Zrenjanin | Top 10 in Cities of Serbia

Freedom Square

A visit to the central city square is usually a must when staying in a city, even if it's a short one. In the case of Zrenjanin, a walk through Freedom Square must be marked as mandatory. One of the most beautiful squares in Vojvodina and Serbia in general, it stands out for its unusual spaciousness and physiognomy characteristic of all major cities of the former Habsburg Monarchy. Formerly known as Ferenc Jožef ter or Franz Joseph Platz, after the unification in 1918, the square was named after King Peter I Karađorđević, and it has carried its current name since World War II. The central place on the square is occupied by the monument to King Peter the Liberator, while the most important and beautiful city buildings are arranged around it – the Town Hall, National Museum, City Library, and the magnificent Cathedral of St. John of Nepomuk. The café and restaurant gardens set around the square will make you feel as if you are momentarily staying on one of the famous squares in Central Europe.

Bridges of Zrenjanin

The small and meandering river Begej, with its branches, is crossed as many as ten times within the city, which is why Zrenjanin is often referred to as the "city of bridges." Among them, the most ancient or the most beautiful ones are the Small Bridge (in the city center), the Pedestrian Bridge or the popular "Bečkerek Bridge" (between Žitni Trg and Zoran Đinđić Square), and the so-called Dry Bridge – literally a bridge under which the river no longer flows. These three bridges, besides their primary function of connecting river banks or city parts, also serve as tourist attractions, offering a beautiful view of Zrenjanin in all directions.

Zrenjanin National Museum

Once declared the best museum institution in Serbia, the National Museum in Zrenjanin is actually a local museum of this part of Vojvodina. It consists of five permanent exhibitions (natural history, archaeological, historical, art, and ethnological collections) containing around 35,000 exhibits related to the area of Srednji Banat and the city of Zrenjanin. From fossils of prehistoric animals to remains of Neolithic civilizations and significant material traces of recent times, this institution ranks among the richest of its kind in Vojvodina. One of the most valuable collections of the museum is the collection of artworks by famous painters, from the mid-18th century to the present day. Housed in the former Financial Palace, on the busiest city square, this museum is one of the most important tourist attractions in Zrenjanin.

Beer Museum

Recently, another museum ranks among the top attractions in Zrenjanin, especially for beer lovers. It is the Beer Museum, located in one of the buildings of the former Zrenjanin Brewery. Considering that Zrenjanin is also the host of the oldest beer festival in this region (Zrenjanin Beer Days), the idea of opening such a museum has gradually emerged as a logical and complementary feature to such an event. The Zrenjanin Brewery was built by the famous merchant and industrialist Lazar Dunđerski, and the museum is designed to present not only the life and work of its creator but also the technology used for beer production at that time (the late 19th century). The entire Beer Museum project is planned ambitiously, and there are future plans to build a small craft brewery for tasting domestic beer. Located on the riverbank, the museum can be reached by a boat that cruises the Begej River, visiting the major local landmarks along its course.

Churches of Zrenjanin

The largest town in Serbian Banat is also a multicultural environment where believers of different nations and faiths have their temples. Among the most significant religious buildings in Zrenjanin are the Roman Catholic St. John Nepomuk Cathedral on the main town square, the Orthodox Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Svetosavska Street, the Orthodox Monastery of St. Melania the Roman on the outskirts of the town, the "Russian" Church of St. Archangel Michael, and the Protestant Reformed Church. It is little known that Zrenjanin had a synagogue until World War II, which was destroyed by the Nazis at the beginning of the war. The organs from the Zrenjanin synagogue are preserved in the Reformed Church, serving as one of the few testimonies of the Jewish community's presence in Zrenjanin.

Carska Bara Nature Reserve

When traveling from Zrenjanin towards Belgrade, after about 15 kilometers, you reach the turnoff for the village of Belo Blato. Two kilometers along this local road, you enter the Carska Bara Nature Reserve, one of the most important wetland habitats in this part of Europe. Specifically, Carska Bara represents a dead arm of the Begej River, a long-severed meander of the river and a place where nature has been showcasing its beauty for centuries. Within an area of approximately 5,000 hectares, wetland, forest, and steppe ecosystems intertwine, inhabited by an unusually large number of rare plant and animal species. As expected in most wetland areas, birds attract special attention from visitors, with over 200 species present in this locality. The reserve can be explored on foot, with a leisurely walk along the well-maintained and marked trail that also offers plenty of useful information about the reserve. Particularly interesting is a boat ride down the Begej river channel to a developed viewpoint that offers a stunning view of Carska Bara and allows observation of some truly unique wetland birds.

Ečka Castle

One of the most popular cultural-historical monuments in Vojvodina is also one of the most popular hospitality establishments in this part of Serbia. Ečka Castle is a true castle and, according to many, the most beautiful one in Serbia. Its exterior, and especially the interior, exude aristocratic spirit and elegance that is now only seen in movies and literary classics. It was built in the early 19th century in the English style by Hungarian magnate Lazar Agošton. The highest officials of the Habsburg Empire (Count Esterházy, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, etc.) once stayed at the castle, and it was also visited by Yugoslav King Alexander I Karađorđević. After World War II, as the bourgeoisie fell out of fashion, the castle fell into neglect, but at the end of the 20th century, it began to regain its former glory. Today, Ečka Castle is a prestigious hospitality establishment where various celebrations are held.

Rusanda Spa

About fifteen kilometers north of Zrenjanin, on the shores of the largest saltwater lake in Serbia, in the village of Melenci, you will find Rusanda Spa. Widely known for its healing mud, which successfully treats skin diseases and aids in the treatment of neurological and rheumatic conditions, this spa has been one of the most popular natural health resorts in the country for over 150 years. Its trademark is the famous mud bathing, using a special type of mud with beneficial physical and chemical properties. This mud, scientifically known as peloid, is extracted from the bottom of the lake for therapeutic purposes and returned to it after use. Like most spas today, Rusanda is not only a health resort but also a destination for relaxation and enjoyment of preventive wellness and spa treatments.

Tiganjica Ethno Village

A typical Banat ethno household is located about 10 kilometers south of Zrenjanin. It is built in the typical Vojvodina style, which very faithfully portrays the former way of life in the wide Banat plain. This unique open-air ethno museum consists of several traditional residential and economic buildings with domestic animals, as well as a rich collection of antique objects that, in this idyllic rural setting, take visitors back (and introduce some for the first time) to the rural life of these regions in the past. An integral part of Tiganjica Ethno Village is the popular Trofej restaurant, where you can taste some of the traditional specialties from the rich gastronomic offerings of Banat. The entire complex also offers the possibility of organizing enchanting weddings and themed events, as well as business seminars, trips, and excursions. Considering its location right next to the regional road, it would be a shame to miss this destination when visiting Zrenjanin from the direction of Belgrade.

Beaches and Recreational Areas

As a city surrounded by waters, Zrenjanin has a large number of recreational areas in its vicinity that offer various opportunities for relaxation, leisure, and active stay in nature. Starting from the severed meander of the Begej River in the city center, which has been transformed into three smaller lakes, there is also the most attractive place for leisure - Peskara city beach and the artificial lake Čepel. Near the Žabalj Bridge, there is a well-known campsite and recreational area on the Tisa River, a paradise for swimmers during the summer period. Moreover, the canals and fishponds in the vicinity of Zrenjanin attract a large number of anglers from all over Banat and beyond.