ISTN - Tourist Destinations

RURAL TOURISM

Knić - In the center of Gruža, next to the lake, nearbz the Town of Borač and the Church from the 8th centurz, the host of the Painting Colony Gružanska Autumn
Dulene - under the mountain Crni Vrh, near the river Dulenka, close to the Raletinac, Sarinac and Denkovac Monasteries
Kamenica - on the slopes of Rudnik, near the river Gruža, close to the Vraćevšnica Monastery and the Miloš's House
Stragari - on the slopes of Rudnik, near the rivers Jasenica and Srebrnica, the Voljavča Spa and the Medieval Monasteries Petkovica, Blagoveštenje and Voljavča, as well as the remnants of the Old Town, near the lake
The Great Šenj - a rocky ground, full of hot water springs, used also by the King Milan Obrenović

The largest city of Šumadija, Kragujevac, mentioned for the first itme under the present name in 1476, is located in the middle part of Serbia, hidden in the Lepenica river valley, between the slopes of the Gledićke Mountains, Rudnik and Crni Vrh. It is 120 km far from Belgrade if one travels via Topola, or 140 km if one does so bz the highway and turns near Batočina. It is well connected by the road with almost all places in Serbia, and by railroad also with Budapest, Thessaloniki and Bar. The first capital of modern Serbia and the initiator of its industrialization (the arms factory developed first and then also started the production of cars and trucks). At present, Kragujevac is the fourth large city in Serbia and it is the economic, medical and cultural/educational center of Šumadija and Pomoravlje.

Kragujevac, described by the Czech Constantine Jireček, the writer of the History of the Serbs, in 1874 as: "Belgrade is Europe, but if you want to see a real Serbian town, go to see Kragujevac", is a city of extensive history. It got its name probably by the bird Kraguj that lived in the forests in these regions even till the beginning of the 19th century. Its character is currently imprinted in the City's Coat of Arms. The center from the time of the old capital is located along the river Lepenica and tells the story of this city, being the first one in many things.

Nearby Kragujevac, there are the medieval Monasteries Voljavča, Blagoveštenje, Nikolje, Petkovica, Denkovac, Divostin (there is a belief that a Saint was buried next to it and the water rising there heals) and others, the medieval fortress Srebrnica, archaeological findings, the town of Borač and many other things.

The City image is completed also by the city fair ground - Šumadija Fair. By its construction, Kragujevac entered the trade fair cities map and thereby created the position for development of Business, Convention and Event Tourism.

THE FIRST IN SERBIA

By founding the first capital of the modern Serbian state (in 1818), the following was created in Kragujevac:

The first legal court institution (in 1820), the first Serbian national program (in 1832, as the basis for creation of Načertanije bz Ilija Garašanin), the first diplomatic relations between Serbia and France (1829 - 1834), the first trade contract in Serbia (in 1837, between Serbia and Great Britain)

The first gallery and museum exhibition ( in 1823 - 1824, at the Prince's Royal Court), as well as the first painting school (in 1823 - 1824, 'the wall painting' or 'paint brushing')

The first professional orchestra - The Prince's Serbian Band (in 1831), the first singing society (in 1834), the first theater (1835, managed by Mr. Joakim Vujić), the first dancing school in Šumadija (in 1904 opened in the Hotel Takovo hall, in Kragujevac)

The first newspaper (in 1834, Serbian Newspaper), the first Lyceum (in 1833, the forerunner of Belgrade University)

The first billiard (in 1822, at the Prince's Royal Court), the first lottery (in 1833) and the first football club in Serbia (in 1903, FC Šumadija)

The first watchmaker workshop (in 1835), the first casted cannons (in 1853), the first electric power plant (in 1884)

The first public freshwater Aquarium in Serbia (in 1999), so far the only one

And many other things.

WHAT TO VISIT?

The old reinforced concrete bridges, the first ones of this type in Serbia, connecting two banks of the Lepenica, the largest river in the Kragujevac valley, about 48 km long

The Holy Trinity Church with the old Parliament. In its yard, almost all important decisions for Serbian people were taken, the Hatisherifs, Constitutions, the Visitation of the Virgin Assembly took place there, as well, in 1835, at which the First Serbian Constitution was proclaimed

The Old Foundry Museum, situated in an authentic foundry building from the 1880's, one of the rare preserved examples of the industrial architecture of that time, in which the product range of Zastava Arms factory was exhibited through history

The Cannon Smelter Monument, installed after the World War II

The Prince Mihailo Inn, from 1860, in which currently the exhibition of the National Museum takes place

The Amidža's (Uncle's) Inn from 1818/1819, the only preserved building of the original Royal Court Complex

The Prince's Serbian Theater, formed under the auspices of Prince Miloš, under management of Mr. Joakim Vujić

The Old Town Center - 'The Miloš's Circle', a protected spatial cultural/historical complex

Šumarice - The Monumental Park 'Kragujevac October', the symbol of Kragujevac, created as a Memory to 7,000 Kragujevac inhabitants shot there in the World War II