Kragujevac | Top 10 in Cities of Serbia

Kragujevac October Memorial Park

Probably the most visited destination in Kragujevac is the Kragujevac October Memorial Park, which testifies to one of the largest crimes committed by the German army in Serbia during World War II. The mass shooting of professors and students by the Germans lasted from October 19 to 21, 1941, resulting in the innocent deaths of a total of 2,264 residents of Kragujevac and its surrounding area. The motive for this brutal act was retaliation by the occupation forces against the civilian population due to sporadic attacks by the partisans, in which ten German soldiers were killed. In memory of the victims from Kragujevac, a memorial park was established in 1953, covering an area of 352 hectares. The park was designed by Mihailo Mitrović and Radivoje Tomić, and a large number of renowned post-war artists participated in the creation of the monuments. In Šumarice, a total of thirty graves were found, and above them, ten sculptural compositions were erected: the Monument to the Shot Students and Professors, the Monument to Bol and Prskos, the "Crystal Flower," the "Stone Sleeper," the "Table for One," and more. Within the memorial park, since 1976, there has also been the October 21 Museum in Kragujevac.

Prince's Arsenal

The Prince's Arsenal represents the complex of the largest industry in Serbia in the 19th century. Namely, when Kragujevac became the capital of Serbia in 1818, it also led to industrial development. The Prince's Arsenal was used for the production and repair of weapons, and within the complex, the first foundry and later the Zastava Arms factory were developed. The arsenal buildings now represent valuable industrial heritage, and the industrial architecture was inspired by Germany and France. It is unique in terms of construction, red bricks, tall chimneys, fragmented roofs, and wooden balconies and staircases. Due to its authenticity, the space of the Prince's Arsenal is often used for filming movies, and since 2011, one of the most famous and significant music festivals in Serbia, the Arsenal Fest, has been held there.

Old Foundry Museum

In the building of one of the oldest factories in Serbia, the Topolivnica in Kragujevac, today you can find the Old Foundry Museum dedicated to one of the first Serbian factories. Topolivnica was relocated from Belgrade to Kragujevac in 1851 and was used for cannon production. During that period, Kragujevac was no longer the capital of Serbia, but it still had numerous government buildings and infrastructure from its former capital status. Due to its strategic location, it was the right choice for constructing such an important factory. The current building of Topolivnica, which houses the Old Foundry Museum, dates back to 1892 and was built in the style of European industrial facilities. It was also constructed with red brick, concrete, and iron, giving it a distinctive appearance. The Old Foundry Museum was founded in 1994 when it inherited the cultural and historical wealth of the former Red Flag Institute Museum through a name change. It holds around 5,800 items, including collections of weapons and equipment, machinery and tools, and archival materials. Among other things, the museum showcases the oldest examples of domestic weapons, which testify to the history of arms manufacturing in Serbia.

National Museum in Kragujevac

The Homeland Museum of Kragujevac was established in 1949. The roots of creating the museum's collection can be traced back to the first half of the 19th century, during the time when Kragujevac was the capital of the Principality of Serbia. At that time, Prince Miloš Obrenović received valuable gifts, including artworks, mineral collections, and numismatic collections. From the original collection of 872 items that the museum had at its establishment, it has grown to a number of 26,000 exhibits that are preserved in the National Museum today. The collections are divided into several departments, allowing visitors to see historical, archaeological, historical-artistic, and ethnological displays. The museum owns four buildings dating back to the 19th century, which testify to the importance of Kragujevac for the Principality of Serbia (Amidžin Konak, Old Assembly Building, Prince Mihailo's Residence, and the house of Svetozar Marković). Part of the museum's collection can also be seen in two more recent buildings, the Small Art Salon and the Art Gallery.

Amidžin Konak

Amidžin Konak is the only remaining part of the large court complex that was formed around the residence of Prince Miloš. The konak was built in 1824 and was intended for Sima Milosavljević - Paštrmac, the administrator of the Prince's Court. It was constructed in a Balkan-Oriental style that was characteristic of that time. The konak has eight rooms and a terrace on the upper floor and was built by the best craftsmen of that time - Janja Mihailović, Todor Petrović, and master Veselin. Amidžin Konak today represents a monument of great cultural significance, testifying to a bygone era and the importance of Kragujevac during that time.

Kragujevac Gymnasium

It is little known that the first gymnasium in the Principality of Serbia was founded in Kragujevac. It started operating in 1833 when the Great School from Belgrade was relocated to Kragujevac. In 1835, it was renamed to gymnasium and has since undergone several structural changes, and at one point, it was even closed. Starting from 1874, after completing primary school, girls were also allowed to attend the gymnasium. Numerous students and professors have made their mark at the Kragujevac Gymnasium. Some of them include Đura Jakšić, Radoje Domanović, Radomir Putnik, Živojin Mišić, Svetozar Marković, Vojislav Ilić, Nikola Pašić, and others.

In 1887, the gymnasium received a new building in which it is still located today. The building was designed in Vienna and still retains its original wooden windows from that period. Due to its significant architectural and historical value, the building of the Kragujevac Gymnasium has been declared a cultural-historical heritage site of great importance. In 1886, the National Library also began operating within the gymnasium.

PMF Aquarium

For nature lovers who want to familiarize themselves with the natural wealth of our rivers and lakes and the fish fauna in Serbia, the Aquarium is an ideal place to visit. It was established in 1999 and is located within the premises of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. In more than 350 glass freshwater aquariums, you can see over 600 plant and animal species from around the world. A special feature of the Aquarium is the display of endemic and endangered species from Balkan lakes, especially Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa, Lake Skadar, and Lake Dojran, which are considered to be home to the oldest fish in this region.

Monument on Metin Hill

It was erected in honor of the artilleryman Radoje Ljutovac, who managed to shoot down an enemy plane with a cannon in 1915. Radoje also participated as an artilleryman in the Balkan Wars, and he welcomed the First World War in the "Tanasko Rajić" regiment, in the Anti-Aircraft Battery. He was stationed on Metin Hill near Kragujevac and had the task of protecting the city from enemy aircraft. The event that celebrated this great artilleryman happened on September 30, 1915. With precise aiming, Radoje managed to bring down a German plane of the Fokker brand using a cannon not intended for that purpose. Some historians consider Radoje Ljutovac to be the first person to shoot down an aircraft in history. Due to this heroic act, Radoje was awarded the Karađorđe Star with swords and was promoted to the rank of corporal. After this event, many more followed, which brought Radoje other decorations as well.

Lakes around Kragujevac

Kragujevac is the fourth largest city in Serbia and was once a leading industrial center. Several artificial reservoirs were created in the vicinity of Kragujevac to meet the high demand for drinking and industrial water. Some of them are now used for recreational purposes.

Grošnica Lake is among the oldest and largest artificial reservoirs in Šumadija. It is located near Kragujevac, on the Grošnica River, a left tributary of the Lepenica River. The lake was formed in 1938 to supply water to the city and was the largest artificial lake on the Balkan Peninsula at that time. In the 1960s, the dam was raised to increase the water volume in the basin. However, even after that, there was still not enough water for the city's water supply, so several smaller artificial lakes were created in the area.

Šumarice Lake is located near the Šumarice Memorial Park. Due to its size and proximity to the city center, the lake is the most visited in the entire Šumadija region during hot summer days. It is 1,500 meters long and has an average depth of about 3 meters. In addition to recreational activities, the lake is popular among fishermen, especially because it is home to American bass and pike, which were introduced into the lake in the 1990s, along with the standard fish species.

Bubanj Lake is located near the city center. It was formed in 1955 on the site of a former brickyard, where there was a strong spring that formed a small lake. Over time, the pond expanded, and the surrounding area was arranged for nature lovers. The lake is supplied with water from underground springs and precipitation, and it freezes completely during winter. The lake is shallow, with a maximum depth of 1.8 meters. Unfortunately, due to lack of maintenance, it is not suitable for swimming. When viewed from above, with a little creativity, a careful observer may perceive the lake as having a heart shape.

Monasteries

Divostin Monastery is a women's monastery located near Kragujevac. The name derives from the words "divine abode" since it has always been a women's monastery. It is believed to have been built during the 15th century, during the reign of Despot Stefan Lazarević, on the foundations of a Byzantine temple. The monastery church is dedicated to the Annunciation, and throughout history, like most monasteries and churches in the Kragujevac region, it was destroyed by the Turks and Germans. The current church was built in 1974, and the monastic quarters were added a decade later. In the monastery courtyard, there is a fountain called "Svetinja" (The Holy One), with a relief portrait of Milan Obrenović, created by the renowned sculptor Simeon Roksandić.

Rudničko Blagoveštenje Monastery is located on the slopes of Mount Rudnik, near the village of Stragari. It was first mentioned in Turkish documents in 1467, and it is presumed to have been built around 1400. During the Turkish and German occupations, the monastery was repeatedly destroyed and burned. The current church and monastic quarters were built after World War II, but the preserved fresco of the Dreadful Judgment, most likely from the early 15th century, remains. During the First Serbian Uprising, the monastery was used for gunpowder production, and in 1814, a council of Serbian leaders, attended by Miloš Obrenović, was held there. It was during that meeting that a request for help was sent to the Russian Tsar Alexander I.

Voljavča Monastery is also located on the slopes of Mount Rudnik and is dedicated to the Holy Archangels. It was built in the 15th century on the foundations of an old sanctuary. The monastery church was constructed in the Morava architectural style, characteristic of that period. During the First Serbian Uprising, it served as a refuge for Karađorđe, who hid there on several occasions. In gratitude, Karađorđe donated 100 ducats to build monk cells. Later, Miloš Obrenović paid for the construction of a bell tower.