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7 reasons to visit Zrenjanin

“Nice people, a quiet river, and wheat fields of Banat, a beautiful young girl, and an enchanting song of tamburitza players,” says the song about the city on the Begej river. Stories about its bridges, sumptuous architecture, multiculturalism, beer, and sports grandmasters arouse curiosity. Well, let’s satisfy it.

Zrenjanin grad

BECAUSE ZRENJANIN IS THE HEART OF THE BANAT PLAIN

It was first mentioned in 1326 as a village built on three islands of the Begej River. It was inhabited by many, even Spaniards, and almost became New Barcelona. Throughout history, it often changed its names – Becskerek, Veliki Becskerek, Petrovgrad, and Zrenjanin – named after the national hero Žarko Zrenjanin in 1946. It could also carry several nicknames, certainly Serbian Budapest, due to the number of bridges. We admit, Begej is not Danube, but even the blue European giant is not quite as powerful in the Hungarian capital as it becomes as soon as it escapes to Serbia. The flow of the river through the city was constantly changed, a little by nature, more by man. So, as many as 10 bridges were built over water. The oldest is the Small Bridge, built in 1904, and the newest is the 1992 Magistral Bridge. It also has three pedestrian bridges, a hanging and two arched ones.

The main Liberty Square is adorned by the County Palace, today the City Hall, the monument to King Peter I Karađorđević and the Roman Catholic cathedral from the mid-19th century, dedicated to St. John Nepomucene, who is considered the patron saint of bridges and rivers. There are magnificent buildings all over the place. The National Museum, the Palace of Justice, the Dunđerski Palace, and the House of Martial Arts, a work of Dragiša Brašovan, stand out for their beauty. Green oases in several spacious and landscaped parks add to its beauty as well. It is home to more than 20 national minorities, so various languages can be heard, and various religious objects can be seen. The Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God from 1746 is the oldest preserved building and one of only a few that survived the great fire in the early 19th century. The Slovak Evangelical Church dates from the first half of the 19th century, while the Reformist Church dates from the end of the same century. There used to be a synagogue, but at the beginning of World War II it was destroyed by Nazi occupiers.

In the summer, people rush to the outskirts of the city, to the well-maintained beach, Peskara, which lies on three lakes due to many years of sand exploitation. We do not know whether the famous swimmer Ivan Lenđer swam here, but Zrenjanin is a certified nursery of champions, and perhaps the sportiest city in Serbia. It is difficult to count the medals won by athlete Ivana Španović, volleyball players Maja Ognjenović and Jovana Brakočević, karate athlete Snežana Perić, the Grbić brothers, Dejan Bodiroga… We might have met a future sports grandmaster along the way, because the blood of the winners flows here, next to the Begej river.

Glavna ulica Korzo u Zrenjaninu

BECAUSE WALKING IN “CORSO” (PROMENADE) IS FOR ENJOYING ARCHITECTURE

Throughout history, the street has changed names depending on who ruled Zrenjanin, and today it bears the name of King Aleksandar I Karadjordjević.  Just as a reminder who used to own everything here. The buildings in a separate part of the preserved old town were built in the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, in the spirit of Art Nouveau or historicism with neo-baroque elements. Particularly noteworthy are the building of the Torontal Bank (Croatian Savings Bank), the palace of Jovan Panji and the house of Živko Vukov from the end of the 18th century, the only residential building from the baroque period. Particularly interesting is the house of the stonecutter Tuner Teodosije from 1900, known as “Scheherazade”, who walked out of 1001 nights to give Zrenjanin Moorish charms. There are many noteworthy buildings, and the sightseeing can take a long time. Numerous hospitality and restauration places in Zrenjanin’s pedestrian street, lively, clean and harmoniously decorated, offer respite and refreshment.

Muzej piva u Zrenjaninu

BECAUSE THE BEER MUSEUM PRESERVES THE HISTORY OF MAKING LIQUID BREAD

It is a recent one, but quite interesting, especially to beer drinkers. It settled in a renovated old plant, a brewery, that is, “a beer kitchen”. The walls and floor of the most important unit in beer production are lined with Brač stone in eight colors, and the entrance part, overlooking the river, is made of Italian glass. Uncannily luxurious for a brewery.

On display are a steam engine from the end of the 19th century, a filter machine, an old barley mill, made in Germany, a barrel bench for making beer barrels, copper cauldrons, and an old barrel with the inscription Dungyersky. You can also see old photos, beer bottles, mugs, labels, old tools, and many other interesting items.

One of the oldest drinks is made from yeast, hops, barley, and water. It is also often nicknamed “liquid bread” due to its high nutritional and energy value. It was brought to Zrenjanin by the German Sebastian Kreizeisen in 1745. The brewery’s boom is related to the Dunđerski family. It was taken over at the end of the 19th century, expanded and brewed beer using the best, Pilsen, technology, and the production of Zrenjanin beer continued this way. After being nationalized after World War II, it operated until 2007.

In accordance with its long beer tradition, Zrenjanin has been hosting Beer Day since 1986. Whether it flows from the taps in heaven, we will not know in this world; but we know for sure that in the last week of August it is abundant in the Banat beer paradise. No overindulging, because the infamous beer belly is lurking from the shadows.

Savremena galerija u Zrenjaninu

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7 reasons to visit Zrenjanin

BECAUSE A CONTEMPORARY GALLERY PRESERVES VALUABLE POST-WAR WORKS

It all started about seventy years ago in the Art Colony in the village of Ečka, near Zrenjanin. Not long after that, the Contemporary Gallery was founded, taking care of the works created in the Colony, and it was in 1964 that the city put everything under its roof in the Contemporary Gallery in Zrenjanin. The collection, which consists of paintings, sculptures, etchings, drawings, pastels, watercolors, tapestries, photographs, digital and video works, and installations, was mainly produced by artists who resided in the colony. Among the better known are Jovan Bijelić, Milan Konjović, Miodrag Mića Popović, and Uroš Đurić. But over time, it was also enriched by various donations, the most important of which was that of the Federal Executive Council of Yugoslavia. Thus, nowadays it also proudly features the works of greats artists who did not stay in the colony – Beta Vukanović, Stojan Aralica and Petar Lubarda. The collection contains about 2,800 artworks by artists from the former Yugoslavia and abroad. It beautifully represents contemporary fine arts in this area from 1946 to the present day.

Banja Rusanda kraj Zrenjanina

BECAUSE THE RUSANDA SPA TREATS WITH MUD FROM THE SALT LAKE

It has settled in the only forest-like landscape in Banat, within the Rusanda Nature Park, a protected area. It is surrounded by meadow-steppe and wetland habitats. The environment is inhabited by more than 200 species of birds, so you can hear chirping all around. It lies on the shore of the lake of the same name. It is neither large nor deep, but the waters are saltier than the sea. Its salinity of around 60 percent. However, the bottom is especially interesting. It contains of a special type of mud that has been used for therapeutic purposes since the second half of the 19th century, with healing properties confirmed by the Imperial Academy in Vienna. “Peloid”, the mud of the Rusanda Spa, is extracted by boats in a traditional way and after use, collected and returned to the lake. A bit of sustainability, even more nature and birds, and most of all – well-being and enjoyment.

BECAUSE RIBS ARE A MASTERPIECE IN STARA ZANATLIJA

Old craftsmen in the past, and today true admirers of a good snack gather here. The tastes of large portions are complemented by a home-like atmosphere in the spirit of old Serbian and Vojvodina taverns with a multitude of ethnic motifs. Such are both hospitality and service. All kinds of delights are offered here, but we were attracted by “zanatlijska rebarca” (artisanal ribs). They are served with potatoes and “kaymak”. Juicy, made with in a genuinely traditional way. It’s a savoring experience to remember. And if your table is spiced up by the old-town music of tamburitza musicians…Your heart will bring you here a few more times.

Restoran Stara Zanatlija u Zrenjaninu

BECAUSE WE ARE ALWAYS WITH YOU

Wherever you go, up and down our beautiful country, you are not alone. Nothing can surprise you while you’re on the road, because you are always in the immediate vicinity of one of the over 300 NIS Petrol and Gazprom petrol stations, as a true support to every adventure or journey you take.

Benzinska stanica u Zrenjaninu

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