| Podunavlje | |
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| State | Serbia |
|---|---|
Podunavlje (Подунавље/Podunavlje, in CroatianPodunavlje) is a region of the Serbia.
To know
Geographical notes
Podunavlje is the Slavic name for the part of the river basin of the Danube located in Serbia (Vojvodina, Belgrade and eastern Serbia) and in Croatia (Slavonia, Sirmia and Baranja). This region is located on the southern edge of the Pannonian basin; largely coincides with the Banat area of the Danube. In its broadest meaning, the term is used in Serbian and Croatian as a description for the area around the entire course of the Danube.
When to go
The climate of the area is continental, with cold and snowy winters and hot and humid summers (area adjacent to the Danube). It is advisable to go to these locations in late spring or, alternatively, paying attention to rainfall, in autumn.
Background
The area was, from 1929 to 1993, under direct control first of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, then of the Yugoslav Federation. It belonged to the Danube Banat, which was a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1929 and 1941. The province covered the following regions: Syrmia, Bačka, Banat, Baranya, Šumadija and Braničevo. The capital of the Danube Banovina was Novi Sad.
Numerous historical testimonies linked to the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods are present in Nis, now the regional capital.
Spoken languages
The official language is the Serbian. However, there are idiomatic minorities such as the Albanian, the Turkish, the Bulgarian (especially in Dimitrovgrad).
Territories and tourist destinations
Urban centers
- Kladovo - Municipality of the district of Bor, located on the right bank of the Danube.
- Leskovac - It is the administrative center of the Jablanica district, accessible from Belgrade from the E75 to the North Macedonia.
- Negotin - Located on the border between Serbia, Romania is Bulgaria.
- Niš - Crossed by the Nišava River.
- Požarevac - City southeast of Belgrade where the Peace of Passarowitz was signed between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice.
- In 1718 the peace of Passarowitz was signed between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice. The city was the birthplace in 1941 of the former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milošević who was also buried there in 2006. A must visit:
- The Barilli museum, in honor of the painter Milena Pavlovic Barilli.
- The museum of weapons of the Second World War
- Čačalica (Chachalitza), a small hill that rises not far from the center of Požarevac, famous for its citizens 'walks and athletes' races.
- Hipodrom (the racecourse), where the "Ljubičevske konjičke igre"(Ljubičevo horse games), a series of games and horse racing challenges, famous throughout Serbia.
Other destinations
- Gamzigrad - Roman archaeological site near Zaječar protected byUNESCO. Since 2007 the palace of Galerius, symbol of the city, has been included by UNESCO among the World Heritage Sites. The villagers are Wallachians (they speak Aromanian). Excavations in the fortress have uncovered the remains of a palace with impressive mosaics, baths and doors. Among the important discoveries we can mention portraits of kings on Egyptian purple stones and coins that allow us to date the complex.
- Near the Gamzigrad thermal baths are the ruins of the Roman Empire that make up the "Felix Romuliana" complex, one of the most important European sites of the late Roman era. Early explorers believed that the old ruins were a Roman military camp, due to the size of the towers. Other excavations made starting in 1953 showed that it was, in fact, an imperial palace. It was created by one of the tetrarchs, Galerius, the adopted son and son-in-law of Diocletian. Galerius started the work in 298, after the victory over the Parthians which earned him admiration and glory, to mark his birthplace. It took the name of Felix Romuliana in memory of the mother of Galerius, Romula, priestess of a pagan cult. This complex of temples and palaces became a place of worship for his mother as well as a luxurious villa where Galerius lived the last years of his life. Romulian did its job until it was sacked by the Huns in the mid-5th century. Later it became a settlement of settlers and artisans and was finally abandoned, at the beginning of the seventh century, with the arrival of the Slavs.
How to get
By plane
The only airport hosted by the area in question is theNiš-Constantine the Great Airport (IATA: INI). It is the second most important airport in the country, after Belgrade it manages air traffic on national and international routes. Due to its central location and mild climate, the airport is frequently used as an alternate airport for direct flights to numerous other Serbian cities, including Belgrade, Podgorica, Tivat, Sofia, Skopje and Ohrid.
By car
The area can be reached by car, according to the following customs schedules:
- From North Macedonia, via Tabanovce and Presevo;
- From Bulgaria, via Vidin / Pirot and Dimitrovgrad;
- From Romania, via Drobeta-Yurno / Veliko Gradiste;
- From Kosovo, via Matarova / Velika / Trstena.
On the train
The area is easily accessible, being located along the European Corridor E10, through these links:
- Skopje-Tabanovce-Presevo-Nis relationship (manager: Makedonski Železnici ; Železnice Srbije);
- Sofia-Dimitrovgrad-Nis relationship (manager: Bălgarski dăržavni železnici ; Železnice Srbije);
- Belgrade-Nis relationship (manager: Železnice Srbije);
- Pristina-Kosovska Mitrovica-Nis relationship (manager: Železnice Srbije) - not active since the Kosovo conflict (1999).
By bus
There are numerous national and international connections (from / to North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary). For more information, go to the Bus Station (Avtobusna Stanica).
How to get around
By car
The conditions of the road surface are good and allow a fairly rapid smoothness. In addition, attention must be paid to driving in rural, outdoor or little-known areas. Driving while intoxicated is severely punishable by the authorities. Lending collaborative to traffic executives.
On the train
The railway network is good, it also reaches small towns and is assiduously frequented, mainly on the Nis-Belgrade and viceversa. The other lines have, for the most part, a diesel drive.
By bus
The bus network is widespread and also reaches small towns. For more information, go to the Nis Bus Station to view timetables and fares.
What see
Itineraries
The itineraries that can be used in this region include a continuous jump between historical, artistic and cultural disciplines.
What to do
- Participate in the Roštiljijada of Leskovac - Being known as the place where pljeskavica comes from, every year in early September the city of Leskovac organizes the so-called Roštiljijada (grilling week), a meat-based grill festival. During the event, the main road is closed to traffic, day and night, for five days, and numerous stalls are set up along the road, each offering a particular choice of the various local specialties. Many visitors from all over Serbia, and in recent years also from all over Europe, come to Leskovac to enjoy a good barbecue and fun. The organizers prepare several competitions, such as the one that consists in creating the largest pljeskavica. In September 2009, Leskovac celebrated a world record in creating the largest pljeskavica in the world. The giant burger weighed 49 kg (105.6 lb), measured 128 cm in diameter and was 8 cm thick. It was made by the great grill master Bojan Cvetković, who previously held the world record for hamburger (44 kg).
- Stroll to Čačalica near Požarevac.
- Delight in cultural visits to Nis and archaeological areas, which include remains of high artistic imprint.
At the table
Drinks
Among the spirits to hold the record, in Serbia, is the rakija, a fruit distillate that acquires an important alcohol content during fermentation. Rakija in combination with distilled fruit acquires different names: the best known is šljivovica obtained from plums and spread throughout the Balkans. The kajsijevaca made from apricots has a more fruity flavor, while the viljmovka or kru'š'kova'č'a made from pears and the jabukova'č'a from apples are softer. Among the bitters, pelinkovac or gorski list is popular, a digestive with a rather bitter taste obtained from numerous aromatic plants. Worthy of note is Prokupac, a typical dark rosé wine that takes its name from the Serbian grape variety from which the black grapes known for their high sugar level are harvested.
Safety
In some areas of the country (in particular I took, Bujanovac and Medvedja on the border with North Macedonia and Kosovo, and the area of Sangiaccato) tensions persist between different ethnic components. It is recommended to make only necessary trips, favoring the use of motorways.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Podunavlje
