Tourist Attractions & Monuments Serbia

St. Sava's Cathedral, which dominates the city with its glittering dome, is today the largest Orthodox church in Europe (if you consider that Russia west of the Urals is off limits). Adorned with four 44 m high bell towers, topped by a dome rising 70 m above the ground and extending over an area of 91 by 81 m², St. Sava's church impresses by its monumentality and its Byzantine elegance. Its simple Greek cross plan and its 18 domes, each surmounted by a three-dimensional golden cross, give it an incomparable majesty. The church is perched on the hill of Vračar, visible for 80 km from wherever you come from!

To understand the earthly and spiritual significance of this building, one must go back far in Serbian history. On April 27, 1594, the vizier Sinan Pasha ordered to transfer the relics of the holy monk Sava from the monastery of Mileševa in southern Serbia and to burn them on this hill. This gesture of unquestionable symbolic significance was intended by the Ottomans to signify definitively the opposition of the Turks to the Serbian desire for independence. King Alexander was assassinated in Marseille before he could attend the first works started in 1935. Then the building site was interrupted because of the German bombardments of 1941, and Tito refused to resume the work begun by the king. It was not until the death of the communist dictator that the work was continued from 1985.

Tara Park is certainly the most beautiful park in Serbia and one of the main ones in the Balkans, rich in a wide variety of animal and plant species. It is distinguished from other parks by its forests of Serbian spruce (a protected species and classified as endangered), which was discovered by the botanist Josif Pančić in 1875. In addition to spruce, the park is also characterized by primary forests of beech and fir. As for the mountain fauna, they are all here: bears weighing up to 250 kg, chamois taking refuge on the high walls, skilful lynx and reckless eagles. Also wolves, foxes, wild boars and... hedgehogs. Finally, more than 140 species of birds live and grow freely in the park, with some species preserved because they are endangered. As for the flora, it is represented by an omnipresent forest, composed of very high and dark green alpine trees: high firs, pines up to 150 years old, flaming larches and numerous beeches. But the most amazing is the famous pančićeva omorika: a fir tree that grows only in these remote areas, and reaches considerable heights thanks to a special orography. Finally, more than 1,000 species of flowers are present here, a third of the species growing on the territory of Serbia! From daffodils and violets that can be found in all the Alps, to protected species endemic to the region: the božur so purple or the jeremičak with white and ochre colors.

Founded in 1844 by Prince Miloš Obrenović, this museum presents a very complete panorama of Serbian archaeology and art, as well as a very rich collection of impressionist painters, especially French masters. It is the best museum in the capital.

The^1stfloor is devoted to medieval religious frescoes and paintings: among the works on display will be frescoes of medieval Serbian art from the monasteries of Đurđevi Stupovi, Gradac or Prizren. The same floor houses Serbian painting from the 18th and 19th centuries, romantic, realistic or impressionist.

But it ison the^2nd floor that the masterpieces in this area are located, including a superb Virgin and Child by Tintoretto, Renoir's Women in the Bath, a Tahitian vahine by Gauguin, and Vlaminck's Snow .

The museum's cellars contain priceless treasures: there are more than 1,100 masterpieces signed by the greatest artists: Van Gogh, Titian, Picasso, but also Bonnard, Derain, Gauguin, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir. This eclectic collection belonged to the Serbian Jewish collector Erich Šlomović who inherited it in 1939 from his friend, also a collector, Ambroise Vollard, a dealer of impressionists, who was familiar with Matisse and Picasso during his lifetime. After the war, Erich's mother Roza recovered the paintings in Serbia and gave them to the museum in 1951. Since then, however, the Šlomović collection has been the subject of a legal battle between Vollard and Herzler's heirs!

This beautiful Orthodox church located in the park of Tašmajdan surprises with its red and ochre colors as well as the materials used, which range from brick to wood to bronze. It was built in the 1930s, based on the model of the monastery of Gračanica: in the medieval Serbian Orthodox style, organized according to a Greek cross plan and equipped with twelve domes. This church is dear to the hearts of Belgraders because it houses the relics of Tsar Dušan (1308-1355), which were transferred from the Monastery of the Holy Exchanges in Prizren.

At the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, the fortress of Kalemegdan is the pride of the Serbs, who often cite it among the most remarkable monuments of the country. It is in fact a monumental complex, an aggregation of all the influences of the country that is concentrated on this ancient fortified site, which almost certainly dates back to Roman times. The oldest buildings on the current site were built by the Serbian despot Stefan Lazarević in the 14th century, before the complex was completely rebuilt by the Austrians from 1717, following the fortification principles of Vauban. The huge construction site was barely completed, but the Austrians sabotaged it when they had to abandon it to the Ottomans, who recovered the city. From 1739 to 1830, the Turks established their most advanced point in the Balkans, overlooking the Austrian border on the other bank of the Sava. They added their own buildings, a number of which are preserved in the upper part of the fortress, such as the fountain of Mehmed Pasha Sokolović erected in 1576 (of Serbian origin, sent by force to the janissaries at the age of 8). Also worth seeing is the mausoleum(türbe) of Damad Ali Pasha, vizier killed in Petrovaradin in 1716, or the hammam built in 1870. The fortress is also interesting for its various medieval towers and gates. The oldest is the Despot Tower, a square tower used in the 14th century as the main entrance to the fortress. To reach the Military Museum from the center, one passes under a succession of gates, such as the Istanbul Gate built in 1750 or the Karađorđe Gate erected in 1806. Another notable monument is the Nebojša Tower, which was built in 1460 and used in the Middle Ages as a stopover between the old port on the Sava River and the upper town. In the 18th century it was transformed into a dungeon, and Greek revolutionaries were tortured and executed there in 1789. In the lower town there are some remains of the medieval period - fragments of walls and mounds - and churches. The church of St. Petka is built against the wall and honors the Greek saint. The small church Ružica is known to all Belgrade students who go there before an exam. Right next to it is the ossuary of the heroes of 1914-1915, when the city was defended by the population. Very popular with the locals, the park is also open at night, for a romantic stroll and a breathtaking view under the starry sky.

The monument of gratitude to France. You will find the monument at the entrance of the Kalemegdan park, coming from the pedestrian street Knez Mihailova. Erected in 1930 by the sculptor Ivan Meštrović in Art Deco style, it is intended as a tribute of the Serbian people to France for the help it gave them during the First World War. Indeed, it was the Army of the East that recovered the Serbian army in 1915 and, from the Salonika front, made a victorious advance through Serbia in the fall of 1918. It is this spirit of sacrifice and the strong ties that were forged on this occasion between Serbs and French that Meštrović wanted to honor. Under several bas-reliefs of French soldiers, it is written, "We love France as she loved us."

The Army Museum (+381 11 334 3441, www.muzej.mod.gov.rs. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm). In the upper part of the medieval fortress are exhibited more than 40,000 items relating to the military history of the former Yugoslavia, from the earliest times to the present day. Weapons, uniforms and documents on the haiduk revolts against the Turks, Serbian and French uniforms of the famous French Army of the East that liberated Serbia in 1918, etc. A colorful museum and an excellent testimony to various aspects of Serbian history. In front of the museum, visitors can admire a whole range of Yugoslav, American, French and Soviet tanks from the Second World War.

The winner of Belgrade. At the end of the fortress, overlooking the meeting of the Sava and the Danube, you can see the symbol of the city of Belgrade: perched on a high neoclassical column, stands, in a proud and serene attitude, a young soldier carrying a message of peace. Built in 1928 by Ivan Meštrović, this imposing sculpture recalls the sacrifices of the Serbian army for the liberation of the homeland in 1918, alongside the famous French Army of the East.

Kalemegdan Zoo (+381 11 26 245 26, [email protected] - www.beozoovrt.rs - Open every day of the year. Ticket offices are open from 8am to 7pm. Tickets: 500 dinars for an adult, 300 dinars for children). Dating from 1936, thezoo located at the bottom of the Kalemegdan park is one of the oldest in Europe. You can discover more than 2,000 animals including a hippopotamus born in November 2012. Don't miss the Siberian tigers either.

Ružica Church. Located in the upper part of the Belgrade fortress, in front of the Zindan gate. According to tradition, the first church with the same name was built in the 15th century during the reign of the despot Stefan Lazarević. In 1521, it was completely destroyed by the Turks. Notice the candelabras made from bullets, it is original to say the least!

To climb up to Zemun's iconic monument also known as Gardoš Tower, Кула на Гардошу, take Gardoš and Strma streets, charming little streets lined with typical low houses. At the end of the climb stands the Millennium Tower, built in 1896, in honor of the 1,000th anniversary of the arrival of the Hungarians in Pannonia. Recognizable by its red bricks and its Hungarian-style roof, this tower, symbol of Zemun, offers a superb view of the Danube, Belgrade and the many churches of old Zemun.

The camp in Niš is one of the few remaining Nazi concentration camps. It bears witness to the suffering of the citizens of Niš and all of southern Serbia during the Second World War. Although at first glance the large building, located not far from the town's railway station, looks more like an old factory or warehouse of some kind, it is not. Everything here has remained unchanged, as if time had stood still in 1944: the gray, rectangular buildings where civilians were crammed together, the watchtowers and guardhouses, the intact barbed wire... During the war, more than 30,000 people passed through the camp, 10,000 of whom were shot on Bubanj Hill. At the beginning, the camp was intended to lock up, interrogate and torture the enemies of the regime: Serbian communists, hostages, gypsies and Jews. On February 12, 1942, a revolt broke out and more than a hundred prisoners managed to escape. The repression was ferocious: the remaining forty prisoners were butchered with a bestiality rarely seen until then, and the camp, called the Red Cross, became the death camp. A visit to the Skulls Tower and the Mediana is worthwhile, as is a visit to Niš.

On the hill of Bubanj, a monumental sculpture represents three huge closed fists. It honors the memory of the 15,000 prisoners shot by the Nazis on this hill, after having been in the jails of the Red Cross.

Be careful, it is not suitable for young people. The Skull Tower, a unique place in the world, is the emblematic monument of the city, which should not be missed under any pretext! A small chapel was built in 1938 to protect what remains of the Skull Tower. On May 31, 1809, the voivode Stevan Sinđelić, leading 3,000 Serbian soldiers, lost a crucial battle against 10,000 Turks. While all over Serbia, uprisings against the Ottomans were gradually liberating the country, Niš would see its occupation extended for 68 years. As a warning and revenge, the sultan ordered his lieutenants to build a tower with the heads of Serbian soldiers and to place at the very top, last, that of the Serbian commander Stefan Sinđelić. On the spot, 952 skulls are thus stacked and ostensibly arranged in tiers, forming a tower several meters high. In Serbian history, the voivode Sinđelić became a hero of the resistance against the Turks, and the site of the Čegra, where the battle took place, was listed as a historical monument in 1983. During his visit to the country in 1824, Lamartine affixed a plaque at the bottom of the Skull Tower in honor of the fighters who died for their homeland, where it reads, "May the Serbs preserve this monument! It will teach children in future times what the price of freedom was for their ancestors and will serve as a constant reminder of the value of this struggle An unmissable stop during a visit to Niš!

This hotel, located on Terazije Avenue, is a true historical monument, built on six levels in 1906 in the Art Nouveau style, and has since acquired a legendary reputation in the capital. It has hosted all the great personalities of the time and was the meeting place of Belgrade's intellectuals and artists in the first half of the 19th century. The fountain at its entrance, built in 1860, is the geographical center of the Balkans: all distances from Belgrade originate from this reference point.

The favorite district of the Zemunois and Belgradois in search of greenery and whose rising paved lanes and traditional restaurants make the happiness of the walkers. Here, the first thing to do is to stroll along the docks and watch the ballet of fishermen and boaters on their boats, then climb up the hill. You will find several interesting houses below, such as the Karamata house - at 17 Matije Gupca street - one of the oldest in the city built in 1763 in baroque style with a classical facade.

Built on the initiative of Prince Michael Obrenović and according to the plans of Alexander Bugarski, the national theater is inspired by the theaters of Central Europe of the same period. It is decorated with neoclassical sculptures and Renaissance decorations. All in all, it is a very beautiful ensemble. The theater opened its doors in 1869. Resisting the turbulent historical events that marked Serbian history decades back, the National Theater serves as a symbol and witness of the preservation of Serbian culture and tradition.

A former bohemian district of Belgrade, Skadarjia, or Skadarska, has long attracted artists to it. Very lively since the second half of the 19th century, Skadarska Street bears this name since 1872. Its bohemian character reached its peak when the famous Dardaneli ("The Dardanelles") inn was destroyed and its customers, writers and actors, took up residence in the other inns in the area. Nowadays, Skadarlija is one of the attractions of Belgrade. People come here to enjoy the delightfully old-fashioned and carefree atmosphere reminiscent of Montmartre (with which Skadarlija has been twinned since 1977), and also to eat and drink at any time of the day or night. Things to see include:

Statue of Đura Jakšić. Bronze statue erected in 1990 at No. 34 Skadarska Street, the house where the painter and poet of the same name lived and died. The work was sculpted by Jovan Soldatović.

Monument to the drummer of Skadarlija. Dating from 1990, it depicts the actor Rade Šobota, who for many years had played the drum in the neighborhood. The sculpture is located on the terrace of the restaurant Ima dana.

Monument to the travelling actor. On the corner of Skadarska and Gospodar Jevremova. Wooden sculpture erected in honor of one of the founders of modern Serbian theater Joakim Vujić.

Sebilj Fountain (public fountain). Replica of the one in Sarajevo, donated to the city of Belgrade in 1989.

You will find this monument at the entrance of the Kalemegdan park. Erected in 1930 by the sculptor Ivan Meštrović in an Art Deco style, it is a tribute from the Serbian people to France for the help it gave them during the First World War. Meštrović wanted to honor the spirit of sacrifice and the strong ties that were formed on that occasion between Serbs and French. Under several bas-reliefs, it is written, "We love France as she loved us."

The marvelous Raichle Palace is a Gaudi-like building, quite astonishing with alcove balconies, wave-like roofs and crazy colors, from azure blue to purple to orange! Built in 1904 in an Art Nouveau style by the Hungarian Ferenc Raichle, who made it his home, this building remains an example of innovation in architecture. Today it houses the contemporary Likovni Susret gallery.

This beautiful residence was built for Prince Miloš Obrenović on top of the former royal park. The prince resided here intermittently during his first reign, then continuously during the second, until his death in 1860. The architecture of the residence combines the Balkan style (wooden windows, brick roof with ridges) and the Central European style (geometric plan and large perspectives). Inside the building there is an interesting permanent exhibition about the First and Second Serbian revolts against the Turks as well as family portraits of the Obrenović dynasty. The building is located in the middle of a very pleasant park, where Belgraders like to take a walk sheltered from the heat and wind.

In the park of Topčider, we discover the environment of the princes in the 19th century, including the private church of Prince Obrenović, dedicated to the holy apostles Peter and Paul. It was built in 1832 on the very spot where, 28 years earlier, the prince escaped the execution ordered by his rival Karađorđe. Its simple Greek cross plan with two baroque-style belfries, as well as the use of warm-hued stone, give it great elegance. The 13 hectares of the park are rich in majestic trees and rare flowers. We won't leave without seeing the Topčider railway station building. In a truly Central European style, this once important station of the Belgrade network is quite small and graceful with its half-timbering.

In the upper part of the medieval fortress there are more than 40 000 pieces relating to the military history of the former Yugoslavia, from the earliest days to the present. Arms, uniforms and documents on the revolts of the haïdouks against the Turks, Serbian and French uniforms of the famous French army of the East who liberated Serbia in 1918, etc. Museum High in colour and excellent testimony of various aspects of Serbia's history. In front of the museum, fans will be able to admire a range of Yugoslav, American, French and Soviet tanks from the Second World War.

The Zemun market is a real city within the city. Every day, small farmers sell their fruits and vegetables here - in summer, try the delicious watermelons - but also Belgraders come to buy homemade pita, fish or soups. In the northern part of the market, a multitude of kiosks offer their handicrafts. The market is surrounded by several restaurants, which is ideal on sunny days. Everyone seems to know each other.

The Bajrakli Mosque in Belgrade, also known as Bayrakli, is the only surviving mosque in the capital, in a city that once under Ottoman rule had no less than eighty! Built around 1575, it has been renovated several times but has kept some of its original elements, such as the entrance courtyard. Its current name dates from the 18th century: it comes from the Turkish word bayrak which means "flag", in reference to the flag that was hoisted on the mosque at the time of the call to prayer.

The Resavska Pecina cave, located in Jelovac in eastern Serbia, is one of the country's largest cave systems. With corridors some 4.5 kilometers long, it offers visitors a unique experience. Discovered in 1962 and opened to the public in 1972, the cave features colorful red, white and yellow formations, such as stalactites, stalagmites and flags. Of the 4.5-kilometre-long cave, only 800 metres are accessible to visitors. The temperature inside the cave is a stable 7°C, with humidity between 80 and 100%. A must-see for nature lovers and underground explorers in Serbia.

The park is located in the western part of the Vračar municipality. During the First Serbian Revolt of 1806, this was the camp of Serbian insurgents led by Đorđe Petrović known as "the Black", founder of the Karađorđević dynasty. During the assault on the Belgrade fortress and during its occupation, several rebels were killed and buried where the park is today. Some of the graves are still visible today. In 1848, Prince Alexander had a monument built to the glory of these insurgents.