52 Weekends- August
Petrovaradin Fortress – A new Perspective
In addition to being the symbol of Novi Sad, the Petrovaradin Fortress is a witness to a multiconfessional tradition, strongly reliant on European culture, but also the most attractive tourist zone of the city, a place that can offer surprising spaces and facilities to its new conquerors – tourists and visitors. Today, it has been partially transformed into a space of many alternative facilities thanks to the initiative of artists who took over parts of former military workshops, warehouses, officers’ apartments, and even parts of underground communications, and partly adapted them to tourist demand.
The life and work of about a hundred artists, gathered in one of the largest informal colonies of artists in the world, the “Art Circle”, gave a special character to the contemporary appearance of the former military fortress, since a large number of studios in which there are constantly formal and informal exhibitions of paintings, photographs and sculptures, provided the Petrovaradin Fortress with a new creative platform that brought about new values, including the tourism one. The accessibility of the studio on the ground floor of the Long Barracks has traditionally been the focus of visitors.
Those who visit the Fortress can (with the permission of the artist) visit studios, buy paintings, and often have an unforgettable experience talking with artists, many of whom have traveled all over the world . With prior announcement and approval of the artist, you can visit the studios of: Dragan Kurucić, Andreja Baća Vasiljević, Dragoslav Višekruna, Bojan Kiridžić, Srđan Soldatović and many others. Also worth mentioning is the ITD Gallery or the Institute for Design Transfusion, where visitors can buy authentic memories of their stay in Novi Sad and the Petrovaradin Fortress, designed by Branislav Radošević.
Text: Gordana Stojaković
Fruška Gora Lengthwise and Widthwise
Fruška Gora forests, meadows, glades, lookouts and lakes invite you to enter them and spend an entire day away from the hustle and bustle of the city by walking in its green surroundings. For decades, citizens of Novi Sad and their guests have had the privilege of being invited to join mountaineering associations, which organize hikes all over Fruška Gora.
The best and safest way to get to know Fruška Gora on foot is to join organized hikes of mountaineering associations and become their member – Poštar, Železničar, Naftaš, Fruška gora, Vilina vodica, Alma Mons, HTS/Hiking Tour Serbia are the names of well-known associations. Hikes are organized at various levels of difficulty, so they are available not only to experienced hikers but to beginners as well. Hikes are also available for parents with children. Hiking guides will best help you prepare to meet Fruška Gora.
Excursion sites, especially those in forest environment such as: Iriški venac, Zmajevac Andrevlje, Brankovac, Osovlje, Glavica, Popovica, Vilina voda, TV tower, Astali, Testera, Letenka and others, or forest eco-systems such as Papratski Do, Stražilovo, Zmajevac, Kraljeve Stolice, Ravne and others, are just part of that primordial expanse that restores calm and joy inside us as we spend time in it.
During the summer heat, hiking on Fruška gora can also include swimming in lakes such as Međeš, Borkovačko, Bešenovačko or Lake Bruje, attractions such as the Rakovačka Cave (Beli Majdan), the Rakovačka hermitage (carved in soft rock by the monks of the Rakovac monastery in the 18th century), Grgurevačka cave, a paleontological site near the Grgeteg Monastery, the rock at the Orlovo Bojište viewpoint and others. Fruška Gora monasteries are frequent excursion destinations, and Staro Hopovo and Đipša, by the distance from the settlement and the nature that surrounds them, are singled out as special treasures in many guide books.
The richness of nature, especially linden and oak forests, flora and fauna, the beauty of the landscape of Fruška Gora have been protected since 1960 with the establishment of the First National Park in socialist Yugoslavia (https://novisad.travel/fruska-gora/).
Text: Gordana Stojaković, Miloš Dunjić
In the Footsteps of Gourmets
Novi Sad pastry shops and treats are a multiethnic story. August is a great time to visit the Time Machine and enjoy a piece of Vasina Cake, or some other cake, served in the garden of this sweet institution that has quite a few awards for product quality. There is also Carigrad, a cafe pastry shop with excellent ice cream, boza and other sweets, in the garden in the very center of Novi Sad.
In the city center there are pastry shops galore: City, Ana, Europe, Figaro Plus, Scheherazade, Moritz Eis, Ice Lab, and excellent cake is served in the restaurants such as Veliki, Project 72, Masha…
The cake placed in a cone, the size of one bite – cupcake, is very popular, and the pastry shops Hladiša and Pecko and Sister Cupcakes are favorite places to get them. The list of great places where you can enjoy a sweet treat is quite long. In fact, everyone is invited to supplement it, because whichever place we decide on we will not go wrong (https://novisad.travel/poslasticarnice/).
Text: Gordana Stojaković
From Banstol to Krušedol and Grgeteg
Banstol is one of the gates of Fruška gora, through which most often pass those visitors who went from Sremski Karlovci to visit the cultural heritage, most often the monastery. The settlement is dominated by the Church of St. Mary built in the Russian style. It is a tame, lively place where the everyday life of most permanent residents is associated with the benefits of Fruška Gora, and many have decided to offer accommodation here to hikers and anyone who wants to explore the beauties of Fruška Gora. There is also a rural tourist household Banstolka, which, in addition to accommodation, offers culinary workshops, relationship training, calligraphic writing, iconography, folklore, and the purchase of healthy food and winter preserves from Srem.
There is also a unique oasis, the Etno Bajka (Ethno-Fairytale) themed complex, which offers an authentic experience of tradition, in the ambience of stylized cabins. It offers visitors traditional food, themed music evenings and a music program in its restaurant. Next to the restaurant, the complex consists of a swimming pool filled with salt water, a large children’s playground and a football field.
Nearby are the monasteries of Krušedol and Grgeteg.
The Krušedol Monastery is a place that is often visited by hikers, pupils and students, lovers of history and nature. The monastery is an endowment of the Srem noble family Branković from the 16th century, and it is also their mausoleum. The monastery church is dedicated to the Annunciation. The fresco from the period of construction of the church is preserved on the pillars, and in the rest of the church is from the period of reconstruction in the 18th century, the work of Jovan Vasilijević and Stefan Tenecki. The altar is a monumental composition, with icons created between the 16th and 18th centuries. The rulers of the Obrenović dynasty, King Milan and Princess Ljubica, as well as Serbian patriarchs Arsenije III Čarnojević and Arsenije IV Jovanović and Duke Stefan Šupljikac were buried in Krušedol. In Krušedol village near the monastery, there is a real little oasis for all horse lovers Ranč Dimitrijević (Dimitrijević Ranch) , which organizes riding schools, horse riding in nature, but also hosts birthday celebrations and other festivities.
According to tradition, the Grgeteg Monastery is the endowment of Vuk the Fiery Dragon from the 15th century, but the first written information about it is from the 16th century. The church of the monastery is dedicated to St. Nicolas. There is information that the monastery was deserted in the 17th century. Today’s appearance is from the renovation completed in 1901 according to the designs of Herman Bole. The new iconostasis was painted by the famous Serbian painter Uroš Predić, at the beginning of the 20th century.
In the immediate vicinity of the Grgeteg Monastery in Prnjavor is the Fruškogorski Đeram restaurant, which offers a variety of local gastronomic specialties, as well as rooms for lodging.
You can also find a place to stay at MV Monogram 3* Hotel in Maradik. It has sixteen elegantly decorated rooms, as well as a restaurant with a large terrace, a children’s playground and its own parking.
Text: Gordana Stojaković, Miloš Dunjić
Cycling route – Danube
The European cycling route EuroVelo 6 passes through Novi Sad, mostly following the embankment on the left bank of the Danube all the way to the Varadinska Duga bridge, where the route crosses to the right, Srem side of the Danube, continuing towards Belgrade.
On the Bačka side of Novi Sad, almost the entire length of the Novi Sad – Futog – Begeč route offers a well-maintained bicycle path.
It is recommended that you start this ride from Šodroš, where a well-maintained bicycle path begins on the embankment, leading you to Futog and Begeč. The length of the path is about 17 km.
In Begeč, we recommend a visit to the Begečka Jama Nature Park, where you can refresh yourself with gastronomic specialties, especially fish specialties, in Čarda Na Jami or the nearby Čarda Kod Braše.
After a break in Begeč, by crossing to the Srem side via the ferry, there is a part of the Banoštor – Sremska Kamenica route about 20 km long, which follows the local road.
In Banoštor, you can visit the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. George built in 1682 during the Great Migration of Serbs under Arsenije Čarnojević.
In nearby Čerević, you can visit the Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph, built in the 18th century.
Also close by, the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Sava was built in the 18th century in Baroque style.
Čerević also has the Homeland Museum, which preserves the legacies of the painter, Milenko Šerban, and the sculptor, Jovan Sodatović.
In Sremska Kamenica, you can refresh yourself in Čarda Sremac or visit Zmajev Museum, dedicated to the great poet Jovan Jovanović Zmaj.
Option one:
Novi Sad – Futog – Begeč – Futog – Novi Sad
Route length: about 34 km
Ride time: up to two and a half hours
Option two:
Novi Sad – Futog (ferry) – Beočin – Ledinci – Sremska Kamenica – Novi Sad
Route length: about 30 km
Ride time: up to two and a half hours
Option three:
Novi Sad – Futog – Begeč (ferry) – Banoštor – Ledinci – Sremska Kamenica – Novi Sad
Route length: about 46 km
Ride time up to 3 hours.
Text: Gordana Stojaković