Niš

The Gate between East and West
Historians, geographers and writers have always called this city ‘’the gate of East and West’. Because of its significant geographic position many roads are crossing here in Niš, the city which is one of the oldest on the Balkans and in this part of Europe. Those roads link Middle and West Europe, lowland of Vlaška and Pomoravlje with the Adriatic Sea. This kind of position has always had great influence on this city destiny.

Discoveries at the localities Bubanj, Humska Cuka and others point at the Niš area population in Neolith and Bronze Ages. The history of this area, mostly warlike and destructive, was created by the Romans, Goths, Illyrians, Thracians, Celts, Huns and other peoples.

With the birth of Flavius Valerius Constantinus in Niš (the exact year has not been yet determined but the assumption is that it is a year in the period from 274 to 280), the later great Roman Emperor, Christianity protector, great warrior and great statesman, this town got its significant place in the world history. It was continuing to shine with the same glorious light also in the 6th century during the rule of Emperor Justinian I.

Niš gained high and significant level of development in the period of Nemanic dynasty. Stefan Nemanja, Serbian great Head of the state and the father of Saint Sava had an intention to make this city a capital by uniting Niš with Serbia in 1183. In the period of Dušan and Uroš rule, also great Serbian rulers, this trend was continued.

Modern development of Niš started in 1878 with the liberation from the Turks after almost five centuries of slavery. That was not only the end and liberation from the old oriental profile but also the kind of stepping into the most significant period of its history – Niš actually became the second Serbian capital city.

The residence of Kings Milan and Aleksandar Obrenovic, so called Prince castle, where they spent a lot of their time especially in the period of Assembly sessions, was also situated in Niš. During World War I Niš was martial capital (the end of July 1914 until the middle of October 1915). It was the town where were Serbian government and Assembly together with all diplomatic representatives. Important decisions regarding war, country protection and liberation and uniting of Yugoslav nations and peoples were brought here. King Petar I and Regent Aleksandar Karadjordjevic were spending their time here in that period.

The Birthplace of one Great Emperor

Constantine the Great was born in Niš (the assumed date for his birth is 22nd February 274/280) in tetrarch period. After the death of his father Constantinus Chlorus he was elected by his army for a leader in the year 307.
In the course of the next years the Roman Empire was united and the total area stretched from Britain to Asia Minor and from Northern Africa to Ukraine.
Milan Edict, an important document from the year 313, gave to that far banished Christianity the equal status with the other Roman Empire religions. The very motive for Christianity accepting lies in the belief that Constantine won all his important battles with the sign of cross`. It was noted down that on the ewe of the battle with Maxentius, he saw in the sky the lighted cross with the message `In hoc signo vinces` meaning `With this sing you win`. After that in his dream he saw the Savor himself with the same sign.

With Christ Monogram on every single warrior helm, flag and shield Emperor Constantine won many battles.

In the time of Constantine, Niš became one significant town. It was one real trade and art center. Constantine visited and spent his moments a couple of times in Niš combining relaxing moments in Mediana and work on his statesman daily duties.
Christian church proclaimed Emperor Constantine and Empress Helen for Christian saints.
He died on 3rd June in Nicomedia suburb part called Ankira.

Monuments and museums

Bubanj and Humska Cuka (Neolithic period)
These are archeological sites with prehistoric remains of Neolith settlements (Bronze Age). Beside all the movable objects dwelling traces, protective palisades, trade and cult objects were also discovered.

The Museum of Mediana (4th cent.)
This antique historical site on the way Niš - Niška Banja (Spa) is a witness of imperial Naissus wealth and glory. The remains of imperial palace, together with peristil, were discovered. Luxury villas with mosaic floors, sacral objects (baptistery room), economy buildings with pitos, Roman bathrooms, water tanks, fort remains etc testify about Naissus culture and wealth from the times of Emperor Constantine.

Kazandzijsko sokace (Tinkers alley-18th cent.)
This is an old urban downtown in today Kopitareva Street, built in the first half of 18th century. It was a street full of tinkers and other crafts, together with craftsmen houses deriving from Turkish period. Unfortunately, only one part from those houses was preserved today and protected as one structural building wholeness.

Niš Fortress (18th cent.)
At the Nišava riverbank, on the remains of one Roman military camp, then Roman town called Naissus, and finally on the remains of Byzantium destroyed fortification, the Turks built strong fortress at the beginning of 18th century. The building of this fortress lasted from 1719 to 1723.
It was built with local people tedious labor, Istanbul stonecutters and bricklayers.
Beside those well saved walls and gates, numerous objects from various periods, such as armoury, Turkish steam bath, Turkish post station, Bali- mosque, powder place and prison were also saved within this Fortress.

Cele Kula and Cegar (1809)
Cele Kula is a unique world monument. It is a tower built of the skulls of Serbian rebels for freedom. The Turks built this monument after Cegar battle. There is a monument in a tower shape memorialized 50 years after Niš liberation.

Crveni Krst - Concentration camp (1941)
This is one rare saved fascist prisoner camps in Europe. In its unique and authentic way, it witnesses the suffering of Niš and south-east of Serbia in World War II.

Bubanj monument
Bubanj is a place where 10 000 people from Niš and south Serbia were being shot during World War II. In the memory of the dead this monument, in the shape of three big clenched fists, was memorialized in 1963. It is a work of sculptor Ivan Sabolic and symbolizes the resistance of the people during the World WarII.

Memorial chapel
This chapel was built in 1999 in the memory of NATO bombing victims.

City of many festivals

The cultural life of Niš is characterized by many events of high artistic value. In Niš Fortress, at its open air theatre stage – great acoustical stone theatre, Choral festival, Film festival and Nissomnia, famous summer music festival are organized. The famous manifestations are: Nis Music Festival, Nisvil Jazz Festival, Festival of new city chants and romances, `May song`- kids music parade and International Ethno Festival.

Nis started celebrating the 3rd of June as its holiday. It is a period when the whole town, a few days before and after this date, celebrates the birthday of the most significant person born in Nis St. Emperor Constantine and his mother St. Helene through many spiritual, musical and sport events.

One special place in Calendar of cultural events is booked for Nis Book Fair. Literal colony in Sicevo is one mere and promising temptation for opinion exchange and the creation of friendships. Nadezda Petrovic, who is our avant-garde painter, great national fighter and founder of `Serbian sisters round` left `Sicevo` artists colony to this town. It is the oldest painting colony on the Balkans, founded in 1905 and renewed in 1964 and represents one unforgettable experience of Sicevo stone, sky and river colours for domestic and foreign painters.

International fair of tourism and ecology has also recently joined this large group of festivals.

Churches

Although people have lived in this valley for about eight millenniums, there have not been any material proof about the religious life of pagan and antique cultures.

Naissus emerges from pagan world under Emperor Constantine rule, after Milan Edict and the moment of accepting Christianity for an equal fate of great Roman Empire (the beginning of the 4th century A.D.)

In the times of Nemanic reign, Nis was an orthodox town but the temples from that time did not survive five centuries of Islam rule. Certain churches remained only in the villages around towns and monasteries in Sicevo Gorge as one of the biggest Serbian Middle Ages monastery communities.

You can find the next churches coming from the beginning of 19th century: St. Nicholas, St. Pantalejmon, St. Archangel Mihailo and Gavrilo (small minster temple) and the Church of Pentecost (Minster church). There is also a church, built in the fourth decade of the 20th century and located in Niska Banja. The name of this church is name is Saint Ilija.

Today we are witnessing the building of one more town temple `Saint Emperor Constantine and Empress Helene` in St. Sava Park and in the same time smaller and larger town parish churches.

Little church of Sveta Gora monastery Hilandar on Delijski Vis, was damaged in 1944 bombing and renewed in the 90`s of the 20th century. In its complex you can find overnight place and St. Sava church. Seminary during the beginning of this century moved from Prizren and also started its work in Metoh.

Roman catholic church in Jug Bogdanova Street and Islamic religious community with mosque in General Milojka Lesjanina Street are also present in Nis. After Jews holocaust in World War II the using of synagogue ceased in Ruder Boškovica street. There is also one Adventist church in 7 Juli Street.

Hotels, restaurants, bars

As one of the leading centers of transient tourism in this Balkans part, Niš has developed its tourist objects and potentials.

On Belgrade-Niš railway, at 9 km from the town city center, motel `Nais` is located with its main purpose to be a host to motorized tourists. You can find in its complex: parking place of great capacity, service station, shop, restaurant, conference room, balcony, open Olympic pool and camp.

In the very centre of the city we can see the hotels `Ambasador` and `Niš` and within Cair complex `Centroturist` hotel. Recently we have noticed the old trend of opening little private hotels in Niš, so that today we have two hotels, not so far from the city center, called `Panorama Lux` and `Aleksandar` and as private type of pension hotels `Lion MD` and `Vidikovac`.

You can traditionally find good and tasty food in over 500 restaurants in Nis. Among them there are also fast food and `express restaurants` as well as specialized national restaurants where people can enjoy not only Serbian domestic delicious specialties but also Mexican, Italian and Chinese kitchen. Beside good food there is also the sound of traditional music and trumpet in many restaurants

Sweets and delicatessen can be traced in many high quality `sweet houses` in the city and the city night life is filled with numerous modern clubs and café bars.

There are over 30 tourist agencies in town that will take you to interesting worldwide destinations and in the same time provide comfort to those who are our town visitors.

Sightseeing

For those who would like to have picnic rest and fun there are many nice opportunities. Niška Banja is the most attractive one but there are other also more attractive picnic places.

Sicevo Gorge is a beautiful ambience with attractive canyon, some 17 km long, where the Nišava River passes through, with big falls of the flow, frequent changes of directions and cascades. In this calm ambience you can find more than 30 monasteries and churches of exquisite value. Because of its importance and value Sicevo Gorge was nominated for Special natural reservation. 5 kilometers from Sicevo village, on the way Nis – Sofia, Sicevo hotel with 72 beds and surrounded with basketball, volley ball, handball and football terrains giving us the possibility of organizing sport camps. Picturesque surrounding offers interesting walks, mountaineering and fishing.

Nišava canyon is attractive and ideal space for kayaking. Certain international games have been already organized on this track.

Kamenicki Vis is a picnic place in the immediate Niš surrounding at some 14 km from the city center. It has ideal altitude from 750 - 800 meters. You can find accommodation in tourist colony `Šumski cvet` situated at the forested hill side. It offers many possibilities for winter sports, including 300m long ski track, sled track and two ski lifts.

The Cave of Cerje is on 14 km from Niš, near village Cerje, altitude of 515 m. In its underground luxurious halls it hides unusual treasure: limestone ornaments stalactites, stalagmites, stone curtains, columns and other cave beauties.

Jelašnica Gorge at 15 km east from Nis with plenty of natural beauties, attractive stone shapes and waterfalls and in the same time with rare flora. It is proclaimed for Special natural reservation. Plant `Ramonda Serbica` is an endemic sample that found here ideal conditions for its life.

Bojanine vode (waters) is a sightseeing area on the sides of Suva Planina mountain, on 25 km from the city, together with 900 m ski track and 320 m altitude difference and very wide stream. It is very appropriate for slalom style competitions.

Country vacation

Donja and Gornja Studena villages give ideal conditions for relaxing in authentic and natural surrounding. They are in the bottom of Suva Planina mountain (altitude 400m) and are surrounded with untouched nature and mountain water rich springs. Sicevo and Jelašnica gorges including, Bojanine Vode, are in its surrounding. Accommodation can be found in the rooms with 2 and 3 stars.

If you wish to spend some time in the Nišava River immediate surrounding, 2 and 3 star rooms in Sicevo village are always available.

Hunting and fishing paradise

Duke and later king Milan Obrenovic during the end of 19th century hunted with the rich and the famous people from Niš. They hunted in Suva Planina mountain, Jastrebac, Curlin vineyards, Svrljig Mountains and their sites. His son, Aleskandar l Obrenovic, also traced the hunting steps of his father. Aleksandar l Karadjordjevic, in his period of his frequent visits to Niška Banja, also passed through the same terrains. Because of all these interesting facts these hunting ground is called `royal`.

Hunting territory is about 40 000 hectares and of mostly mountainous and lowland type. Doe, hog, hare, pheasant, field partridge and rock partridge are the animals and game inhabiting these grounds.

Many fishers fish even today in the Juzna Morava River and at the banks of Oblacina, Bovan and Zavoj lakes.

Sport and recreation

Niš is a town with sport tradition where almost all sports have their own place. There are over 30 sport types and over 220 sport clubs together with more than 15 000 registered sportsmen.

Many sport-recreation objects provide excellent training conditions, good organization of sport matches and games and recreation activities.

Cair, as a sport center, has a hall for many purposes and 6 000 sits, table tennis club, football stadium, `tartan` athletic track, closed pool complex and 20 open and covered tennis terrains.

Niš surrounding is rich in conditions for different sports. In village Malca, 12 km eastern from Niš, the center for musketry and weapons is located, where number of programmes are organized from the area I.P.S.C., TRAP as well as those providing many adventurous good time moments: Eco-challenge, rafting, trophy.

Extreme sports
Shooting rely

Unique sport event in Europe organized by Safari club, Niš. It is a combination where one should show speed driving of terrain vehicle and show shooting skill with personal security weapon. It is organized every year, during the first weekend in October.

Paragliding
Niš surrounding offers a lot even to those who do not prefer and do not consider tempting so called `common` sports. Nis valley is surrounded by mountain chains so it is ideal for paragliding. This is also possible for the fact that all the dominating winds directions are covered. The most significant terrains are: Višegrad – at only 20 km from the city center, towards East and above Sicevo village, as well as Koritnik above Niška Banja. These terrains attract more and more fliers, not only from the country, but also the foreigners, since they are ideal for passing in every direction. The school for flying is available for those who have not still tried themselves out in those sport activities.

Free climbing
Mountain – alpine club from Niš made in Jelašnica Gorge mountain up-track on the natural rock with attested equipment where supervised climbing in directions is possible. For those who have a wish to try this sport out before going to nature can do that on the `artificial rock` made according to UIAA prepositions and is placed in front of the club. A number of national matches and Balkan cups were organized here on this rock.