this in the new part of the city, located south of the fortress. Among the key attractions of the area, it is worth mentioning the Museum of the Revolution, the Allied Executive Veche, the grave and the former residence of Marshal Tito.

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

- this is the financial and spiritual center of Serbia, not for nothing called the "Serbian Athens". The city became the core of the formation of national culture, since for several centuries it was here that the metropolis 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 Theatre, the Danube Park, Freedom Square, an Orthodox church and church.

In the suburban area is the Fruška Gora National Park, one of the seven wonders of Serbia. More than 1,500 legally protected plant species grow in this amazing reserve.

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

Not only souls are treated in this paradise. Nearby is the resort of Banja Vrdnik, which specializes in rheumatic diseases, soft tissue injuries, peripheral paralysis and general pain in the spine. The team of specialists uses Hi-tech, including cryotherapy, magnetotherapy, kinesitherapy, acupuncture.

Subotica is the gastronomic capital of Serbia. The mixture of national cuisines of Serbs, Hungarians and Croats has led to the emergence of incredibly delicious dishes. Paprikash is considered the hallmark of the city. Made from pork, chicken or fish, it contains an indispensable ingredient - paprika. Such a culinary masterpiece will be served to the 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 it was part of the Austro-Hungarian lands, so the fortifying border outposts here are really impressive.

The urban landscape is diverse and colorful: buildings with wavy patterns, wide facades and rounded lines are found everywhere in Subotica.

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

The oldest architectural monument of the city is the Franciscan Monastery, which survived two world wars and NATO bombings. 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 in order to get to Lake Palich. Its width is 4.2 thousand km², but the depth does not exceed 2 meters. The mineral water and mud of the lake have healing properties and have a positive effect on the skin and joints. For the convenience of vacationers, cafes, bike paths, and a picturesque park are equipped along the coast.

is a ski resort in Serbia, located 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 is stable for 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 rent the necessary equipment. There are special slopes for children, a large 20-kilometer path for flat skiing. Fans of winter romance can ride along the illuminated Little Lake track.

In the summer, there is also something to see: the mountains fascinate with dense forests, green meadows and flower meadows. Healing springs flow in shady thickets, and recreation centers are equipped 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 tradition with Turkish-Arabic.

Serbs are avid meat eaters. Tasty cooked pork is served in all restaurants, but roasted lamb is more popular in the eastern regions of the country. Traditionally, chops, chopped sausages, small kebabs, meat fried in a cauldron, and dried hams are prepared from meat in Serbia. Gourmets will definitely like the cold cuts, which consist 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 - thick cream, similar to melted cheese. Also, not a single breakfast of local residents begins without cheese.

Vegetables are an integral part of the Serb diet. They are on the table, regardless of whether it is breakfast or dinner. Coarsely chopped and dressed with vegetable oil salads are prepared from them. In addition, vegetables are stuffed, cooked in the oven and over an open fire. A separate place in the national cuisine is occupied by sweet red pepper, which is the basis of such typical dishes as paprikash, ajvar and pinjur.

For dessert in Serbia, you will be served famous Turkish delicacies: baklava, tulumba, datls, bureks, poured with syrup. But vanilla buns, pitas with apples, and manniks are considered primordially Serbian.

Of the strong drinks, the Serbs prefer local wines, moonshine from grapes, "rakia" on herbs, from plums, pears, 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 developing very actively in terms of tourism, so you can easily find hotels and hotels of 3-4 stars in any major city. In the capital, representatives of global chains - Holiday Inn, Continental and others - offer their highest service to customers. You can book a room using the hotellook service, which will select the most advantageous 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 any budget. Hostels in Serbia are the cheapest in Europe, the price per bed varies from 7 to 15 €. The position is not inferior to the private rental of apartments, rooms and even beds: arriving in the city, you will already see boards with thematic announcements at the station, as well as the Serbs themselves offering accommodation for guests.

Thanks to its medical and health resorts, Serbia has received the name "health oasis of 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 waters and the purest air.

• Vrnjacka Banja specializes in the treatment and rehabilitation of diabetes, as well as diseases of the digestive system;
• Soko Banya - in the fight against nonspecific lung diseases;
• Nishka Banya was created for the treatment of cardiological and rheumatic diseases.
• Many mountainous regions in Serbia are climatic centers: Zlatar, Zlatibor and Divcibar.

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

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

• Container;
• Golia.

A real rarity of nature, which is of world importance, is Javolya-Varosh ("Devil's City"), consisting of earthen pyramids of bizarre shapes.

Fans of the work of the famous director Emir Kusturica should visit the ethnographic village he created on the top of Mount Mechavnik. All streets are named after filmmakers, such as Piazza Federico Fellini. Emir Kusturica also became the founder of the international auteur film festival Küstendorf film festival in Drvengrad.

Serbia can be considered a kind of "crossroads" of Europe. The shortest roads connecting Western Europe and the Middle East run through this country. A large number of national parks, mountains, rivers make Serbia a great place for outdoor activities. However, Serbia also has a large number of unique attractions and several popular spa resorts.

Geography of Serbia

Serbia is located at the crossroads of Central and South-Eastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Serbia borders Hungary to the north, Romania and Bulgaria to the east, Macedonia to the south, and Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro to the west. The total area of ​​this Balkan country is 88,361 sq. km, and the total length of the state border is 2,397 km.

The autonomous region of Vojvodina occupies the Pannonian Lowland, while the rest of Serbia contains the Dinaric Alps, the East Serbian Mountains, as well as the Carpathian Mountains and the Stara Planina. The highest peak in Serbia is Mount Jeravica (2656 m).

The Danube flows through the entire territory of Serbia, the longest river in this country. The largest tributaries of the Danube are the Sava and the Tisza.

Capital

The capital of Serbia is Belgrade, which is now home to more than 1.2 million people. Historians believe that the first settlements on the site of modern Belgrade were founded by Celtic tribes.

Official language

The official language in Serbia is Serbian, which belongs to the South Slavic subgroup of the Slavic group of Indo-European languages.

Religion

Over 82% of Serbia's population are Orthodox Christians (Greek Catholic Church). Another 5% of Serbs consider themselves Catholics, and 2% - Muslims.

State structure of Serbia

According to the 2006 Constitution, Serbia is a parliamentary republic. The President is elected by direct universal suffrage. Legislative power belongs to the unicameral Parliament, which has 250 deputies.

The main political parties in Serbia are the Serbian Progressive Party, the Democratic Party of Serbia, and the Socialist Party.

Climate and weather in Serbia

The climate of Serbia is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, the Adriatic Sea, and various mountain systems. In the north of the country the climate is continental with hot, humid summers and cold winters, and in the south - temperate continental, with elements of the Mediterranean climate. The average air temperature in July is +22C, and in January - about 0C. The average monthly rainfall is about 55 mm.

Average air temperature in Belgrade:

• January - -3C
• February - -2С
• March - +2С
• April - +7C
• May - +12C
• June - +15C
• July - +17C
• August - +17C
• september - +13C
• october - +8C
• November - +4C
• December - 0С

Rivers and lakes

The Danube flows through the entire territory of Serbia, the longest river in this country. It has tributaries the Sava, Tisa, and Begey. In addition, there are other rivers in Serbia - Velika Morava, Tamish, Western Morava, Drina, Ibar, South Morava, Timok and Radik.

There are several large natural and artificial lakes in Serbia - Lake Djerdap, White Lake, Palic, Borsko, Srebrno, Zlatarsko and others.

History of Serbia

The Slavs settled on the territory of modern Serbia in the 17th century AD. After some time, Serbia fell under the rule of the Byzantine Empire. In the middle of the 10th century, an independent Slavic principality was formed in western Serbia.

In 1170, the Nemanjić dynasty began to rule in western Serbia. In 1217, the Pope presents the crown to King Stefan Nemanich. The heyday of the kingdom of Serbia came in the XIV century, when the country was ruled by Stefan Dusan.

However, in 1389, the Serbian army was defeated by the Turks in the Battle of Kosovo, and gradually the Ottoman Empire began to conquer the lands of Serbia. From 1459 Serbia became a province in the Ottoman Empire.

Only in 1878 Serbia became independent, and in 1882 the Kingdom of Serbia was proclaimed.

The First World War in 1914 began after the invasion of Austrian troops into the territory of Serbia. In December 1918, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was formed, which then became known as Yugoslavia.

After the end of World War II in 1945, socialist Yugoslavia was formed, led by Josip Broz Tito. The 1974 constitution was one of the reasons for the expansion of Croatian, Slovenian and Albanian nationalism.

Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina seceded from Yugoslavia in 1991-92. Almost all of the 1990s, Yugoslavia (i.e. Serbia) was at war with its former republics. The Serbs had a particularly difficult time in the war in Kosovo after NATO intervention. As a result, Kosovo seceded from Serbia.

In 2003, the state of Serbia and Montenegro was formed, which existed until 2006. Now the Republic of Serbia covers an area of ​​88,361 sq. km, and has no access to the sea.

culture

Serbs have been careful about their culture for many centuries, because. in this way they maintained their identity under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Until now, the Serbs annually celebrate various holidays, the history of which dates back to the early Middle Ages. The most popular Serbian holiday is Vidov Dan (the local version of St. Vitus Day).

Serbian cuisine

The formation of Serbian cuisine was greatly influenced by the neighboring countries of Serbia. Turkish influence is especially noticeable, because Serbia for a long time was a province of the Ottoman Empire.

For tourists in Serbia, we definitely recommend trying “ćevapčići” (small minced meat rolls), “Pljeskavica” (cutlets), “musaka”, “podvarak” (fried meat with sauerkraut), “proja” (corn bread), “gibanica » (cheese pie), etc.

Traditional strong Serbian alcoholic drinks are šljivovica (plum brandy) and Lozovača (grape brandy, brandy).

Sights of Serbia

Serbs have always carefully treated their history, and therefore there are a lot of interesting sights in this country. The top ten attractions in Serbia, in our opinion, include the following:

Cities and resorts

The largest cities in Serbia are Novi Sad, Nis, and, of course, Belgrade.

Serbia has no access to the sea, but in this country there are a lot of balneological resorts. The most popular of them are Soko-Banya, Bujanovachka-Banya, Vrnjacka-Banya, Banya-Koviljaca, and Nishka-Banya.

Souvenirs/Shopping

We advise tourists from Serbia to bring heart-shaped gingerbread, handicrafts, folk Serbian hats, embroidered shirts, traditional folk trousers, traditional folk shoes, folk Serbian jewelry (bracelets, beads, necklaces), wine, slivovitz, as well as folk Serbian musical instruments (frula, gusle and dvojnice).

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Republic of Serbia
Serb. Republic of Serbia
Motto: "Samo syllable Srbina spasava (Only unity saves the Serbs)"
Hymn: "God Truth"
date of independence	13 July 1878 as Principality of Serbia (from the Ottoman Empire) June 5, 2006 (from)
official languages	Serbian
Capital
Largest cities	,
Form of government	Parliamentary republic
The president	Alexander Vucic
Prime Minister	Ana Brnabic
Chairman of the National Assembly	Maya Gojkovic
Territory	111th in the world
Total	88,407 km²
Population
Score (2016)	▼ 7,041,599 people (98s)
Census (2012)	▲ 7,186,862 people
Density	80 people/km²
Per capita	▲ $13,944
GDP (PPP)
Total	▲ $99.9 billion
HDI (2014)	▲ 0.771 (high; 66th)
Names of residents	Serbian, Serbian, Serbs
Currency	Serbian dinar (RSD code 941)
Internet domain	.rs And .srb
ISO code	RS
IOC code	SRB
Telephone code	+381
Time Zones	CET (UTC+1, summer UTC+2)

Republic of Serbia(Serb. Republic of Serbia) - a state in the southeast, in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula and partly the Pannonian lowland, which does not have access to the sea. Member of the UN since 2000, March 1, 2012 officially acquired the status of a candidate member of the European Union.

According to the constitution of Serbia, it includes two autonomous regions: Vojvodina and Kosovo and Metohija. Since 1999, Kosovo, according to UN Security Council Resolution 1244, has been under the protectorate of the UN and is not controlled by the Serbian authorities. The institutions of temporary local self-government, in which Albanians are the majority, unilaterally declared the independence of the province on February 17, 2008, which was recognized by 110 UN member states. Serbia refused to recognize the de jure sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo, but recognized Kosovo's de facto independence by concluding an agreement on the normalization of relations with Kosovo on April 19, 2013 and ratifying it on April 22.

In the north, Serbia borders with, in the northeast - with, in the east - with, in the south - with the former Yugoslavia, in the southwest - with (only de jure, de facto borders on Kosovo) and, in the west - with and with.

After the end of the First World War, Serbia was the founder of the state of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later became part of the state of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. After World War II, Serbia was a state within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Since 1992, Serbia and have been founders and states in the federations: the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and. In 2006, it broke up, Serbia and Montenegro became separate full-fledged states.

History

Battle of the Kosovo field. Adam Stefanovich, 1870s

The history of Serbia dates back to the 6th century, from the moment the ancient Slavs settled the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. In the VIII-IX centuries, the first proto-state formations of the Serbs arose - the Serbian principality, Duklja, Zakhumya, Travuniya and Paganiya. At the end of the 12th century, the Serbian state freed itself from the rule of Byzantium and by the middle of the 14th century had developed into a major power covering almost the entire southwestern part of the Balkans. The heyday of medieval Serbia came during the reign of Stefan Dusan (1331-1355). However, after his death, the state fell apart. In 1389, the troops of the Serbian princes were defeated in the Battle of Kosovo, which led to the recognition by Serbia of the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire. Serbia was finally conquered by the Turks in 1459 and for the next 350 years the Serbian lands were under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. The northern regions were part of the Austrian Empire from the end of the 17th century.

As a result of the First Serbian uprising (1804-1813), the Serbian Principality was formed. In 1813, the uprising was crushed. The second Serbian uprising, which began in 1815, was more successful, and fifteen years later the Sultan officially recognized Milos Obrenovic as the ruler of Serbia. In 1878, on July 13, under the terms of the Berlin Peace, Serbia gained independence, in 1882 it was kingdom. By the beginning of the 20th century, a parliamentary monarchy had developed in Serbia, and a rapid rise in the economy and culture began.

Settlement of Serbs in Yugoslavia Data for 1981. Territories where Serbs made up more than 50% of the population Other territories

As a result of the Balkan Wars (1912-1913), the territory of Kosovo, part of Macedonia and a significant part of the Sandzak were included in Serbia. In World War I, Serbia sided with the Entente countries. During the war, Serbia lost, according to some estimates, up to a third of the population. After the end of the war, Serbia became the core of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (since 1929 - the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). During the Second World War, the territory of Serbia was occupied by troops from April 1941, part of the territory of the state was transferred to the satellites of Germany - Hungary and Bulgaria, as well as Albania. By 1945, Serbia was liberated by the Red Army, partisan and regular detachments of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia.

In 1945, the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia (since 1963 - SFRY) was proclaimed, which included the People's Republic of Serbia (since 1963 - the Socialist Republic of Serbia).

The growth of interethnic confrontation, separatist actions led in the early 1990s to a series of civil wars and the collapse of Yugoslavia. The long period in power of the Socialist Party of Serbia ended in 2000 after the bombing of Serbian cities by NATO aircraft (1999) and the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces to Kosovo. In June 2006, after a referendum held in Montenegro, the state union ceased to exist.

State structure

On October 28-29, 2006, a new Constitution of Serbia was adopted in a referendum, which replaced the 1990 basic law.

The President, Government and Assembly are located in Belgrade.

The president

Aleksandar Vucic, President of Serbia

The President of Serbia (Serb. Chairman) is elected for a five-year term in general direct elections, can hold this position for no more than two terms. According to the Constitution, he is the commander-in-chief of the Serbian Armed Forces, represents Serbia in the world, appoints ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, proposes candidates for the post of prime minister to the National Assembly, can dissolve the National Assembly and veto adopted laws. Also among the duties of the president is the declaration of a state of emergency, as well as the presentation of state awards.

The President has the same immunity as the deputies of the National Assembly.

According to the results of the presidential elections on April 2, 2017, Serbia was headed by the leader of the Serbian Progressive Party Aleksandar Vučić, who received more than 55% of the vote.

Government

Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister of Serbia

The government (Serb. Vlad) is the bearer of executive power and consists of 20 members, including the prime minister, one or more deputy prime ministers and several ministers. Its composition is approved by the National Assembly of Serbia by a majority vote, as well as the head of the Cabinet of Ministers, whose candidacy is proposed by the President of Serbia.

According to the Serbian Constitution, the Cabinet of Ministers is responsible for defining and implementing policies, implementing and drafting laws, organizing and controlling public authorities, and so on.

The Prime Minister and members of the Government enjoy the same immunity as the deputies of the National Assembly. They are not responsible for opinions expressed at a meeting of the Government or Parliament.

The current composition of the Government was approved by the National Assembly on June 29, 2017. Ana Brnabic became prime minister.

People's Assembly

National Assembly building in Belgrade

In September 1990, during the democratic transformations in Yugoslavia, a new Serbian constitution was adopted, which established a unicameral parliament - the National Assembly (250 seats), whose deputies are elected for a four-year term.

On April 24, 2016, elections to the Serbian parliament were held. 20 electoral groups participated in the elections, 8 of them failed to pass the required minimum and get into the National Assembly. After the parliamentary elections, 16 parliamentary factions were formed, as well as a faction of non-partisans. According to the results of the parliamentary elections, the seats were distributed as follows:

Body of constitutional supervision - the Constitutional Court ( Statutory Court of the Republic of Serbia), the highest court is the Supreme Court of Cassation ( Supreme Court of Cassation), Courts of Appeal - Courts of Appeal ( Judges' Appeals), courts of first instance - higher courts ( vichy sudovi), the lowest level of the judicial system - the main courts ( Basic judges), the body that selects candidates for the positions of judges - the Supreme Council of Justice ( High council of judges).

State symbols

The anthem of Serbia is a slightly modified anthem of the Kingdom of Serbia "God of Truth", which for several years was also an anthem. The coat of arms of Serbia, adopted on August 17, 2004, is a Serbian coat of arms from the reign of the Obrenović dynasty. The country has two flags: national and official. The first is a red-blue-white cloth, and the second is the same with the state emblem.

Foreign policy

Countries where Serbia has diplomatic missions. Red - embassies, blue - consulates, yellow - the rest

Serbia is represented abroad by 64 embassies and 22 consulates general. On the territory of Serbia itself there are 70 embassies and 5 consulates general. After the collapse of Yugoslavia, Serbia inherited about a third of the property of the Foreign Ministry of the SFRY.

Serbia is a member of such international organizations as: UN, Council of Europe, OSCE, Interpol, World Bank, Partnership for Peace, Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, UNESCO, World Tourism Organization, Universal Postal Union, World Confederation of Labor, World Customs Organization, World Meteorological Organization, World Health Organization and so on.

During the collapse of Yugoslavia, Serbia was in international isolation, numerous sanctions were applied against it: military, economic, cultural and others. Public opinion in many countries of the world was opposed to it, the country was considered guilty of unleashing bloody conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the end of the wars in the former Yugoslavia, the sanctions regime was eased, but in 1998-1999, Serbia was again isolated and became the target of NATO air strikes. and the countries of the European Union resumed cooperation with Serbia only after the overthrow of President Slobodan Milosevic and the coming to power of Vojislav Kostunica, Serbia's relations with most Western countries normalized. Currently, the country's foreign policy is characterized by the desire to join the EU, the diplomatic struggle against the recognition of the independence of the autonomous province of Kosovo and the development of comprehensive relations with many countries of the world.

Prior to the arrest of General Ratko Mladic and former President of the Serbian Krajina Goran Hadzic, the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia had a significant influence on Serbian politics. In particular, EU functionaries have repeatedly stated that Serbia's further European integration depends on its cooperation with the Tribunal. After the arrest of the above persons, President Boris Tadic said that he considers the obligations to The Hague to be fully fulfilled.

Later, a number of EU functionaries stated that the issue of Serbia's accession to this organization directly depends on whether Belgrade can normalize relations with Kosovo and recognize it as an independent state. These statements caused a heated debate in Serbian society and a decrease in the number of supporters of Serbia's European integration.

Since June 10, 2009, Serbia and Russia have established visa-free regime for 30 days for citizens of both states. Prior to that, for Russian citizens, the visa-free period in Serbia was 90 days (the rule has been in effect since March 2008), but Serbs needed a visa to enter Russia. Citizens of Serbia, with the exception of those residing within Kosovo and Metohija (the "Republic of Kosovo"), since December 2009 have the right to visa-free entry to the countries of the European Union. Thus, Serbia has a visa-free regime with both Russia and the European Union.

Back in 2006, Serbia and NATO signed an agreement on military cooperation.

Serbia cooperates with NATO in the framework of the Partnership for Peace program. In 2014, the parties agreed on an individual partnership plan for a program designed to build trust between participants.

In 2015, the Serbian Parliament, the Assembly, ratified with NATO a secret agreement known as SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement), which was signed in 2014. Under the agreement, Serbia, not being a NATO member, assumed obligations equal to those of full NATO members. As a result, Serbia became de facto a NATO member with obligations but no rights.

On February 19, 2016, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic signed an agreement with NATO, according to which, representatives of the Alliance receive special diplomatic immunity and freedom of movement throughout the country, as well as access to Serbian military facilities. The agreement led to right-wing protests across the country. Opponents of the agreement argue that it is contrary to the Constitution.

Armed forces and security services

Army

Serbian Guard

The Serbian Armed Forces have come a long way of reform and restructuring. In 1992, after the collapse of the SFRY, the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serb. Troops of Yugoslavia). In 2000, the share of military spending was 9.1% of GDP (one of the highest rates in Europe), and the number of military personnel was 114.2 thousand people. In 2003, the Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro (Serb. Troops of Serbia and Crne Gora). In 2006, their units stationed on the territory of Serbia were formalized in the Armed Forces of Serbia (Serb. Vojska Srbiјe). At the same time, another large-scale military reform was launched.

Main battle tank M-84

The Serbian Armed Forces number 36,000 soldiers and officers, of which 11,000 are professional soldiers and 22,000 are volunteer soldiers. After the military reform, instead of about a hundred brigades, 12 - 4 infantry, mixed-artillery, special brigade, two aviation, one missile and one artillery, communications and logistics brigade were formed. Also in the Serbian Army are separate battalions of military police and communications. The corps and armies were replaced by brigades and battalions, which became the backbone of the new structure of the Serbian Army.

The Serbian army consists of ground forces, air force and air defense. Most of the weapons were inherited from the SFRY and FRY. Periodically, new samples are acquired in small quantities. Since 2011, military service has become voluntary. Prior to this, the term of urgent military service was 6 months, alternative service - 9 months. Military spending in 2011 amounted to 2.8% of the country's GDP.

Serbia is the largest arms exporter in the region. In 2009, the value of Serbian military exports was US$500 million.

Police

Border police car

The Serbian Police is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior, which consists of several departments. The police force includes 161 municipal stations, 62 border control stations and 49 traffic control stations. The Serbian Police is a professional organization with 42,740 officers and 26,527 civilians as of 2006. Until January 3, 1997, the police were called militia. The renaming was carried out in accordance with the Law on Internal Affairs.

The structure of the police includes several special forces. The oldest of them is the Gendarmerie (Serb. Gendarmerie), which performs both civilian and military functions. Other well-known special forces are the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Serb. Special anti-terrorist unit) and the Anti-Terrorist Group of Serbia (Serb. Anti-terrorist unit) designed to combat terrorism and organized crime. The first was founded in the SFRY and participated in the hostilities in Kosovo and Metohija, while the second was created in 2003, during large-scale anti-mafia actions. Another well-known special unit is the helicopter detachment (Serb. Helicopter unit), created in 1965 and currently has 22 helicopters.

special services

The main security service in Serbia is the Information Security Agency (Serb. Comfortable and informative agency). It is responsible for intelligence and counterintelligence issues, the fight against organized crime and terrorism. The Information Security Agency is under the control of the Assembly and the Government of Serbia, to which it must provide reports twice a year on its activities and the security situation in the country.

The agency was formed on July 11, 2002 and is headquartered in . Its predecessor was the State Security Service (Serb. Service to secure security). Since July 17, 2008, the Information Security Agency has been headed by Sasha Vukadinovic.

During the existence of the BIA since 2002, the Agency was headed by:

• Andria Savich;
• Misha Milicevic;
• Rade Bulatovich;
• Sasha Vukadinovic.

Administrative division

The territory of Serbia is divided into districts, districts into cities and communities. The counties do not have local self-government (except for the county of Belgrade).

The representative body of the city is the city assembly ( city ​​councilcity ​​veћemayorcity ​​government

The representative body of the community is the community meeting ( Skupshtina opshtine), is elected by the population, the executive bodies of the community are the community council ( opshtinsko veje), headed by the chairman of the community ( chairman opshtine), and consisting of politicians, elected by the community meeting, and a community council, consisting of professional officials, elected by the community meeting.

Statistical regions

Statistical regions of Serbia

According to the Regulation on the nomenclature of statistical territorial units, put into effect in 2009 and slightly amended in 2010 (Serb. Uredba on the nomenclature of statistical territorial units), within Serbia, there are three levels of statistical territorial units: HCTJ level 1 - Serbia-North and Serbia-Yugureni HCTJ 2 - within Serbia-North: Belgrade region and Vojvodina region, within Serbia-South - regions of Šumadija and Western Serbia, Eastern and Southern Serbia, Kosovo and Metohija. HCTJ level 3 - administrative regions (in total within Serbia - 29 with Kosovo and Metohija, 24 without them).

These regions are formed as statistical units in order to collect information for the Republican Bureau of Statistics and for local governments.

Counties and communities

Along with this, the territory of Serbia is divided into 29 districts (Serb. Okrug) and the territory of the city, which, in turn, are divided into communities (Serb. Opshtine). Each district is headed by a district head who is directly responsible to the Serbian government.

On the territory of the autonomous province of Vojvodina there are 7 districts - Sremsky, North Banatsky, South Banatsky, Sredne-Banatsky, North Bachsky, West Bachsky, South Bachsky, which include 45 communities.

On the territory of Kosovo and Metohija there are 5 districts - Kosovo, Pech, Prizren, Kosovo-Mitrovitsky, Kosovo-Pomoravsky, which include 29 communities.

On the territory of central Serbia there are 17 districts: Borsky, Branicevsky, Zaecarsky, Zlatiborsky, Kolubarsky, Machvansky, Moravichsky, Nishavsky, Pirotsky, Podunaysky, Pomoravsky, Pchinsky, Rasinsky, Rashsky, Toplichsky, Šumadija, Jablanichsky and Belgrade district, which include 137 communities .

The representative bodies of the communities are the meetings of the communities (Serb. Skupshtina opshtine), executive - community councils (Serb. Opshtinsko veћe).

Cities

Kragujevac

Serbia has 27 cities, 195 urban-type settlements and 6158 villages and hamlets. According to the 17th article of the Law on the Territorial Organization of the Republic of Serbia, the status of a city has a settlement, which is the economic, administrative, geographical and cultural center of a certain area and other settlements located in it. All other large settlements are considered urban-type settlements (Serb. gradsko nasee).

Prior to the adoption of this law, when determining the status of a city, an administrative-legal criterion based on population census data was used. This criterion, introduced by the famous demographer Milos Matsura, divided the country's settlements into three types - rural, mixed and urban. The urban-type settlement was supposed to consist of 2000 inhabitants, 90% of whom were not employed in agriculture.

The following settlements have the official status of the city:,, Loznica, Nis,, Yagodina. Of these, and Niš are divided into several municipalities, while the rest of the cities are organized as a single area of ​​local self-government. According to the Law on the Territorial Organization of the Republic of Serbia, the status of a city belongs to a locality, which is the economic, administrative, geographical and cultural center of a certain region and other localities located in it. The representative body of the city is the city assembly ( city ​​council), is elected by the population, the executive bodies of the city are the city council ( city ​​veћe), headed by the mayor ( mayor), and consisting of politicians, elected by the city assembly, and the city government ( town council), consisting of professional officials elected by the city assembly.

Geography

Physical map of Serbia

80% of the territory of Serbia is located on the Balkan Peninsula, 20% is occupied by the Pannonian lowland. The length of the borders is 2,364.4 km: (s - 546.5 km, s - 367.1 km, s - 282.9 km, s - 249.5 km, s - 11.1 km, s - 370.9 km, s - 261.7 km, s - 174.4 km The total length of the borders is 2364 kilometers, of which 751 kilometers lie along rivers, and 43 kilometers along lakes.

The north of Serbia is dominated by plains. 15 mountains of Serbia are over 2000 meters above sea level. There are 4 mountain systems in Serbia. The Dinaric Highlands occupies a large area in the west, stretching from the northwest to the southeast. Stara Planina and the East Serbian Mountains are to the east, separated from the Dinaric Highlands by the Morava River. In the south there are ancient mountains - part of the Rilo-Rhodope system. Highest point Serbia - Mount Jeravica (2656 meters).

extreme points

• North: 46°11"N, 19°40"E d.
• South: 41°53"N, 20°36"E d.
• Eastern: 43°11"N, 23°00'E
• Western: 45°55"N, 18°51'E

Hydrology

Danube near Apatin

Ribnichi lake

Most of Serbia (81.646 km², 92.4%) belongs to the Danube basin, which is 588 kilometers long in Serbia. On the plain, the Danube has a meandering channel with a width of 300 to 1200 m, a depth of 2 to 19 m and a rather calm current. Where the river crosses the Carpatho-Balkan mountain system, its channel narrows to 150 m, the depth increases to 82 m, and the flow speed reaches 5 m/s. On the plain above this area, during a flood, the water level rises significantly, and large spills occur. In addition to the Danube, the navigable rivers are the Sava (206 km), Tisza (168 km), Begei (75 km), partially navigable - the Big Morava (3 km out of 185 km) and Tamish (3 km out of 101 km). Other major rivers are the West Morava (308 km), the South Morava (295 km), the Ibar (272 km), the Drina (220 km) and the Timok (202 km). Part of the south of Serbia belongs to the basin of the rivers Beli Dream and Radik (4.771 km, 5.4%), which flow into the Adriatic. The basins of the Pchinya, Lepenac and Dragovishtitsa rivers 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 ships with a tonnage of up to 1000 tons. The largest canal system is the Danube-Tisa-Danube, which includes the Great Bach Canal and the Small Bach Canal.

The largest lake in Serbia is Lake Djerdap with a total area of ​​253 km², of which 178 km² are in Serbia. The largest natural lake is White Lake with an area of ​​25 km². The largest island in Serbia is located on the Danube near Kostolets. There are also waterfalls in Serbia, the largest is Elovarnik (71 meters), it is located in the Kopaonik National Park. The second highest is the Pil waterfall (64 meters) in the Balkan Mountains.

Soils

Serbia has a diverse soil cover. In Vojvodina there are large areas of fertile chernozem soils. Due to the lack of moisture in this region, saline soils are also present. Brown forest, mountain-forest brown and mountain-forest humus-carbonate soils are developed in mountainous regions. Intrazonal alluvial soils, common in the valleys of many rivers, are known for their fertility.

Flora

The main types of natural vegetation in Serbia are the Pannonian steppes within the Middle Danube Plain, coniferous, broad-leaved and mixed forests in the mountains. In Vojvodina, forests are rare and are found only on hilly ridges. The cultivated vegetation of the Middle Danube Plain is represented by significant crops of corn, wheat, sugar beet, sunflower, flax, as well as orchards and hop plantations, and in river valleys - rice crops. The main crops of wheat and corn are concentrated in Vojvodina. In the mountains of Serbia, the lower belt is occupied by oak forests, and the upper one by beech forests. There are also mixed beech-oak and beech-fir forests, as well as pure spruce forests with endemic Serbian spruce and fir forests. The deciduous species of this area also include elm, ash, maple, chestnut, walnut, linden, poplar and willow. Serbia is a major producer of plums and other fruits, berries and grapes.

According to 2009 data, more than 29% of Serbia's territory was occupied by forests. Their total area is 2,252,000 hectares. Of these, 53% are managed by the state, 47% are owned by private owners. There are 0.3 hectares of forest per inhabitant.

Fauna

The lynx population in Serbia is protected by law

Deer and roe deer can be found in the forests of Fruška Gora in Vojvodina. On the plains there are wild boars, hares, in mountain forests - roe deer, at the border with alpine meadows - chamois. In the steppes on the Middle Danube Plain, at the western border of its range, there is a European ground squirrel. Many birds nest on the forested slopes of Fruška Gora, including white and black storks, as well as predators such as Imperial Eagle, Saker Falcon, and Black Kite. On the plains, in the mountains and on the swampy plains between the Danube and the Sava, the white-tailed eagle is found. Wild ducks and geese, herons and storks, marsh snipe, etc. nest in swamps and lakes, some waterfowl winter, quails, pheasants, black grouse, partridges, turtle doves, and woodcocks are common on dry plains. The rivers are rich in trout, perch, carp, catfish, carp, pike and several species of sturgeon.

Of domestic animals, pigs have the largest livestock, mainly in Vojvodina and some other regions of Serbia. In the mountainous regions of the Dinaric Highlands, cattle are bred - undersized, resistant to disease, poor food and hard work, and unpretentious in care. In Vojvodina, its improved breeds are common, in particular Podolia - long-horned, gray, which is used as a draft force. After World War II, the Holstein breed was imported into Yugoslavia. In most mountainous areas, sheep are predominantly bred. In the central part of the country, oxen and bulls are used as draft power. By the end of the 20th century, the number of cattle decreased, while the number of pigs increased. The number of goats and sheep constantly increased until the Second World War. Since 1945, the goat population has been brought under control because they cause serious damage to forest plantations. Poultry farming is developed throughout the country.

Hunting and shooting of animals in Serbia are regulated by law. The territory of the country is divided into almost 300 hunting grounds.

National parks

Environmental protection in Serbia has a long tradition. As early as the 14th century, King Dushan banned excessive deforestation. There are five national parks in Serbia, the oldest of which is Fruška Gora, founded in 1960, and the largest is Đerdap. All of them are members of the European Federation of National Parks - EUROPARC. The Đerdap National Park stretches for 100 km from Golubac to Kladovo and covers an area of ​​about 630 km². At this point, the Danube flows through the grandiose Dzherdap Gorge. Two lakes, Djerdap and Silver Lake, are the most notable on the Serbian part of the Danube. Fruška Gora is located between the Sava and Danube rivers and is a wooded hill on a plain in the province of Vojvodina. The total area exceeds 220 km². Fruška Gora is also an attractive tourist destination thanks to its many old Serbian monasteries. This region has a long tradition of winemaking and is also known as a popular destination for hunters.

Climate

Serbia is located on the Balkan Peninsula, surrounded by warm seas - the Adriatic, Aegean and Black. Another important factor that determines the Serbian climate is the topography. Serbia has a continental climate in the north, a temperate continental climate in the south, and a mountainous climate in the mountains. 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 rainfall is 896 mm. Rains most often fall in June and May.

The strongest winds are:

• Koshava (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 valley of the Morava River).
• South wind (warm and dry south wind blowing in the valley of the Morava river).
• Southwest wind (warm and humid, blowing from the Adriatic mainly in the West of Serbia).

Ecology

Ecology and environmental protection in Serbia is handled by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency. The NATO war against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia caused enormous damage to the Serbian ecology. Alliance aircraft not only used depleted uranium ammunition, but also bombed industrial facilities and warehouses, resulting in toxic emissions. The soil, atmosphere and water bodies were contaminated. Serbian authorities continue to deal with the aftermath of the bombing. The situation in the field of waste processing remains difficult. Of these, only 15% are being reused, but measures are being taken to improve the situation.

Population

Ethnic map of Serbia

The population of Serbia according to the results of the census held in October 2011 is 7,186,862 people, in 2002 this figure was 7,498,001 people. The population is distributed among the regions of Serbia as follows: Serbia-North - 3556 thousand people, including the Belgrade region 1639 thousand people, the Vojvodina region - 1917 thousand people. Serbia-South - 3565 thousand people, including Šumadija and Western Serbia - 2013 thousand people, Southern and Eastern Serbia - 1551 thousand people. The Serbian population figures do not include the population of Kosovo and Metohija and the Albanians of southern Serbia, who boycotted the census. Serbia has been in an acute demographic crisis since the early 1990s, when the death rate continuously exceeded the birth rate (the death rate for 2011 exceeds the birth rate - 14.2 and 9.3 respectively). Serbia has one of the most negative population growth rates in the world, ranking 225 out of 233 countries. The total fertility rate of 1.44 children per mother is one of the lowest in the world.

In the self-proclaimed “Republic of Kosovo”, the census was conducted in the summer of 2011, the population was determined at 1,733,872 people. The majority of the population of the self-proclaimed Kosovo are Albanians, the second largest ethnic group is Serbs. The north of Kosovo did not correspond with some estimates of about 68,000 people living there, most of them Serbs.

According to some estimates, about 300,000 people left Serbia in the 1990s, about 20% of them with higher education. Due to the low birth rate and the emigration of young people, the country is among the ten countries in the world with the highest average age of the population.

Ethnic composition

Serbs in national costumes

Serbs are the largest ethnic group in Serbia, accounting for 83% of the total population, excluding Kosovo and Metohija. The second largest ethnic group are Hungarians - 3.9% in all of Serbia and 14.3% of the population in Vojvodina. Other minorities include Bosniaks, Gypsies, Albanians, Bulgarians, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Slovaks, Rusyns, Vlachs, Romanians. Serbia also has a significant Chinese diaspora.

Serbia has the largest number of refugees in . Their share in the country's population ranges from 7% to 7.5%. Hundreds of thousands of refugees during the breakup of Yugoslavia arrived in Serbia from Croatia and the former Serbian Krajina, from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo and Metohija. All these migrations significantly changed the ethnic composition of the country.

According to the 2011 census, there were 1,135,393 representatives of national minorities living in Serbia (excluding Kosovo and Metohija).

Language

The official language of the country is Serbian in Cyrillic. It has national status. Along with it, 12 more languages ​​are also officially used at the regional and local levels. In the assembly (parliament) of Vojvodina, since 2002, five languages ​​​​can be officially used (along with Serbian): Hungarian, Slovak, Croatian, Romanian and Ruthenian. In Kosovo and Metohija, the Albanian one also has the status of a regional one. As for the local level (community), a non-Serbian language receives official status there if the proportion of its speakers reaches a certain indicator. For example, in Vojvodina, a minority language receives official status throughout the community if representatives of this minority make up at least 15% of its population. As a result, Hungarian has official status in 30 municipalities of Vojvodina, Slovak in 13, Romanian in 9, Ruthenian in 8, Croatian in 3, Czech in 1. In Central Serbia, almost all communities use only Serbian. Only in certain communities of Central Serbia do other languages ​​also have official status: Bulgarian in Bosilegrad and Dimitrovgrad, Albanian in three communities bordering Kosovo, Bosnian in several communities of the historical region of Sandjak. In addition, according to the European Charter for Regional Languages ​​ratified by Serbia, the Ukrainian language received official status.

Religion

Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade

Serbia is a secular state. The Constitution and laws of Serbia guarantee freedom of religion. In practice, this is true, although not completely. The 2006 law divides all religious organizations into two categories: "traditional churches and religious associations" (Serbian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, Reformed Christian Church, Evangelical Christian Church, Jewish and Islamic religious communities) and "confessional associations" (16 organizations). The difference is that traditional churches and religious associations, unlike confessional associations, have the right to organize religious education in schools. In addition, the 2006 law prohibited the registration of a religious organization if its name is identical to the name of a religious organization already registered in the register or the name of an organization that is being registered. In addition, there are other problems. For example, the existence of two Muslim communities in Serbia and their tense relations with each other, the issue of church property nationalized during the years of the SFRY, and sporadic attacks on representatives and objects of small religious communities. In 1945-1946, the Yugoslav authorities nationalized most of the property of churches and monasteries and constitutionally separated church from state. At the same time, the Macedonian Church achieved independence from the Serbian Orthodox Church.

According to the 2002 census, excluding 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).

Refugees

Serbian refugee from Krajina

The wars in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina caused massive waves of Serbian refugees from these countries. In 1994, there were over 180,000 refugees and displaced persons from Croatia in the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1995, after the destruction of the Serbian Krajina, between 230,000 and 250,000 Serbs became refugees. They were received on its territory by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. 12,000 people were sent to Kosovo, 60,000 settled in Vojvodina, 180,000 settled in Central Serbia. At the same time, 25,000 of them were in collective refugee camps. The influx of refugees created an extremely tense humanitarian situation in Yugoslavia. A difficult question arose about their status. The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina also caused a significant influx of Serbian refugees into Yugoslavia.

Serbian refugees from Kosovo and Metohija

The actions of the Kosovo Liberation Army and the bombing of NATO aircraft during the Kosovo War forced the majority of the non-Albanian population to leave Kosovo and Metohija. Fleeing from the bombing, up to 790,000 Albanians also left the region. Most of them went to Albania or Macedonia, but some found refuge in Serbia and Montenegro. In 2000, more than 200,000 people left the region in Yugoslavia. In 2001, a census of refugees was carried out. In total, there were 451,980 of them in the country, of which 63% were from Croatia, the rest from Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the same year, there were 408 collective centers in Serbia, housing 20,949 refugees from Croatia and BiH and 9,107 IDPs from Kosovo and Metohija. About 10,000 more were in unregistered collective centers. The rest of the refugees and IDPs rented accommodation or stayed with relatives or friends.

From the moment they arrived in Serbian territory, many refugees received citizenship or, after some time, returned to Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, in 2012 there were 97,000 refugees from Croatia and Bosnia and 236,000 internally displaced persons from Kosovo. In 2011, there were 60 collective centers in the country, where 4,700 refugees and IDPs were accommodated. Thus, Serbia remains the first country in Europe and is among the top five countries in the world with the greatest refugee problems.

Justice

The Serbian Constitution provides for the autonomy and independence of state bodies that protect the freedoms and rights of citizens, the legally approved rights and interests of legal entities, and ensures constitutionality and legality. Judicial power belongs to the courts and operates independently of the legislative and executive branches. Judicial decisions are taken on behalf of the people and on the basis of the Constitution and the law, ratified international treaties and regulations adopted on the basis of the law. Court decisions are binding on everyone and cannot be subject to extrajudicial control. The decision of the court can be reviewed only by decision of the competent court in the manner prescribed by law. Everyone is obliged to respect the decisions of the court.

Courts of the republican level: the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Cassation, the Arbitration Court of Appeal, etc.

Courts of general jurisdiction:

• Principal courts - for a city or one or more municipalities
• Superior Courts - in the territory of one or more principal courts
• Courts of Appeal - for several higher courts
• Supreme Court of Cassation

The Constitutional Court is an independent state body that protects constitutionality and legality, as well as human and minority rights and freedoms. Decisions of the Constitutional Court are final and subject to mandatory execution. The Supreme Court of Cassation is the highest court in the Republic of Serbia and the highest court for arbitration and administrative courts, etc.

Economy

National Bank of Serbia

Advantages: in 2000-2001 foreign financial aid and investment resumed. The economic potential of the Danube.

Weak sides: the dire consequences of UN sanctions and NATO bombings in 1999. Small hard currency reserve. Outflow of qualified specialists. Corruption.

The Serbian economy is in transition. Despite the dominance of the market sector, the public sector still has a large share in the economy. The economy relies on manufacturing and exports and relies heavily on large foreign investment. A significant share of the economy is agriculture, industry and services. At the turn of the 80-90s of the XX century, the state was favorable. The collapse of Yugoslavia, the loss of trade ties with the Comecon and within the former Yugoslavia, a long period of international economic sanctions, NATO bombing in 1999 pushed the economy back to the level of 1945.

Serbia has carried out some trade liberalization, enterprise restructuring and privatization, however, many large enterprises, including those in the power industry, telecommunications companies, gas company, national air carrier and others remain state-owned. The structural economic reforms needed to ensure the country's long-term prosperity have largely stalled since the onset of the global financial crisis. Serbia, however, is gradually recovering from its effects. Economic growth in 2011 was 2.0%, after a modest 1.0% growth in 2010 and a contraction of 3.5% in 2009. In 2010, the Cvetkovic government adopted an economic development plan that calls for a quadrupling of exports within ten years and heavy investment in basic infrastructure.

The serious problems of the Serbian economy are the inefficiency of the judiciary, the high level of corruption and the aging of the population. At the same time, there are favorable conditions for economic growth - a strategic location, a relatively inexpensive and skilled labor force, free trade agreements with the European Union, Russia and Turkey, as well as favorable investment conditions.

The currency of Serbia is the Serbian dinar. 1 Serbian dinar is equal to 100 par. In Kosovo and Metohija, in the territory controlled by the Albanian authorities of the Republic of Kosovo, the euro is used.

Tourism

Zlatibor

Despite international sanctions and hostilities in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, tourism in Serbia has developed dynamically. Between 1990 and 2000 it grew by 50%, and total revenues by 80%. This stimulated the further expansion of the tourism industry and the search for investments abroad.

Street of Prince Michael in Belgrade

The modern strategy for the development of tourism in Serbia provides for a selective approach. First of all, as the most promising, she highlights rural tourism, within which there are tourist villages in the mountains. They, in turn, offer healthy and environmentally friendly food, outdoor activities, ethnic villages, etc.

Since 2000, a new stage has begun in the tourism sector in Serbia, characterized by an increase in the flow of tourists, both domestic and from abroad. A feature of Serbia is a relatively small number of citizens traveling abroad for tourism purposes. For example, in 2012, the outbound tourist flow in Serbia amounted to 631 thousand people. By European standards, this is very small. For example, in Slovakia, a country with a smaller population, in 2012 the outbound tourist flow amounted to 3017 thousand people.

Transport

Serbian transport suffered significant damage from international sanctions against Yugoslavia and the NATO bombing of the country in 1999. However, it quickly recovered after a few years, the needs of the economy affected.

The transport infrastructure is represented by developed road, rail, air and river transport.

Direct rail links to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Montenegro. Indirect with Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Russia, Austria, Albania and Ukraine. The modernization of the railways has become one of the priorities of the Serbian government. For these purposes, the country has taken several loans. Part of the funds was spent on updating the train fleet.

The most significant motorways are: E65 (-), E70 (-), E75 (-), E662 (Subotica - ), E761 (- ), E763 (Belgrade - Bielo Pole), E771, E885 (from Albania to Pristina). There are also other major roads in the country: A1 (Batrovci - Sremska Mitrovica - Belgrade - Nis -), A2 (Belgrade - Nis), A3 (Nis - border with Bulgaria). Several modern highways are currently under construction. It is also planned to expand and update existing ones. The Serbian government has repeatedly stated that the developed infrastructure was one of the priorities of the Cabinet of Ministers of Mirko Cvetkovic.

There is also water transport in the country, carrying out transportation mainly along the Danube and Sava rivers. Ports on the Danube: Belgrade, . Ports on the Sava: .

The capital region has a developed air service. The main and largest airport in the country is the Nikola Tesla Belgrade International Airport. The largest national airline is Air Serbia.

As of 2010, 1,567,113 cars, 38,229 motorcycles, 8,034 buses, 162,799 trucks, 23,552 special vehicles (2009 data), 239,295 tractors and 99,025 trailers are registered in Serbia.

Industry in Serbia

Energy

Hydroelectric power station in Bajina Basta

Most of the energy in Serbia is produced by thermal power plants and hydroelectric power plants (about 25.4%). CHP plants in Serbia run on coal. The largest of these is the Nikola Tesla CHPP with 14 units, most of which are located near the town of Obrenovac, southwest of Belgrade. This CHPP makes up one third of the total potential of the "Electricity of Serbia" and is the largest in South-Eastern Europe.

The main producer of oil and gas is the Oil Industry of Serbia, most of whose shares are owned by the Russian OJSC Gazprom Neft. NIS and Gazprom Neft, together with the Serbian government, planned the construction of the Serbian section of the South Stream gas pipeline. However, the pipeline project was later closed. The joint efforts of Russian and Serbian companies created the Banatsky Dvor gas storage facility, located 60 kilometers northeast of. It has become one of the largest gas storage facilities in Southeast Europe.

According to paragraph 267 of the Serbian Criminal Code, the construction of nuclear power plants is prohibited in the country. Serbia became the sixth country in the world to remove enriched uranium from its territory.

Agriculture

More than 60% of the territory of Serbia is occupied by arable land

Agriculture is an important part of the Serbian economy with an annual export potential of 12 billion euros. The total area of ​​agricultural land exceeds 6.12 million hectares. Agricultural production is most established in northern Serbia on the fertile Middle Danube lowland and in the southern valleys adjacent to the Sava, Danube and Morava rivers. A sharp decline in the scale of agricultural activity has been observed since 1948, when almost three-quarters of the country's population was employed in agriculture, while at present it is only one-quarter.

Serbia produces various agricultural products: mainly cereals, fruits and vegetables. All this makes up a significant part of GDP and exports. The country ranks second in the world in growing raspberries (84,299 metric tons, ranked first) and plums (146,776 metric tons, ranked first). The country is also a major producer of corn (6,158,120 metric tons, 32nd in the world) and wheat (2,095,400 metric tons, 35th in the world). The cultivation of sugar beets (2,299,770 metric tons) and sunflower seeds (454,282 metric tons) satisfies domestic demand for sugar and vegetable oil, the surplus is exported: about 180,000 tons of sugar is supplied to the European Union.

Currency

The national currency of Serbia is the Serbian dinar. 1 Serbian dinar is formally equal to 100 pairs, coins or banknotes denominated in pairs are not currently issued. There are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 dinars; banknotes - 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 dinars.

The design of the Serbian dinars is identical to the design of the Yugoslav dinars of the 2000-2002 model. Serbia currently has a floating exchange rate regime. The criterion for the effectiveness of the exchange rate policy (the exchange rate anchor) is inflation indicators.

International trade

As of 2014, the main foreign trade partners of Serbia were the European Union and. The volume of foreign trade for 2014 is 35452 million dollars. Geographical distribution of Serbia's foreign trade (as of 2014):

• EU countries - 64% (22592 million dollars).
• - 9.5% (3369 million dollars)
• China - 4.4% (1575 million dollars)
• - 2.3% ($821 million)
• Americas - 2.5% ($872 million)
• Countries - 0.9% ($309 million)

Telecommunications

Connection

Fixed telephony throughout the country (including Kosovo at least north of Ibra) is provided by Telekom Srbija. Its division mt: s (Mobilna telefonija Srbije, which has nothing to do with Russian Mobile TeleSystems) is responsible for mobile communications along with the Norwegian operator Telenor and the Slovak Vip. Anyone can anonymously and absolutely legally buy a SIM card at a newsstand.

mail

Serbia Post logo

Public postage was introduced in Serbia in 1840. The first postage stamp was printed in 1866. In 1874, together with 21 other countries, the Universal Postal Union was founded. Currently, postal functions are performed by the Serbian Post. It was founded in 1990 as the Srbija State Communications Enterprise and is currently the largest infrastructure and logistics network in the country.

Internet

Dial-up was the only way to access the Internet until the early 2000s, when several ISPs began providing wireless access through unlicensed equipment. The necessary equipment for access was too expensive for most people (about 200 euros), so this connection method became popular only in some urban areas. The situation changed only in 2002, when Serbia Broadband offered subscribers access to cable Internet at a speed of 128 kbps. Not earlier than in 2005 Telekom Srbija offered ADSL access services.

In Serbia, Internet access services are provided by several companies. National TLD of Serbia - .rs. In 2010, the number of Internet users per 100 inhabitants was 40 people. According to studies conducted in 2011, two million people in the country, 99.5% of students and 99% of businesses have regular access to the Internet.

culture

Literature

Dositej Obradovic

The emergence of Serbian writing is associated with the activities of Cyril and Methodius. The first monuments of Serbian literature date back to the 11th century, they are written in the Glagolitic alphabet. Already in the XII century, texts written in Cyrillic appeared. In the same period, the oldest known book in the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet was written - the "Gospel" of Prince Miroslav of Zakhum. It is the most ancient and beautifully illustrated Serbian book during the Middle Ages.

During the Turkish rule, lyrical and epic literature spread among the Serbs.

In the 17th century, baroque trends appeared in Serbian literature. Under his influence, Andrija Zmaevich, Gavril Stefanovich Venclovic, Jovan Rajic, Zacharie Orfelin and others worked. Dositej Obradovic was the most prominent figure of the Enlightenment, and Jovan Steria Popovich became the most famous representative of classicism, although there were elements of romanticism in his work.

A significant role in the formation of Serbian literature and in the development of early romanticism was played by the Montenegrin Prince-Metropolitan Peter II Petrovich. The main theme of his poems was the struggle of Montenegrins and Serbs against the Ottoman Turks, and his dramatic poem "Mountain Crown" preached the idea of ​​uniting the southern Slavs.

During the national revival in the first half of the 19th century, Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic translated the New Testament into the Serbian vernacular and reformed the Serbian language and orthography. This laid the foundations for the Serbian literature of the New Age. Famous Serbian authors of the 19th century: Branko Radicevic, Petar Petrovich Njegos, Laza Kostic, Djura Jaksic and Jovan Zmaj. The 20th century in Serbian literature was marked by such names as Ivo Andric, Isidora Sekulich, Milos Crnyansky, Mesha Selimovic, Dobrica Chosic, Danilo Kish, Alexander Tishma. Among the famous poets were: Milan Rakic, Jovan Ducic, Desanka Maksimovic, Miodrag Pavlovic, Miroslav Antic, Branko Milkovic and Vasko Popa.

At the end of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century, the most famous authors were David Albahari, Milorad Pavic, Momo Kapor, Nebojsa Evrich, Goran Petrovich, Svetlana Velmar-Jankovic, Svetislav Basara.

Music

The earliest composer whose compositions were intended for performance at Orthodox services and have survived to this day is Cyrus Stefan Serb (1350 (?)-1430 (?)). His works are written in the late calophonic style.

Serbia has a long tradition of folklore and folk music. Dances under the name of Kolo are the most popular form of folklore in Serbia and differ from region to region. The most popular folk cola are užičko and moravac. The most important Serbian composer of musical art was Stevan Stojanovic Mokranjac (1856-1914). He was a musicologist and collector of folk music and director of the first music school in Serbia. His most famous piece of music is the choral songs of the Rukovet.

Other well-known Serbian composers are Kornely Stankovic, Stevan Hristich, Stanislav Binichki.

In the 19th century and earlier, gusle and pipe were typical folk instruments, while dombra and bagpipes are used in Vojvodina. Later, the accordion and violin became the main instruments in the newly composed folk music, which remain so to this day.

Theater and cinema

In 1910, the first feature film about the Serbian national hero Karageorgi was shot. After the end of the Second World War, several film studios were created in Yugoslavia, which began to shoot feature films. Initially, this was done in cooperation with Soviet film studios, but then films began to be made independently. After the animation studio was established in 1956, Yugoslavia soon became a recognized leader in the field of animated films.

Joakim Vujic is the founder of modern Serbian theatre. He founded the Princely Serbian Theater in Kragujevac in 1835. Notable Serbian playwriters were Jovan Sterija Popović and Branislav Nušić. Since 1967 Belgrade has hosted the BITEF International Contemporary Theater Festival. Traditionally, the best theater scenes in Serbia are the National Theater in Belgrade, Atelier 212, the Yugoslav Drama Theater and the National Theater of Serbia in the city of Novi Sad.

Media

Freedom of the press and freedom of speech are guaranteed by the Constitution of Serbia. The country ranks 54th in a list of 180 countries published in 2014 by Reporters Without Borders. According to him, the Serbian media and journalists themselves still face some government pressure on editorial policy. Serbian media are also characterized by high dependence on state support and advertising contracts.

According to research conducted in 2009 by AGB Nielsen Media Research, Serbians spend an average of 5 hours a day watching TV, which is the highest among European countries.

In 2014, the most popular websites among the Serbian Internet audience were Google, the websites of the Blitz newspaper, the B92 radio and the Kurir newspaper, as well as the KupujemProdajem classifieds site.

UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in Serbia

Monastery Vysoki Dechany

There are 5 names on the UNESCO World Heritage List in Serbia, which is 0.4% of the total (1073 in 2017). All objects are included in the list according to cultural criteria, and 2 of them are recognized as masterpieces of human genius (criterion i). In addition, as of 2014, 11 sites in Serbia are among the candidates for inclusion in the World Heritage List.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ratified the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage on 11 September 2001. However, the first object located on the territory of Serbia was included in the list back in 1979 at the 3rd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, when the country was part of the SFRY. It should also be noted that the cultural site Orthodox Monasteries in Kosovo, as of 2010, is included in the list of World Heritage in Danger due to possible attacks by Kosovo Albanians. All four monasteries and temples within this heritage site are protected by KFOR.

• 1979 - the town of Stari Ras, the monastery of Sopochani and the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Stari Ras)
• 1986 - Studenica Monastery
• 2004-2006 - Vysoki Dečani Monastery, Gracanitsa Monastery, Patriarchate of Peć and the Church of Our Lady Levishka
• 2007 - Palace of Galerius "Gamzigrad-Romuliana"
• 2016 - Medieval graves ("stechki")

Education, science

Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Education in Serbia is regulated by the Ministry of Science and Education. The education process begins either in pre-schools or in primary schools. Children enter primary school at the age of seven and study there for eight years. After that, it is possible to either attend school for another four years, or study at a special school for 2 to 4 years, or enter a vocational school for study for a period of 2 to 3 years. After graduating from high school or a special school, students can enter universities.

The largest universities in Serbia:

• Belgrade University
• Kragujevac University
• Nis University
• Novi Sad University
• University of Pristina
• Novi Pazar University

The University of Belgrade is the oldest and currently the largest university in Serbia. Founded in 1808, it has 31 faculties and has produced about 330,000 graduates since its inception. The universities of Novisad (founded in 1960), Kragujevac (founded in 1976) and Nis (founded in 1965) also have a significant number of teachers and graduates.

According to the law, education is publicly available on equal terms. Representatives of national minorities have the right to education in their native language.

Conditions for the development of science and education in Serbia did not exist during the Ottoman rule. The first attempt at national education was the Great School in 1808, which supported the Serbs in Austria. Only in the period 1835-1878 leads to the institutionalization of education. A large school was opened in 1863 and was converted into a university. The establishment of the National Museum in 1844 and the Society of Serbian Letters in 1841, which developed into the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, provided the conditions for an organized teaching practice.

Many young and talented Serbs during this period were educated abroad at the expense of the state in order to get experts for further development. In Austria, the Serbs organized the Serbian Matica in 1826, as well as their own cultural institution. He later moved his headquarters from Budapest to Novi Sad. The situation in Austria was much more favorable for the development of Serbian education and science.

Famous scientists from Serbia: naturalist Josif Pancic, geographer Jovan Cvijch, mathematician Mihailo Petrovich, astronomer Milyutin Milankovic, chemist Pavle Savic. In addition, some Serbian scientists worked while immigrating and gained worldwide recognition in other countries: physicist Mihailo Pupin (USA) and inventor Nikola Tesla (USA).

Festivals and events

Belgrade Fair Center

The largest and most famous festivals and cultural events taking place in Serbia are:

• Belgrade Book Fair
• "Vukov Sabor"
• Belgrade International Theater Festival
• Gucha Trumpet Festival
• "EXIT" is an annual music festival held on the territory of the Petrovaradin Fortress.

Sport

Novak Djokovic

Belgrade Arena

The most popular sports in Serbia are football, basketball, volleyball, handball, water polo and tennis. In 2009, Belgrade hosted the Summer Universiade, and the Belgrade Marathon is the largest sporting event in the country. For the first time, the Serbian national team appeared at the Olympic Games in 1912. After that, Serbian athletes were part of the national team of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the SFRY, the FRY. The results of the national teams of "small Yugoslavia" are now attributed to the achievements of the Serbian sports unions. In 2006, Serbian athletes became representatives of the now independent country. For the first time in this status, they performed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in Serbia. Serbia has hosted the finals of the European Basketball Championship three times. Basketball players "Partizan" in 1992 became the winners of the Euroleague. Serbian basketball clubs take an active part in the Adriatic League. Several Serbian basketball players have been recognized as the best in Europe: Drazen Dalipagic, Dragan Kichanovic, Vlade Divac, Aleksandar Djordjevic, Predrag Danilovic, Predrag Stojakovic and Milos Teodosic.

Tennis in Serbia has become popular and widespread thanks to such people as Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and others. Djokovic won 12 Grand Slam singles tournaments, including the Australian Open five times.

Volleyball is also popular in Serbia, the modern Serbian team is the direct heir to the SFRY team. In 2005, Serbia, together with Italy, hosted the European Championship, and in 2007 and 2013 at the European Championship, the Serbian team won a bronze medal. In 2011 she won the European Championship.

Serbian national water polo team

The men's water polo team is traditionally strong. This sport was brought to the country at the beginning of the 20th century by students studying at the universities of Germany and Austria-Hungary. The Yugoslav national team repeatedly achieved brilliant results, and after the collapse of the country, the Serbian national team continued its traditions. In 2009, she won the World Championship, in 2006, 2012, and 2014 she won the European Championship, in 2008 she took second place, and won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Famous water polo players: Igor Milanovic, Aleksandar Shoshtar, Vladimir Vuyasinovich, Aleksandar Shapic and Vanya Udovichich.

Other popular Serbian athletes: Milorad Cavic and Najja Higl (swimming), who won gold medals at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships, Olivera Jevtic and Dragutin Topić (athletics), Aleksandar Karakashevich (table tennis), Jasna Sekarić (shooting).

Holidays

Literature

• Nikiforov K.V. Serbia in the Balkans. XX century. - Moscow: Indrik, 2012. - 176 p. - ISBN 978-5-91674-209-1.
• Damn it, Branco. Organization of power in local self-government in the Republic of Serbia. - : Stalna konferentsiya gradova i opshtina - Savez gradova i opshtina Serbia, 2013. - 57 p. - ISBN 978-86-88459-08-2.
• Tsoni, Good. Problems in securing the territory and naming the places of residence and ducks on the comfort of the Sabracha - a study of the example for the opshtina ub (Serb.) // VI Pole Seminar "Uloga locale in the security of the Sabracha". - Divchibare, 2011. - S. 102.
• Popis stannishtva, doministvo i stanova 2011. in the Republic of Serbia. Ethno-confessional and Georgian mosaics of Serbia / Dr. V. Jury, Prof. Dr. Tanaskoviћ D., Prof. Dr. Vukmiroviћ D., Lajeviћ P. - ISBN 978-86-6161-126-1.
• Statistics of the Year of the Republic of Serbia 2011 / Andra Milojic. - Beograd: Repubblichki plant for the statistics of the Republic of Serbia, 2011.
• Statistics year 2015. - Beograd: Republicki plant for statistics, 2015. - 439 p.

Links

• Serbia at the Open Directory Project (dmoz) Links Directory
• About Serbia in Russian (Russian). Retrieved January 7, 2013. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013.
• Belgrade - the main city of Serbia (Serb.)
• TANIUG - National Novinska Agency (Serb.)
• International Radio Serbia
• B92 - information portal
• Internet Krstaritsa
• rastko.org.rs - History of Serbia (Serb.)
• Souvenirs Serbia
• Mape Serbia (Serb.)
• Law to the Republic of Serbia
• Limits of Serbia - -(Sights of Serbia by Melissa Enderle)-(English)
• Samborsky A. A. Extracts from the letters of Archpriest Samborsky from Vienna dated June 14, І804 / Soobshch. A. A. Malinovsky // Russian archive, 1868. - Ed. 2nd. - M., 1869. - Stb. 111-120. - Under the heading: On the restoration of the new Slavic-Serbian state
• P. A. Stenin, 1892 East. Countries of the cross and crescent and their inhabitants. Historical-geographical and ethnographic review of the Levant world. Kingdom of Serbia

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