Pančevo | Top 10 in Cities of Serbia

National Garden

National Garden is one of the favorite places for relaxation and leisure of all generations of Pančevo residents. It was created in the image of German parks, at the request of Austrian Field Marshal Mihovil Mihaljević. Located in the wider city center, it covers an area of ​​about 15 hectares and represents the largest natural park in the city. Throughout history, the park has changed its appearance, from almost neglected to a pleasant and enjoyable place for socializing and recreation, with a rich variety of amenities - landscaped walking and jogging paths, playgrounds for children, recreational equipment, a café, an artificial climbing rock, a skate park, and a stage for concerts. During the summer days, you can also see a large number of smiling newlyweds looking for the perfect photo here. It is evident at first glance that it is a true urban oasis because the diversity of flora and imaginative floral decorations leave visitors breathless, especially those who take a walk in the park for the first time. For the residents of Pančevo, it is a proven place to escape from hot summer days and a kind of urban oasis.

Museum of Vintage Motorcycles

Both enthusiasts and admirers of vintage vehicles will find their "entertainment" in Pančevo. Namely, just a ten-minute walk from the city center, there is an unusual museum that will take you back to the 1930s, at least when it comes to automobiles. It is the Museum of Vintage Motorcycles, whose permanent exhibition represents the most valuable collection of this kind in the Balkans, offering you the opportunity to get acquainted with over a hundred models of motorcycles from the period of 1930-1960. Among numerous vintage motorcycles, there are also several vintage cars, with the Pontiac Cabriolet from 1928 standing out in particular. The founder of this interesting and extraordinary museum is Dragan Markušev, who has been collecting and restoring these vehicles for over 30 years. The museum is open for visits every day, with prior appointment by phone at 063/240-817.

National Museum

National Museum in Pančevo is one of the oldest museums in Serbia. It was founded in 1923 by historian and archaeologist Dr. Borislav Jankulov. Since 1965, it has been located in the city center and is housed in an impressive building constructed in 1933 in the spirit of classicism, originally serving as the city administration building - the Pančevo Magistrate. Although the museum was initially just a small institution composed of private collections, today it represents a complex that includes multiple departments and possesses a large number of exhibits from the area of Pančevo and its surroundings, i.e. southern Banat. Among the most valuable exhibits are the famous painting "Seoba Srba" by Paja Jovanović, the collection of paintings by Uroš Predić, the Flag of the Serbian Vojvodina from 1848, ceramic objects over 7,000 years old from the Starčevo culture period, and many other interesting and historically significant artifacts. The museum is open every day from 10 am to 7 pm.

City Forest

Not far from the city center, on the right bank of the Tamiš River, almost hidden from the public eye and known mainly to passionate adventurers and nature lovers, is the City Forest - an ideal place for those who enjoy walking in nature. The journey to the forest itself is an adventure, as in some parts of the year, it can only be reached by boat, which departs daily from the city quay. This unique marshy oasis is only a few hundred meters away from the hustle and bustle of the city and is known for its diverse fauna. Some of its inhabitants include black storks (protected by law and one of the most endangered birds in Europe), wild boars, deer, grey herons, pheasants, and foxes. For those who want to explore the nature that lies "in front of us," enjoy fresh air and the chirping of birds, a 4 km walking trail has been created, following the riverbank through the forest.

Special Nature Reserve Deliblato Sands

Just forty kilometers east of Pančevo, you will find the largest continental sand dune in Europe, known as the "European Sahara," covering an area of approximately 35,000 hectares. The creation of this unusual landform is primarily attributed to the strong wind known as "košava" and the specific geographical location where this periodic wind (after "emerging" from the Đerdap Gorge) has been dispersing and depositing Danube sediments for thousands of years. Thanks to its unique climate, soil, and absence of surface water, this part of Banat is characterized by atypical flora, fauna, and an overall highly distinctive landscape, which is why it has been declared a special nature reserve under state protection. With its peculiar relief, including typical sand dunes, Deliblato Sands attracts a large number of tourists throughout the year, including cyclists, hikers, biologists, nature enthusiasts, and recreational visitors. Moreover, it is renowned as one of the favorite locations for passionate hunters from around the world and plays a significant role in educational and sports activities for children. The "Čardak" camp organizes recreational classes, sports camps, hiking tours, and various other exciting activities all year round. These beautiful sandy landscapes have also served as filming locations for legendary scenes in famous movies such as Džingis Khan, Who's Singing Over There?, The Elusive Summer of '68, Battle of Kosovo, and others.

Jabukov Cvet Auto Camp

Camp "Jabukov cvet" is located about thirty kilometers from Pančevo, near the village of Banatski Brestovac. Situated on the banks of the Danube, nestled among the trees of an old pine forest and numerous apple orchards, it attracts a large number of campers throughout the year, especially during the season from April to November. It is particularly popular among hunting and fishing enthusiasts, as well as adventurers and nature lovers. The camp offers sports courts for those who enjoy an active vacation, and it is fully equipped with electricity, water, toilets, as well as sanitary and security services. Therefore, if you take pleasure in preparing fish stew, the scent of pine trees, fishing, and a relaxed natural lifestyle, Jabukov cvet is a campsite you should not miss.

River Tamiš and the Panuka Catamaran

The slow, flat river Tamiš, like its "neighbor" Tisza, originates in the Carpathian Mountains and for much of its course flows as a fast mountain river. Only when descending into the lowlands of Romanian Banat does it slow down and transform into a calm but temperamental Pannonian flatland river, as known by the people of Pančevo and Banat. Just a few kilometers from the city center, this river flows into the Danube, and at that point, for over a hundred years, the only pair of lighthouses on the entire course of the Danube can be found - the so-called Tamiš towers. These towers also represent one of the symbols of the city of Pančevo and have been listed as monuments of great cultural significance and are under state protection since 2003. Along the entire course of the Tamiš, Pančevo is almost the only industrial city, which has had a very positive impact on the development of the entire ecosystem in the immediate river basin. The banks of the Tamiš are therefore known for their vast marshy forests, as well as diverse plant and animal life. Since 2017, regular tours on the catamaran "Panuka" have been organized as part of Pančevo's tourist offer for those who wish to take a river ride, enjoy nature, and have a unique view.

Religious Buildings

The Church of the Holy Transfiguration was built in the late 18th century and is considered a cultural heritage site of exceptional importance due to its unique architecture and iconostasis painted by Uroš Predić.

At the entrance to the city, when crossing the Tamiš Bridge, the famous "two towers" of the Orthodox Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin can be seen, probably the most well-known church in Pančevo. It was constructed over two centuries ago, between 1807 and 1811, with contributions from citizens, including the leader of the First Serbian Uprising, Đorđe Petrović Karađorđe, as a token of gratitude to the Pančevo Serbs for their contribution to the uprising.

Roman Catholic Church of Saint Charles Borromeo was built in 1757 and is still the only church in Pančevo where the sounds of organs can be heard. The church is located in the heart of the old town, right next to Pančevo Gymnasium, which is also one of the most beautiful buildings in Pančevo. Built in the neoclassical style, it is famous for the prominent figures who attended it, such as Mihajlo Pupin, Uroš Predić, Laza Kostić, Miloš Crnjanski, Vasa Živković, and many others.

Church of Saint Anne, was built in 1923 by Đorđe Vajfert as his endowment and dedicated to the saint after whom his mother was named.

Events

Among the numerous local events held throughout the year, here are some of the most visited and popular ones.

BACON FESTIVAL IN KAČAREVO

A completely unique gastronomic event, Kačarevo Bacon Festival is unofficially the largest bacon and cured meat products fair in the world. Since 1987, every February in the small village of Kačarevo in South Banat, hundreds of exhibitors from all parts of Vojvodina, Serbia, and the world gather at various indoor and outdoor locations, showcasing tons of bacon and meat products. Kačarevo Bacon Festival is a celebration for all food lovers and meat enthusiasts and an absolute trademark of this village, located just 15 kilometers away from Pančevo.

PANČEVO CARNIVAL

This is the largest international carnival in Serbia and an absolutely spectacular event that makes the city more recognizable year after year, even beyond the borders of our country. Since 2003, it has been held every June, attracting over 2,000 participants from different countries who parade through the central streets of the city in various costumes accompanied by the sounds of fanfares, dancing, singing, and acrobatics. During the two-day festival, almost all residents of Pančevo take to the streets and participate in the extraordinary carnival atmosphere, characterized by a variety of masks, vibrant colors, joyful mood, and concerts that keep the dancing going until the early morning hours. Following the tradition of world carnivals, the festivities begin with the mayor handing over the key to the Carnival Maestro and officially conclude with a spectacular fireworks display.

VAJFERT DAYS

In 2015, the Tourist Organization of Pančevo organized the event "Vajfert Days" for the first time in honor of the great industrialist, brewer, and the first governor of the National Bank of Serbia. Since then, the festival has been held every year in mid-June, lasting for three days, and has become the most significant event in the city of Pančevo within just five years. Taking place at multiple locations in the city center, this festival offers a diverse educational and entertainment program, including lectures, creative workshops, food and drink tastings, promotions of craft breweries and traditional crafts, as well as performances by cultural and artistic societies and concerts by popular local and regional music stars. Throughout the festival, visitors have the opportunity to explore the legacy of the famous Pančevac through organized Vajfert Tour with a series of lectures and guided tours.

Famous Residents of Pančevo

Uroš Predić (1857-1953), one of the greatest Serbian painters and a realist, an academician, and the founder of the Association of Fine Artists in Belgrade. He painted numerous portraits of Serbian academics and is one of the greatest Serbian icon painters. Although not born in Pančevo (he was born in Orlovat, a nearby village in the municipality of Zrenjanin), he attended high school in Pančevo and left a profound artistic legacy in this city, which now bears his name.

Nebojša Glogovac (1969-2018), one of the greatest and most beloved Serbian film and theater actors. Although born in Trebinje, he came to Pančevo with his family as a child, where he grew up, attended school, and lived until he enrolled at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade.

Đorđe Vajfert (Georg Weifert, 1850-1937), Pančevo's "Švaba" (a nickname for a person of German origin) and arguably the greatest Serbian industrialist in history. He was a great visionary, entrepreneur, brewer, and financier of major mining explorations in eastern Serbia, as well as the first governor of the National Bank of Serbia. Considering himself a Serb of German origin, he participated in the Balkan Wars and financially supported the Serbian army during World War I. He was a great philanthropist and humanitarian, building schools and clinics throughout Serbia. His magnificent portrait, painted by Uroš Predić, is displayed in a prominent position in the ceremonial hall of the National Bank of Serbia.