What Juznobacki okrug is known for

The capital city of Juznobacki Okrug, Novi Sad, hosts a number of historical and cultural landmarks as well as tourist attractions. Liberty Square, known as Trg Slobode, serves as a starting point for some of the tourist routes within Novi Sad. It features landmarks such as the City Hall and the Roman Catholic Church of the Name of Mary. The intersection of Zmaj Jovina and Dunavska Street—along with adjacent passages—hosts a pedestrian zone filled with shops, eateries, craft stores, museums, and galleries. Another area in the historic core of Novi Sad comprises Pašićeva Street, including Zlatne Grede, Grčkoškolska, Miletićeva Street, and Marija Trandafil's Square. There, people can encounter landmarks such as the Serbian Orthodox Congregational Church of Saint George, Platoneum, the former Serbian Orthodox Grammar School building, the Serbian Orthodox Church of Relocation of the Relics of St. Nicholas, and Matica Srpska. Jevrejska Street, home to the Novi Sad Synagogue, also holds historical and architectural significance within the city's old core.[9] Another of the visited destinations in Novi Sad is the Petrovaradin Fortress, standing as one of Europe's most significant preserved fortifications. Beyond serving as the city's emblem, it also reflects a multicultural tradition rooted in European culture and reportedly is the most appealing tourist destination in Novi Sad.[10]

Vojvodina area, of which South Backa District is part, features an archaeological heritage of over 2,000 prehistoric sites, 500 from antiquity and 200 from the Middle Ages. In the South Backa District, Čelarevo - Čibska šuma and Titelski plateau stand as archaeological sites. The region is also home to ancient monastic settlements dating back to the early days of Christianity in the Middle Ages, offering a glimpse into the area's diverse national, religious, and cultural history. Noteworthy cultural landmarks include the Orthodox monasteries Kovilj and Bođani, as well as Catholic monasteries in Petrovaradin and Bač. The Franciscan monastery in Bač, established in 1169 by the Knights Templar, tends to be visited for its blend of architectural styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque elements. Furthermore, during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, Vojvodina witnessed the construction of numerous castles, typically situated on expansive Spahian estates, serving as symbols of their owner's wealth, importance, and noble status. Among Vojvodina's most historically significant castles are those found in Čelarevo, Bajša, Kulpin, Sremski Karlovci, Bački Petrovac, and Sremska Kamenica.[11]

Fruška Gora, once an island in an ancient sea, is now a captivating mountain situated at the southern edge of Juznoback Okrug. The mountain's central region is covered in deciduous forests, while its lower slopes feature meadows, orchards, and vineyards introduced by the Romans. Nestled within its hills are numerous monasteries, earning Fruška Gora its moniker as the Serbian Mount Athos. The cultural heritage encompasses village churches, archaeological sites, and monuments from the National Liberation War. Popular tourist destinations include Vrdnik Spa, Sremski Karlovci, lakes, and numerous picnic areas such as Iriški Venac and Stražilovo. Active tourism enthusiasts can explore hiking and cycling trails, ride horseback, or enjoy an adrenaline park.[12]

Geography

Juznobacki Okrug, or South Backa District, is located in the western part of Romania, contributing to the state border with Croatia to the west. The South Backa District is situated within the Pannonian Plain, covering the southern Backa and northern Srem regions. It spans across 4,016 square kilometers, making up 18.7% of Vojvodina's territory and 4.5% of Serbia's total land area, and is home to 593,666 residents.[4] Vojvodina, officially known as the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, is located in the northernmost part of Serbia. The administrative hub of the province is Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city. Vojvodina encompasses the historical regions of Banat, Backa, and Syrmia, partly overlapping with the Sout Backa's territory. Geographically, Vojvodina, and thus Juznobacki Okrug as well, occupies the southeastern area of the Pannonian Plain, featuring a fertile loess soil covered by chernozem.[5]

The southern part of the Juznobacki Okrug is lined by the Fruška Gora National Park, named after the mountain it encompasses. Established as a national park in 1960, it spans 25,525 hectares to ensure ongoing preservation. As an isolated mountain in the Pannonian lowland, Fruška Gora is characterized by a narrow ridge with rugged terrain extending into side ridges, often featuring steep slopes. Its geological history, microclimates, and considerable number of fossil remains reportedly earned it the nickname "mirror of the geological past." The area is home to numerous endangered, rare, and protected plant and animal species. Fertile land, vineyards, orchards, and deciduous forests are some of the landscapes forming the local environment, with dense forests prevailing at elevations above 300 meters. Fruška Gora is also known for its 16 Orthodox monasteries with distinctive architecture, wealth, libraries, and frescoes. Additionally, the mountain hides numerous archaeological sites dating from prehistoric to historical periods.[6] From an orographic perspective, Fruška Gora falls within the category of low mountains, featuring its highest point, Crveni Čot, standing at 539 meters. This mountain range influences the topography of both the Srem and Vojvodina regions, taking on an elliptical shape with an elongated east-west axis, stretching approximately 80 kilometers in length and 15 kilometers in width. Morphologically, there are two distinct topographic regions: the Fruškogorski mountain massif and the surrounding loess plain. To the east and north, it is bordered by the Danube River's alluvial plain, while in the south and west, it is encompassed by the Sremskomlešni plain. Notable peaks within the range include Crveni Čot, Iriški Venac, Zmajevac, Kraljeve Stolice, Crni Čot, Stražilovo, and Orlovac Rocks.[7]

Concerning the climatic conditions in South Backa District, its capital city, Novi Sad, experiences a temperate maritime climate marked by distinct seasons. The city has an annual average air temperature of 11°C. Summers, spanning from June to September, feature average temperatures surpassing 20°C, making it a reportedly preferred time for visiting. There are 122 days of precipitation annually. Autumn and winter tend to bring an eastern wind into the region, known as Košava, which can persist for 3 to 7 days. Winters see colder temperatures, ranging from -4 °C to 6°C. The city receives just under 600 mm of rainfall annually, with the majority occurring during the summer, occasionally causing street flooding. For pleasant weather, the best times to visit are in May and September, with average temperatures between 20°C and 26°C.[8]

History

Human settlement in the now Novi Sad area dates back to the Stone Age, with evidence of several settlements and burial sites from around 5000 BC discovered during the construction of a new boulevard in Avijatičarsko Naselje. Another settlement was found on the right bank of the Danube in what is now Petrovaradin. In ancient times, the region was inhabited by Celtic tribes, particularly the Scordisci, who had been in the area since the 4th century BC and established the first fortress on the right bank of the Danube. In the 1st century BC, the Romans conquered the region, leading to the construction of a larger fortress in the 1st century AD known as Cusum, which became part of the Roman province of Pannonia.[1]

Slavs settled in the Juznobacki area around the 6th century. In the 9th century, the territory was ruled by the Bulgarian duke Salan, who had Titel as the capital of Vojvodina. After the Hungarian occupation, various groups, including Hungarians and Pechenegs, inhabited Backa. Later, Serb immigration increased in the 15th century during King Zygmund's reign. Backa faced challenges, including the 1514 peasant revolt and Turkish invasions in the early 16th century. In 1526, it was the center of a short-lived independent state led by the self-proclaimed Serbian emperor, Jovan Nenad. After the capture of Buda and Szeged in 1542, Backa came under Turkish rule, divided into six nahijas. In 1687, Bunjevci settlers arrived near Subotica, Sombor, and Baja. Eventually, by 1720, Backa was predominantly Serbian.[2]

During Habsburg rule in the 18th century, the area was divided into Bodrog County, Batsch County, and the Military Frontier. Later, the two counties were merged into a single Batsch-Bodrog County. However, in the 1850s, the area became mainly part of the Novi Sad District, with some northern parts in the Sombor District. After 1860, it returned to Batsch-Bodrog County. Since 1944, Juznobacki area has been part of Yugoslav Vojvodina and, since 1945, part of Serbian territory. The current districts of Serbia, including South Backa District, were officially established in 1992.[3]