The history of Sremski Karlovci can be told through events, biographies of famous people or through material traces and stories about the everyday life of its inhabitants. Museum of Beekeeping – Wine House Živanović (Muzej pčelarstva – Vinska kuća Živanović) is a place where, along with wine, honey and the story of the development of winemaking and beekeeping, there are traces of multigenerational everyday life and work of members of the Živanović family, which in some segments are part of the Serbian people’s heritage.
Beginning in 1770, thanks to Teodor Živanović, wine became a family business that was preserved through the generations until modern times, when Borivoj, and then today’s owners Žarko and Borko Živanović, successfully introduced winemaking into the era of new technology and modern tourism.
Here we should add the fact that one of the family members, a scientist, writer and professor at the Karlovci Grammar School and Theological Seminary, Jovan Živanović, established and expanded “rational beekeeping” among the Serbian people in the second half of the 19th century. Since then, the advanced winemaking and beekeeping have become synonymous for the Živanović family from Karlovci, and their example and achievements, especially in beekeeping, have become part of everyday life and work of many Serbian families in the area that included the influence of priests educated in Sremski Karlovci.
The story of the development of beekeeping, through exhibits that belonged to Professor Živanović (old and modern bee hives, honey jugs, a beehive-small church from 1875, books and magazines, medals and diplomas, pieces of furniture and interior design of a civic house) the visitors can see in the Museum of Beekeeping within the Živanović family estate.
Traces of history of winemaking can be seen at the same place, including: the original book by Zachary Orfelin “Experienced Cellarman” (where, among other things, there are data on the healing properties of Bermet), the first medal for wine quality won by Prof. Živanović at the Millennium Exhibition in Budapest at the end of the 19th century, photographs of grape picking in the last century and nearby, three hundred years old, wine cellar (cellar buried in the ground) fifteen meters long in which barriqued wines are stored in unchanging microclimatic conditions.
The story of modern winemaking here begins in the vineyards around Sremski Karlovci and the selected assortment of grapes[1]: Chardonnay, Petra, Neoplanta, Tamjanika, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Probus.
The wines on offer are: Rose Živanović, Cabernet Sauvignon Živanović, Probus Živanović, Privilegija Živanović (Merlot and Probus), Bermet Živanović (white, rose and red), Šmizla (Neoplanta and Petra), Chardonnay Živanović, Ausbruch Živanović (“Suvarak” or “Samotok”). These are harmonious wines, those that possess all the valuable features of the Fruška Gora terroir, the love and dedication of winemakers, the controlled influence of modern technologies in the making and storage of wine, and the experience preserved through the traditions of many generations.
The visitors gladly come to Živanovićs. The programme of the visit is a matter of choice, and can include a visit to the Museum of Beekeeping and wine cellar with a story about the history of beekeeping, winemaking, grape and wine varieties, then wine tasting and purchase, honey and honey brandy. Serving, from snacks for separating wine (cheese, selection of dried meat specialties …) to lunch requires prior agreement. The wine tasting room can accommodate up to a hundred people, and visitors have at their disposal a terrace in front of the Museum of Beekeeping facing the well-kept garden.
Museum of Beekeeping – Wine House Živanović is a kind of institution that is confirmed by the recognitions: Sremski Karlovci Award for 2018 to Žarko Živanović for decades of contribution to the promotion of Sremski Karlovci and the Charter of Sremski Karlovci for 2018 to the Museum of Beekeeping and Wine House of the Živanović family for the accomplished results. That is the reason why high-ranking officials from the surrounding area and the world often come here, because Karlovci and the entire region show what they are proud of here.
Students’ excursions, domestic and foreign tourists who visit Fruška Gora and Sremski Karlovci, families during weekend trips, representatives of various companies, picnic goers, clients of travel agencies … and all of them bring the experience of calm, sincere hospitality, and excellent Fruška Gora wines and the same kind of honey.
Announcement is mandatory for group visits one day in advance.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 09:00 a.m. – 04:00 p.m.
Mitropolita Stratimirovića Street 86b, Sremski Karlovci
Phone: +381 (0)63 528 155
E-mail: muzejpcelarstva@gmail.com
Website: www.museumzivanovic.com
Text: Gordana Stojaković
Photographs: Aleksandar Milutinović
Tourism Organisation of the City of Novi Sad is not responsible for changes in information and services.
The text posted in: July 2021
[1] Transcription of the grape variety names is given according to: Cindrić, Petar and Vladimir Kovač (2007) “Vinogradarstvo i vina“ (“Viticulture and Wines“) Fruška Gora. Ed. Nebojša Jovanović and Jelica Nedić. Pg. 498. Beograd: Zavod za udžbenike
