Novi Sad, or Novi Sad in Serbian, is one of the most pleasant surprises on the way to the Balkans. Although we only stopped for lunch, the city immediately showed its modern, friendly and cosmopolitan face, which is why many call it the “Serbian Athens”.
Novi Sad is a relatively young city compared to the surrounding settlements. Its real rise began at the end of the 17th century, when, after the expulsion of the Turks, craftsmen and merchants working on the construction of the Pétervárad Castle on the opposite side settled on the left bank of the Danube. The settlement was granted the status of a free royal city by Maria Theresa in 1748, and at that time it was named Neoplanta in Latin, Neusatz in German, and Újvidék in Hungarian. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it became the most important center of Serbian culture, education and literature, while being a thriving trade hub of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
The city’s history and culture are closely linked to the Hungarians. For centuries, Novi Sad was one of the most important cities in the historical Bács-Bodrog County. The image of the city center is still defined by the buildings from the monarchy era, including the neo-Gothic Catholic church on the main square (Szabadság Square), the Mária Neve Church, which locals often refer to as a “cathedral” and whose roof is decorated with colorful Zsolnay ceramics.
From a Hungarian perspective, the “Család” monument on the Danube bank is a painful but important memorial site, commemorating the victims of the “cold days” of 1942. At the same time, Novi Sad is still one of the intellectual centers of the Hungarians in Vojvodina: the Újvidéki Színház, one of the most progressive Hungarian-language companies in the region, and the Forum Book Publishing House are located here. The city’s bilingual signs and diverse cultural life preserve this common heritage to this day.
Novi Sad was the European Capital of Culture in 2022. The pedestrian streets of the city center, such as Zmaj Jovina or Dunavska, are full of life, cozy cafes and excellent restaurants, where the flavors of Central European and Balkan cuisine mix. The cleanliness of the city, the well-kept parks and the proximity of the Danube beach, Štrand, make Novi Sad a city where people are happy to return.
