Sombor | Top 10 in Cities of Serbia

County Building

The building built for the needs of the local administration of the Backa-Bodrog County of the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary now serves as the seat of the Assembly of the Municipality of Sombor and the West Bačka District. It is a baroque building that originated in the early 19th century, later redesigned in the spirit of eclecticism, which today represents one of the most architecturally beautiful buildings in Bačka and almost the whole of Vojvodina, and is therefore declared a monument of great importance. The County Assembly Hall houses the famous painting "Battle of Senta" (a battle between Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire in 1697), by Ferenca Ajzenhuta, which dates back to 1896 and represents the largest oil painting in Serbia, measuring 4 x 7 meters. The County, as a representative historical building, is open for visits every day from 8 am to 8 pm, but with a mandatory prior appointment by phone at 025 434-350.

Town Hall - Magistrate

The Town Hall or Varoška kuća, also known as Magistrate, is the most recognizable building and a kind of symbol of the city of Sombor, and is therefore designated as a monument of great importance. On its foundations once stood the castle of the Sombor captain, Count Jovan Branković, built in the neoclassical style, but in the mid-19th century, this building was demolished and a new one was built - the seat of the city administration where the handover of power over Sombor between Austria-Hungary and the Serbian Kingdom took place in 1918. Today, Magistrate represents the central city building where local party committees, numerous organizations, shops, and stores are located.

Religious Objects

Being one of the most significant cities in multi-confessional Bačka, Sombor is home to a large number of places of worship for believers of different religions. With their architecture and historical significance, especially notable are the Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity from the mid-18th century and the Carmelite Church of St. Stephen the King (also known for its magnificent organs, among the largest in the former Yugoslavia), as well as the Orthodox Church of the Birth of St. John the Baptist (also known as the Small Orthodox Church, converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period and later converted back into a Christian church), Church of St. George the Great (also known as the Great Orthodox Church, beneath whose ambo rest the remains of Count Jovan Branković), and the Evangelical Christian Church.

Bezdan

Bezdan is a settlement near the state border with Croatia and Hungary that, being a small flatland village, has absolutely phenomenal tourist potential. Due to being surrounded by river courses and canals from almost all sides, it is also called the "water settlement." It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Danube and its numerous branches and marshes encompassed by the Gornje Podunavlje Nature Reserve. Near Bezdan, on the Danube, there is the famous ship lock from the mid-19th century - the first lock in Europe built using concrete instead of the previously common bricks. Bezdan also has its own spa with two pools of thermal-mineral water successfully used for treating rheumatic and orthopedic diseases. In Bezdan, you can find the unique and completely original Perfume Bottle Museum with an impressive collection of over two thousand bottles from all corners of the planet. Lastly, in the village center, there is the Silk Damask Weaving Workshop, a legally protected cultural heritage site that can be visited for free, with a mandatory prior appointment by phone at 025 810 137.

Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve

...popularly known as the "European Amazon" because it represents perhaps the best-preserved wetland ecosystem along the entire course of the Danube. It covers an area of about 20 thousand hectares, stretching between the Hungarian border and the village of Bogojevo. On the meandering stretch of the Danube, this reserve abounds in branches, river islands, and floodplain forests that irresistibly resemble the swamps and marshes of the Amazon, thus representing a kind of collage of rare flora and fauna, including the remarkable rutting deer, white-tailed eagle, black stork, colonies of herons and cormorants, wild ducks, and geese. Tourists in this extraordinary "biological paradise" can enjoy organized boat and walking tours organized by the Sombor Tourist Organization.

Farms

Traditional Vojvodina Ethno Homesteads - farms are perhaps the most common in the Bačka region, and the surroundings of Sombor are no exception. Among numerous farms, Dida Hornjakov and Naš salaš stand out with their authenticity and popularity. Dida Hornjakov farm was established over a century ago. Built in 1901, it represents a traditional homestead of the Bačka Bunjevci people, now adapted and intended for tourist visits. In addition to two exhibition rooms displaying old Bunjevci folk costumes, furniture, and the general household ambiance from the early 20th century, the estate also houses a sales workshop for traditional crafts, where authentic souvenirs are made for visitors. The hosts also organize traditional meals, horse-drawn carriage rides, feeding of domestic animals, tamburitza music, and the farm offers well-equipped rooms and apartments for overnight stays. Naš salaš is slightly "younger" than the previous one and was built in the 1920s, but it was adapted for tourist visits only a few years ago. It offers accommodation and enjoyment of an authentic rural ambiance, traditional preparation of local dishes, and an ethnographic collection of old items, tools, and handicrafts. During the summer months, Naš salaš has the capacity to accommodate a large number of guests and is suitable for various celebrations and gatherings.

Milan Konjović Gallery

The Milan Konjović Gallery represents the legacy of one of the most significant Serbian expressionist painters, who was born in Sombor. Located in the city center, the gallery has been a treasury of over a thousand works by the renowned painter, as well as his library, correspondence with contemporaries, and archival materials related to the famous artist for over half a century. The gallery periodically organizes thematic and retrospective exhibitions that present different epochs and phases in Milan Konjović's artistic creation – from his first exhibition in his hometown of Sombor, through his student works, to his full artistic maturity and solo exhibitions in Prague, Paris, and Berlin. The gallery is open to visitors every day except Sunday, and ticket prices range from symbolic 50 to 150 dinars.

Boat rides on the Danube backwaters

Extraordinary and super-attractive tours on wooden or motor boats, primarily aimed at enjoying the magnificent nature of the European Amazon from a different perspective, are organized in Bački Monoštor, a charming village located a dozen kilometers from Sombor. By sailing through the canal system, Danube backwaters, and the Danube itself, it is possible to make a circular tour from Bački Monoštor to Bezdan and back, observe birds, go fishing, and enjoy the natural beauty with stops at beautiful riverbank taverns. To schedule and organize such an adventure, it is necessary to contact the Podunav NGO via email at ngopodunav@gmail.com.

Fishing

With its rich marshes, canals, and river backwaters, the municipality of Sombor offers excellent opportunities for river fishing. As many as ten locations, within a relatively small and easily accessible area, represent a paradise for anglers. In addition to the "mighty" Danube, fishermen frequent the Kišov Canal (part of the Veliki Bački Canal), Danube-Tisa-Danube Canal, Bajski Canal, Plazović Stream, Čonoplja Lake, Monoštor Marsh, Mrtva Baračka, and other sites where carp, pike, catfish, zander, roach, and other fish are caught.

Famous People from Sombor

Milan Konjović (1898 - 1993), one of the most influential Serbian painters of the 20th century, an expressionist and an academic. Educated in Prague and Vienna, he lived in Paris and exhibited independently in major European and world galleries. During his lifetime, he created over six thousand artworks, making him one of the most prolific Serbian painters in history.

Radivoj Korać (1938 - 1969), one of the best, most attractive, and beloved Serbian and Yugoslav basketball players of all time. A multiple national champion with OKK Beograd and a winner of numerous medals with the Yugoslav national team. Due to his red hair, he earned the nickname "Žućko." In addition to his sports contributions, Žućko Korać played an important role in promoting pop culture – as a great collector of vinyl records, he was the one who brought the first Beatles record to Belgrade. He tragically lost his life at the age of 31 in a traffic accident after an exhibition game in Sarajevo. He was buried in the Alley of Greats at the New Cemetery.

Zvonko Bogdan (1942 - ), the most significant and popular singer of authentic Vojvodina tamburica music, whose career has lasted for almost half a century. Through his songs, he authentically and recognizably portrays the essential motifs of Vojvodina's culture and the way of life in the plains. A great lover of horses and a former jockey, he is also the owner of one of the most famous wineries in the country.

Nikola Jokić (1995 - ), in the past year and the years to come, probably the best and most popular Serbian basketball player, the star of the NBA franchise Denver Nuggets. In the just-concluded season of the highest-quality basketball league in the world, he was selected to the All-NBA First Team, unofficially proclaiming him the best center in the world.