Zaječar | Top 10 in Cities of Serbia

Grliš Lake

Grliš Lake is located about 15km from the city center, near the village of Grlište. It is an artificial lake created in 1990 on the Grliška River for the purpose of water supply to Zaječar. An excellent place to escape from the city during the summer heat. The beauty of this lake is also contributed by the ban on construction of buildings in the immediate vicinity, so the surroundings reflect the untouched nature.

Gamzigrad Spa

Gamzigrad Spa is located about ten kilometers west of Zaječar, not far from the road that connects this city with Paraćin. It is the only organized spa in the municipality and has been known since the time of the Romans in this area. Its development began in 1920, and in 1978, the "Gamzigrad" Special Rehabilitation Hospital started operating. The waters of Gamzigrad Spa are used for the rehabilitation of vascular diseases, neurological and gynecological diseases, orthopedic diseases, and post-traumatic conditions.

Zaječar Guitar Festival

The Guitar Festival is one of the oldest, most visited, and most famous music festivals in Serbia. It has been organized continuously since 1966. Rock bands predominantly perform, and in addition to the competition among young rock bands from Serbia and the region, the most famous performers from these areas perform every evening. Famous world rock bands from the 1970s often perform as well. During the Guitar Festival, numerous cultural and artistic events and performances are also held in the city. And what is most interesting, the admission to the Guitar Festival has been free since its founding.

Kraljevica Memorial Park-Forest

Kraljevica is the most famous picnic spot in Zaječar. This spacious coniferous forest is located near the city center and is easily accessible. Kraljevica features sports fields and facilities for various purposes. Zaječar is one of the few cities that can boast of having a cable car and a ski slope just five minutes away from the city center, which is also equipped for night skiing. In addition to these facilities, Kraljevica is home to a racecourse, a fairground (which also hosts the Gitarijada music festival), a trim trail, the Youth Center, the Scout House, and a mountaineering lodge. Notable cultural and historical landmarks include the Vešala (Gallows) erected in honor of those who perished in World War II. The complex also houses fortresses from the period of the First Serbian Uprising.

Felix Romuliana

Felix Romuliana is one of the largest and most significant archaeological sites in Serbia. It represents the residence of the Roman Emperor Gaius Valerius Maximianus Galerius, the son-in-law of the great Roman Emperor Diocletian. The city was named after his mother, Romula. It is believed that the palace was never fully completed and that the property, dating back to the 4th century, belonged to the Christian church. It was destroyed by Barbarians during the migration period in the 5th century, and with the arrival of the Slavs in this area, the palace was abandoned. The city covered an area of approximately 6 hectares and had 20 towers. Archaeological research has been conducted since 1953, and since 1970, the main supervisor has been Dragoslav Srejović, one of the most prolific archaeologists from this region. It was he who confirmed that the city under investigation was indeed Felix Romuliana. This archaeological site is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Crni i Beli Timok (Black and White Timok)

Like Knjaževac, Zaječar is also a city situated on three rivers. The White Timok approaches from the south, the Black Timok from the west, and when they meet not far from the city, they form the Timok River, which flows into the Danube shortly thereafter.

The Black Timok springs from the far west of the district, in the municipality of Boljevac, in the village of Krivi vir. The Black Timok emerges from a small cave called Pećura by the locals and then passes through a composite valley to reach Zaječar. Along its course, it passes north of Mount Rtanj and the Gamzigrad Spa, where it collects its hot waters. In Zaječar, on the banks of the Black Timok, lies the well-known Popova plaža (Pop's Beach).

Beli Timok flows from the direction of Knjaževac and after about fifty kilometers it merges with the Crni Timok. It passes through several picturesque settlements and through a short gorge called Vratarnica, known for a major battle in World War I when the Bulgarian advance northward was stopped.

Timok or Veliki Timok is a river that flows from Zaječar towards the northeast and flows into the Danube at the exit from Serbia. The place where Timok flows into the Danube is also the lowest point in Serbia and is located at an elevation of 28 meters above sea level.

Zaječar National Museum

The National Museum is located in the city center in a building from 1927, which is also a cultural monument. The museum has four professional departments: history, archaeology, art history, and ethnology. The museum also houses the Nikola Pašić Endowment and the Radul-bey's Konak.

Radul-bey's Konak, a cultural monument of Serbia, is one of the oldest buildings in Zaječar. The exact year of construction is unknown, but it is believed to be older than 1883. It features a permanent exhibition called "Old Zaječar," so if you happen to visit this city, the konak is an ideal place to get acquainted with it.

Zaječar Beer

Zaječar Brewery is one of the oldest breweries in Serbia. The first beer was brewed in 1875, but industrial production started a bit later in 1895. The only interruption in the brewery's operation was during World War II for a year, and since then it has been operating continuously. Until the early 20th century, beer was produced manually, and then a steam engine and electric generator were introduced, which led to more extensive production. Today, the brewery produces light, dark, wheat, and non-pasteurized beer. The owner of the brewery is one of the largest and most famous beer producers in the world - Dutch Heineken.

Suvodol Monastery

Suvodol Monastery is located in the village of Selačka, dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and has the status of a cultural monument. The first traces of a religious building date back to the 11th century, but the present-day monastery is significantly younger. It is considered to be the endowment of Lazar Hrebeljanović and was built in the 14th century. The monastery complex also includes several konaks, with the oldest one dating back to 1880.

Notable Zaječar Residents

Hajduk Veljko Petrović (1780-1813) was one of the greatest heroes of the First Serbian Uprising. He was born in the village of Lenovac, near Zaječar, and at the age of only 22, he became an outlaw. His volatile nature and stubbornness prevented him from aligning with any of the uprising leaders, although he was respected by all. He participated in the Battle for Belgrade in 1806 and was awarded the Golden Russian Order of Courage in 1810. He is also known for his famous last words: "I give my head - I don't give up the Krajina."

Nikola Pašić (1845-1926) was one of the most significant figures in the Serbian political scene at the beginning of the 20th century. He was the founder of the Radical Party and was sentenced to death for planning an assassination attempt on King Milan in 1883, which forced him to flee to Austria. He returned in 1889. He served as the Serbian and Yugoslav Prime Minister from 1903 to 1918 and from 1921 to 1926. He led the parliament through the First and Second Balkan Wars and World War I.

Zoran Radmilović (1933-1985) was one of the most famous Serbian actors. During his youth, he studied Law, Architecture, and Philology but graduated from the Academy of Theatre, Film, Radio, and Television. He will be remembered for numerous roles, with the most famous ones being Radovan III and King Ibi. In honor of the great actor, the event called "Days of Zoran Radmilović" is organized in Zaječar, and the main award is called the "Zoran's Mustache."

Adam Bogosavljević (1843-1880) was a Serbian politician, representative of the Radicals, and advocate of Svetozar Marković's ideas. He studied at the Philosophical Faculty of the Great School in Belgrade but returned to Zaječar towards the end to engage in enlightening the people and agriculture. As a member of parliament, he advocated for the administration of the state to be handed over to farmers, who were the most populous part of the population. Based on his ideas, the People's Radical Party was formed after his death.

Đorđe Genčić (1861-1938) was a Serbian industrialist, Minister of Internal Affairs, mayor of Niš, mine owner, and one of the political leaders of the conspiracy against King Alexander. As a legacy to the people, he left a house that now houses the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade.