Regions:
Vojvodina
Geographically, Vojvodina is the opposite of Serbia – Serbia is as mountainous as Vojvodina is flat and vice versa. Apart from the hills of Fruška Gora and Vršačke Planine, there is nothing to disturb the view over the endless plain, once upon a time the bottom of the Pannonian Sea. Today, only tractors and combines sail across this “sea”, fighting the waves of wheat and sunflowers. Standing out like islands are the bell towers of Orthodox, Catholic, Uniate, Evangelist or Calvinist baroque churches or silos that are never empty.
Three great rivers flow through this region – the Danube, the Sava and the Tisa – and divide it into three parts – Srem, Banat and Bačka. For a long time these were different provinces until, in 1848, they united for the first time, as demanded by the Serbs living in all three of them. On this occasion the newly established land of the Habsburg Empire was given another name – “Srpska Vojvodina”, that is “Serb Dukedom”. Today, Vojvodina is an autonomous province within the Republic of Serbia with its own parliament and unobtrusively protects its individuality.
“Hurry at leisure” is a motto in these parts. The people, as if somewhat sleepy, do their work slowly but with certainty, knowing that the rich plain brings deserved rewards. This breadbasket of Serbia gives more than enough for all those who live here, and hence, all do live here: Serbs, Hungarians, Romanians, Slovaks, Ukrainians, Croats, Czechs and many more, all of who have come here in search of a better life and all of who have learned to appreciate it. Vojvodina’s beautiful cities are spattered with buildings dating back from the days of the Habsburg Monarchy. Though the Germans are gone, quite a bit of their efficiency and order has remained, achieved without tension or force.
Situated on the wide banks of the Danube and shadowed by the mighty Petrovaradin Fortress, lies the city Novi Sad, the administrative and cultural centre of the province. Even though this is a relatively large city, the atmosphere here is relaxed, calming and inspiring at the same time. In the North is the city of Subotica that connects Serbia to Europe not only physically but also through its secession architecture and active economy. Sombor, a town that, though it seems to have been left by the way side, is steeped in history and enjoys much greenery and a leisurely pace of life. The town of Sremska Mitrovica, called Sirmium in Classical Antiquity, was one of the four capitals of the Roman Empire and gave the name to the entire province of Srem. Tucked in between the Danube and the hills of Fruška Gora, lies the town of Sremski Karlovci, the spiritual centre of the Serbs for many centuries, but also one of the centres of European viticulture. From these vineyards the wine was made that bought privelidges for the Serbs from the Habsburg monarchs. Another town which grew up beside the vineyards is Vršac with its low, yet wild mountains. Today, only bogs and swamps remain of the Vojvodina landscape before the land drainages. However this scenery from a time gone by, with its richness in flora and fauna can be enjoyed in places like Carska Bara or Obedska Bara bog.
TThere are many events that celebrate the ethnic and cultural diversity of the nations of Vojvodina. Competitions take place, which honor the abundance of nature and the enthusiasm of the inhabitants who, after all, love most of all to enjoy the fruits of their work with food, drink and song.
