SERBIA - discover one of the oldest European states

[Todorovic]

Ram is my favorite fortress in Serbia, one my photo from Ram,

[cinxxx]

Two from me (taken from Stara Palanka)

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Fantast Castle - Bečej



At the 14th kilometer on the road connecting Bečej and Bačka Topola lies the Fantast Castle, the most famous summerhouse of Bogdan Dundjerski, a landowner and one of the richest Serbs of the 19th century. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century at the centre of his 65-acre estate.


The castle itself is a mixture of many different styles, Baroque, Romanticist and Neoclassical architecure, but on the whole it resembles the medieval structures with round towers at the corners and a massive keep. The castle consists of two circular and two conical towers. Today it accommodates a luxurious and moderny equipped hotel that preserved a good deal of the old furnishing and decoration. Close by is a family chapel in neo-Byzantine style with an iconostasis by the great painter Uroš Predić. Bogdan Dundjerski is buried here.

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Subotica City Hall - Subotica



The City Hall (Gradska kuca) is a true symbol of Subotica. This art neuveau building, decorated with famous Zsolnay ceramics, was built from 1908 till 1910, according to the plans of Marcell Komor and Dezso Jakab, Hungarian architects. It took another 2 years to finish the magnificent interior of the building.

On two sides, the City Hall is surrounded by large Green (1985) and Blue (2001) fountains, both decorated with Zsolnay ceramics.

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Golubac Fortress

Golubac Fortress was a medieval fortified town on the right side of the Danube River, 4 kilometers downstream from the modern-day town of Golubac, Serbia. The fortress, which was most likely built during the 14th century, is split into three compounds which were built in stages. It has ten towers, most of which started square, and several of which received many-sided reinforcements with the advent of firearms.

Golubac Fortress has had a tumultuous history. Prior to its construction it was the site of a Roman settlement. During the Middle Ages, it became the object of many battles, especially between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary. It changed hands repeatedly, passing between Turks, Hungarians, Serbs, and Austrians, until 1867, when it was turned over to the Serbian Knez, Mihailo Obrenović III. Now, it is a popular tourist attraction in the region and a sightseeing point on Danube boat tours.



Golubac consists of three main compounds guarded by 10 towers and 2 portcullises, all connected by fortress walls 2–3 meters thick. In front of the fortress, the forward wall (I) doubled as the outer wall of the moat, which connected to the Danube and was likely filled with water. A settlement for common people was situated in front of the wall.

As is the case with many fortresses, Golubac's structure was modified over time. For years, there were only five towers. Later, four more were added. The towers were all built as squares, a sign of the fortress' age, showing that battles were still fought with cold steel. Once firearms came into use, the Turks fortified the western towers with cannon ports and polygonal or cylindrical reinforcements up to two meters thick. After the Hungarian raid in 1481, they added the final tower, complete with cannon embrasures and galleries.

Considering Golubac Fortress' age and location, it is both large and well-preserved. Its placement at the head of the Iron Gate gorge allowed for easy control of river traffic. It was the last military outpost on that stretch of the Danube River, which caused it to frequently be part of the final line of defense between Hungary and the Ottoman Empire, especially during the periods when Serbia was Ottoman held. The importance of the fortress is further indicated by the attention it received from Sigismund and Murad II, rather than just fighting between locals and commanders of nearby cities. Golubac Fortress was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1979, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia.



☛ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golubac_Fortress

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Prefecture building - Sombor

The prefecture building in Sombor is a building with very important historical value, but also a building of great importance for the administrative life in Sombor today. It is the place where the municipality assembly hold its meetings and the building in which the mayor's office is located, together with the offices of many other administrative services. The prefecture building was built during the rulership of Maria Theresa, the only female ruler of Holy Roman Empire. There is an interesting urban legend about the building that it has as many rooms as there are days in a non-leap year, 365. The legend derives from Maria Theresa's habit to have a different room and dress every day. Inside the conference hall of the prefecture building is a very big (28 square meters) picture of the battle of Senta, made by a famous Hungarian painter, Ferenc Eisenhut, that was made by the request of of Senta's citizens. They didn't have enough money to pay the picture, so the citizens of Sombor, who's many relatives fought in that strategically very important battle, bought it instead.



- Click to enlarge a picture!

[Linguine]

Wow!....awesome updates....thank you.

[poseta1]

Sombor is wonderful city

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Nature park – river Uvac canyon



Visit to the river Uvac canyon, with many beautiful lakes and caves, one hundred year old forests and rare plant and animal life represents unforgettable experience which you can not experience anywhere else.

Special nature reserve “Uvac”, premier category natural estate of great importance, is located on south western Serbia, on territories of municipalities Sjenica and Nova Varoš. This reservation of untouched nature, nurtures and feeds in its bosoms various animal and plant species. The presence of very rare kind of vulture, very few in numbers – griffon vulture, makes this area unique. The griffon vulture nests in certain parts of gorge, on rocks, covered cliffs and caves above water.
Cooperation between man and nature.

Griffon vulture is, by many things, unique bird. It is one of the four vulture species which inhabits Europe, but the only one with habitat in Serbia. It has a long life span, about fifty years. With its weight up to 15 kilograms and wing span of about three meters it looks very powerful and represent an air attraction. Because of its beauty and powerful features, but also the way of life it has often been called “mythical” bird. Watching it, while it cruises the skies, man has for centuries given significance to its perfect flight. That has borne belief that griffon vulture can predict the storm, chase away the clouds, and foresee unhappy events. Griffon vulture also had its place among the medieval Serbian aristocracy. Two headed griffon vulture can be recognized on the coat of arms of royal house of Nemanjić, coat of arms of houses of Mrnjavčević, Lazerević and Crnojević, and the best preserved coat of arms of griffon vulture is located on the south wall of the Lazarica church in Kruševac. In the past, griffon vulture had its habitats all over Serbia, but with the societies negligence and with diminishing of cattle fond it came almost to extinction. Because it feeds mainly with dead even-toed ungulates and other large mammals, griffon vulture has a role of nature cleaner, because of its unique way of feeding it prevents spreading the diseases. You can see him today on only three locations in Serbia – In canyons of rivers Trešnjica, Mileševka and Uvac. More serious activities on colony protections in river Uvac canyon have been taken three decades ago, thanks to the locals and employees in Uvac reserve. It is yearly “served” in “restaurants” or feeding pools for griffin vultures about 50 tons of classic waste and died cattle. After everything that has been done for their protection, number of griffon vultures has came from seven pairs (which was their number in 1993.!) on today’s three hundred animals. This colony of griffon vultures is today the largest in Balkans and one of the largest in Europe.

River that carries many secrets, besides bird lovers, is often been visited by large number of tourists. Boat ride through meanders of Uvac river is something you will remember for a long time. Uvac is racing through the curves which are more lake a maze with no way out rather then a river flow. Stone walls of the gorge, which is in some places so narrow that you will have difficulties to go through even by boat, are white at the bottom, polished by water, and in heights are gray and black, covered by bushes. In the nests formed beneath cavities and rock porches, about hundred meters above water, you can find nests of griffon vultures, who have chosen the river Uvac canyon for one of their last habitats in this part of Europe. After thirty minutes of boat rides, you cross by boat across the rock bridge on Žvale, which is a part of the remains of Emperial road from Dubrovnik to Carigrad (Istanbul – Emperor city). With a tour through the canyon you will find also one of the caves of the Ušac system – Ice cave, in which you can enter both from the land and from water. Beauty of this cave is in its halls with big white pillars, crossed with red and blue shades. Once you are up on one of the many viewpoints, from the griffon vulture perspective you can observe natures masterpiece – meanders of river Uvac.
That which certainly stands this natural jewel apart from other tourist destinations is that it has not changed beside the fact of increased numbers of tourists and visitors, and it has not lost anything of it authenticity. You will not see skyscrapers or large mansions. Here houses steel give the warmth of true village home, and in those houses is prepared the food based on the recipes of our ancestors. But, to make the adventure complete, you must experience this for yourself…

Beside the griffon vulture you can also see others endanger bird species, like Golden eagle and osprey, eagle owl, mountain wall creeper, and common merganser. On the gorge area are recorded total of 216 plant and 400 bird species, and its habitat in these parts have also found bears, lynxes, and otter, as well as many species of endemic insects and bats which are listed in European red list of rare and endangered fauna species. In meanders lives also the huchen, noble fish species, brought nearly to extinction but it has found its peace here.

[poseta1]

Priština

Today's banner, one more Serbian banner on SSC


SSC banner

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Uvac

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[poseta1]

Nice new posts

[Linguine]

awesome river Uvac canyon pic.....

[Todorovic]

Something fresh from Stara planina,

[Bez_imena]

Ada Bridge, Belgrade

[poseta1]

New bridge is great

Today's SSC banner, Belgrade, Serbia

[Linguine]

great looking bridge....

[poseta1]

Originally Posted by Linguine

great looking bridge....

Thanks