Town Hall

Gradska kuća

This lovely Art Nouveau building with a tower from the beginning of the 20th century is the Town Hall. It was built according to the designs of Franz Raichle.

The richly decorated carving in the hall is worth seeing, together with large murals painted by Rudolph Udvary from Apatin.

Directions: main street

The Church of the Assumption of Mary

Crkva uspenja

The Catholic Church of the Assumption of Mary, dating from the 18th century, is famous for Black Madonna. People believe that the first German settlers brought this wooden sculpture of Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus from Switzerland.

The church was painted by Rudolph Udvary, a local painter.

It houses an exceptional library with German books, a reminder of the times when the Germans lived in this area.

Directions: town centre

Fishermen's Paradise

Town Hall

This a true symbol of Sombor, built in 1842 on the site of Count Jovan Branković’s castle from 1718.

The building once housed the administration, archives and library. The meetings of the magistrate were held in the Grand Hall.

This is where in 1918 a takeover of the town took place between the former Austrian-Hungarian authorities and Serbian Royal authorities.

Directions: the heart of Sombor

The Holy Trinity Church

The Holy Trinity Church (Crkva Presvetog Trojstva) was built in 1752-63 on the site of an older church.

The church organ was made in 1771.

Some notable Catholics from Sombor were buried in the crypt in 1782.

The Church was renovated in 1939.

The Church of St John the Forerunner

The Church of St John the Forerunner (Crkva svetog Jovana Preteče) was built on the site of an older Orthodox Church, turned into a mosque when the Turks came. The old church was torn down in 1786, and the new one was built 4 years later.

The richly decorated iconostasis was painted by Pavle Đurković in 1809.

The Church of St Stephen the King

The new Roman Catholic Church was built in 1860 and consecrated in 1904.

The Convent was also completed then, and in 1905 was given to the order of Carmelites. That’s why the church is also known as the Carmelite Church.

The organ made in 1926 was among the biggest in former Yugoslavia.
 

The Serbian reading room

The Serbian Reading Room (Srpska čitaonica) was established in 1845 on the initiative of 72 most educated and respected Serbs. It is placed in the building which was built in 1882.

Our famous poet, Laza Kostić, used to be its president.

Today, the Serbian Reading Room is the place where a large number of cultural events are held.

The Parochial Palace

There's a building by the Church of Holy Trinity that used to be a Franciscan cloister. The building of the cloister began in 1743 and was completed in 1749. This is where Sombor was proclaimed a Free and Royal City by the Charter of Maria Theresia on 24th April 1749. The Franciscans left both the Cloister and Sombor obeying an order issued by Austrian Emperor Joseph II in 1786. That same year, Sombor became the permanent seat of Bačka-Bodrog District, so the parochial office and administration was moved to the Cloister building and had stayed in it until 1809, when a new Municipal Assembly Building – Županija was built.

On the south facade of the Parochial Palace (Plebanija) there’s a sundial. It was placed in 1852 on the initiative of Jovan Čokor, the headmaster of the Teacher-Training School. He used to punish his students really hard, resulting in the students’ mutiny and his leaving Sombor.

There’s also a sarcastic inscription as part of the sundial, ‘one of these is your last’, written in Serbian and Hungarian.

Kronić Palace

This is one of the most beautiful edifices in Sombor. It was built in 1906 by Dr Stevan Kronić, a landowner and lawyer from Sombor.

In 1938 the Palace was sold and today seats the Trade Court of Sombor.

In 1856 a marble cross was erected in front of the building, but after the war it was moved into the courtyard of the Big Orthodox Church.

Holy Trinity Square

Holy Trinity Square (Trg Svetog Trojstva) was named after the stone monument of the Holy Trinity which was placed in the central part of the square in 1774. The monument was erected as a symbol of gratitude for the end of one of the numerous plague epidemics of that time. The monument consisted of an elegant, graceful and tall column and a statue of the Holy Trinity on top of it. During its removal in 1947 the monument was damaged.

Today this square is known as "Ćelavi trg" (Bald Square) among the people of Sombor.

Saint George's Square

the clock tower of St George's church

Saint George's Square (Trg svetog Đorđa) is located on the east side of the Town Hall.

In 1940 the bronze horseman statue dedicated to King Aleksandar, the work of Antun Augustinčić, was placed here. The monument was removed after the Hungarians had arrived in 1941.

The Church of St George the Martyr

The church of St George (Crkva svetog velikomučenika Georgija) was built in 1759-61 thanks to the donations of orthodox Serbs of Sombor. The tower was erected in 1791. Way back in Turkish times, there was a smaller church with the same name on this site.

The original iconostasis was done by the best iconostasis painter of that time, Teodor Kračun. In 1866 it was removed and replaced by Pavle Simić’s one.

The church was renewed in 1936.

Inside the church, there are a lot of stained-glass windows, precious metal objects and flags of different guild houses.

It’s an interesting thing that in 1788, in the churchyard, Avram Mrazović started the 1st educational course for teachers called Norma.

Županija

This monumental building with 200 different rooms, chambers and halls, today the Municipal Assembly, was built in 1805-08, but completely renovated in the 1880s. Two side towers and the back side of the building were built then.

Take a look at the largest (4 x 7 m) oil picture in the country, ‘The Battle of Senta’ by Ferenz Eisenhut, and the Hall of Coats-of-arms.

Working hours: Mon – Fri: 8 - 15 

Entry fee !

The building is surrounded by a park, arranged in the 19th century.

Address: Trg cara Uroša 1, Sombor

Phone: 025/468-111

Website: http://www.soinfo.org/sombor/

Town Museum

The Town Museum (Gradski muzej) is one of the most prominent ones in the country.

It was founded in 1945, but the building where it’s placed was built in 1870. Today, it’s a regional museum with departments of archaeology, numismatics, ethnology, history and regional art history as well as the collection of contemporary Serbian art.

Working hours:
Mon – Fri: 9 – 18
Sat: 9 - 17
Sun (called in groups = not fewer than 10 visitors): 9 - 17

Entry fee !

Address: Trg republike 4, Sombor

Other Contact: gmso@ptt.rs, gmso@sbb.rs

Phone: 025/422-728

Website: http://gms.rs/

Milan Konjiović Gallery

The gallery was opened in 1966 and houses 500 selected works of Milan Konjović, donated by the author himself to his hometown, and more than 500 donations. The collection includes oil paintings, pastels, water colours, drawings and tapestries.

The building itself used to be a pharmacy owned by Emil Gale, thus its other name 'Gale's building'.

Working hours:

Tuesday—Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday: closed

Exceptions are made for announced group visits on weekends and Mondays.

Entry fee!

Address: Trg Svetog Trojstva 2, Sombor

Directions: historical centre, opposite the Town Hall building

Phone: +381 25 412563

Website: http://konjovic.rs/en/home

U tem Somboru

U tem Somboru
svega na volju:
svega ima do istina,
da i žene piju vina
u tem Somboru.

Otkako je ta
naša varmeda,
od to' doba naše snaše
zavoleše tamburaše
u tem Somboru.

Ženit cu se ja:
žena mi treba
koja znade svašta radit,
a ja cu se gospodarit
u tem Somboru.

Sombor, situated in the nortwestern part of Backa Plain, is famous for its greenery, cultural life, 18th- and 19th- century centre, and for being the hometown of famous names such as Milan Konjovic, Veljko Petrovic, Radivoj Korac, Zvonko Bogdan...

During its more than 600-year-old history, Sombor has changed its name several times. One of the oldest was Czoborszentmihály, originating from the Czobor family, the owners of the area in the 14th century.

An unofficial name used for the town is Ravangrad (Flat town).

How to get there?

Bečej has good road connections. Subotica is 80km far from it, Novi Sad-47km and Belgrade-130km.

Ride a horse!

Near the Fantast Hotel, there's a horse farm with about 100 horses. They're thoroughbred or semibred racing horses. Every day you can see jokeys working with them.

The people here also organize horse riding, so if you want you can try it, too.

Fantast

the chapel

Near Bečej, about 14km towards Bačka Topola, there's an old castle, once owned by Bogdan Dunđerski. The castle was built in the 1920s.

It's been restaurated and converted into the hotel Fantast.

There's St George chapel nearby, with valuable iconostasis done by Uroš Predić.

In the surroundings, there's also a famous horse farm, where they raise thoroughbred and semibred racing horses. In fact, the hotel got its name after 1 of the horses, who won a triple crown in 1932.

Serbian Orthodox Church

At the very centre of Bečej, there's this monumental Serbian Orthodox Church, built in 1858, according to the plans of Andrija Šmaus and Jovan Somborski. It's dedicated to St George.

As you can see, there are 3 towers symbolising the Holy Trinity.

Inside the church, you can admire the paintings of Uroš Predić, our famous 19th-century artist. The most distinguished work here is probably Predić's iconostasis with 63 icons, each representing the best of the 19th-century religious art. Taking pictures inside the church is prohibited!

Predrag Jovanović from Novi Sad cast the church bells.

Catholic Church

The present Catholic Church was built in 1830, on the site of the older one from 1763. The tower was added in 1923.

The inside is richly decorated. The stained-glass windows were made by Kratzman Ede in 1892, while the Altar painting, ‘The Assumption of the Virgin’, is the work of Mor Tan.

The Town Theatre

The building was built for the military purposes, and is believed to be among the oldest in Bečej.

This cultural centre houses the Great Hall, Creative Centre, with its workshops, the ‘Krug’ (‘Circle’) Gallery, where a lot of artists have exhibited their works, and the Theatre Club, that organises some lectures, presentations or video projections.

The plays by children, youth and adults, are performed in Serbian and Hungarian.

Address: M. Tita 14

Directions: eastern side of the central square

Town Hall

The Town Hall was built in 1881- 84, following the plans of Makai Endre from Budapest.

Directions: western side of the central square

The Legacy of Baroness Eufemija Jović

Next to the Town Hall, there’s this building - the legacy of Baroness Eufemija Jović, built in 1903.

Directions: northwestern part of the central square

Technical School

One of the most beautiful edifices here is this one, housing the Technical School.

The school was built in 1869, following the plans of Jovan Somborski from Bečej.

Directions: south-eastern side of the central square, close to the Orthodox Church

The Town Museum

The museum was founded in 1953, and has 7 collections: historical, archeological, numismatic, ethnic, art, applied art and natural. Unfortunately, the only way to see the treasures is via the Net.

Working hours:
Mon, Wed, Fri 8 - 14

Tue, Thu 8 - 19

Address: Glavna 25, Bečej
http://muzejbecej.rs/
Other Contact: muzej.becej@gmail.com

Phone: 021/69-15-765

The Town of Bečej

central square

The town of Bečej, with its 30000 inhabitants, is situated in the middle of Vojvodina's plain on the right bank of the River Tisa.

The town centre is dominated by the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church and the old building of the oldest school here.

Near Bečej, you can visit an old castle called Fantast, now a hotel, and a horse farm.

Monastiraki

Monastiraki, the neighbourhood next to Plaka, is famous for its traditional Flea Market. You can find antiquerries and traditional handcraft items there. 

Kapnikarea

The Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea was founded in the 11th century and built on the ruins of an ancient temple, dedicated to a female goddess.

Most of the paintings inside are from the 20th century, and are the work of Photis Contoglou.

Open: Mon, Wed, Sat, Sun 8-14 Tue, Thr, Fri 16.30-21.30

Closed on national holidays

Address: corner of Ermous and Kalamiotous

The Cathedral

The Mitrópoli (Cathedral) is an important Greek cathedral and the largest church in Athens, and as such, the seat of the Bishop of Athens.

The building started in 1842 and took 20 years to complete. It was dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin (Evangelismós Theotókou) by the king and queen.

Inside, there are 2 tombs of the saints killed by the Ottoman Turks, St Filothei, who ransomed Greek women enslaved in Turkish harems, and Patriarch Gregory V, who was hanged and thrown into the Bosphorus.

Address: Plateía Mitropóleos, Pláka

Directions: Metro: Monastiráki

Other Contact: Daily 6:30am to 7pm

Phone: 210 322 1308

Website: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/athens-mitropoli-cathedral.htm

The Tower of the Winds

This marble tower dominates the Roman Agora.

It was constructed as a water clock in the 1st half of the 1st century BC by the astronomer Andronikos Kyrrhestes.

Its sides are adorned with reliefs representing the 8 winds, Boreas (N), Kaikias (NE), Apeliotes (E), Euros (SE), Notos (S), Lips (SW), Zephyros (W) and Skiron (NW).

There used to be sundials outside as well.

Directions: near the west gate of the Roman Agora

Website: http://www.athensinfoguide.com

Once the largest temple in Greece

The building of the Temple Of Olympian Zeus started in the 6th century BC, but was finished in the 2nd century AD.

It was once the largest temple in Greece.

The marble temple used to consist of 104 Corinthian columns, but only 15 of these remain standing.

Another archaeological site

The construction of the Roman Agora (=Market) was started by Julius Caesar but finished by Emperors Adrianus and Traianus.

If you buy a ticket for the Acropolis, the entrance here is included.

Directions: at the beginning of Eolou Street

Website: http://www.athensinfoguide.com

Marvelous Views!

Lycabettus Hill is the highest hill of Athens which offers you a marvelous view over the city and the whole Attica. And, if the weather's nice, you might even see Corinth and nearby islands of the Gulf of Saronikos.

The hill's topped with a beautiful small church of St George from 1780. Its bells can be heard only once a year.

On the other side of the hill, there's an open-air theatre.

Directions: you can get there on foot or by a cable car that operates every 15 minutes

Right in the centre!

Ambasador

The hotel, founded in 1937, declared monument of architecture, has 12 floors. Each room has a bathroom, cable TV, mini-bar (empty), phone, central heating (our room, among few, was pretty cold, but at least we had hot water in the bathroom).

The restaurant's on the 1st floor and is quite small for such hotel. And the service's pretty slow. A woman from our group wanted to try some soup but there wasn't any, so she asked for some chips and had to wait for almost an hour! But the breakfast (Swedish buffet) was really good.

Unique Qualities: The hotel's very close to both Revolution Sq and University Sq, only 20 minutes away from the Bucharest International Airport and 10 minutes from the main Railway Station 'Gara de Nord'

The brochure says that there are facilities like:

a room

-room service
-fitness room
-sauna
-hairdresser/manicure/pedicure
-conference rooms
-parking
-laundry
-internet access
-luggage room
-safe

Feel free to check that out!

Address: 8-10, Magheru Boulevard
Phone: +40 21 315 90 80
Theme: Hotel
Website: http://www.ambasador.ro

The Central University Library

The golden building in the picture was built between 1891 and 1914 under the direction of French architect Paul Gottereau.

It now houses a library, an art gallery, an EU Information Centre and a bank.

Address: Revolution Square