Apatin
Encyclopedia
Apatin is a town and municipality in the Vojvodina
administrative region of Serbia
, located in the West Bačka District
, at 45°40′N 18°59′E. The town of Apatin is the administrative, economic, cultural, educational and tourist centre of the municipality
of Apatin (333 km²). The population of the town is 19,289, while the municipality has 32,793 inhabitants.
, the town is known as Apatin (Апатин), while the same name is also used in German
, Romanian
, Croatian
(Šokac
), and Hungarian
. The name Apatin is derived from the old form Opaty, by which the town was first mentioned in the 11th century during the administration of the Hungarian Kingdom.
river (natural border with Croatia
), between the Municipality of Sombor
(in the north) and Municipality of Odžaci
(in the southeast).
, on the left side of the Danube
. It is considered one of Vojvodina
's pristine gems.
The favourable geographic position, proximity to the Danube, and natural wealth of this area (fruitful ground, woods next to the river, abundance of fish in swampy regions and backwaters, and game in woods) attracted people through all ages and made them settle here. Because of these reasons, even in pre-historic times, cultures such as the Sarmatians
, the Celts, the Goths
and many others were replacing each other within this region, one by one.
In the 1st century, during the Roman conquest, the settlement was turned into a military trench with fortifications, and played an important role in the defense of the Pannonia
province. In the 6th century the Slavs settled, and in the 10th century the Hungarians as well, thereby establishing a state, which was populated by both, Hungarians and Slavs.
The first mentioning of Apatin in any written script was in the year 1011, by the Abbey of Kalocsa
Bishopric.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the area became feudalistic, and in exchange for lands, the vassals would need to complete military service to the lord of the property. Many fishermen, hunters, and millers then began to settle down in this area.
In 1417, Apatin is mentioned as a property of Stefan Lazarević
, crowned the Despot of Serbia in 1402. In 1526-1527 it belonged to the short-lived state of Emperor Jovan Nenad
, and soon after this became part of the Ottoman Empire
. During the Ottoman rule Apatin was mainly populated by ethnic Serbs.
In the end of the 17th century it became part of the Habsburg Monarchy
. Many of the refugees during the massive migration of Serbs led by Arsenije Čarnojević in 1690, came to Apatin, Sombor
and Prigrevica
, thus the Serb population in this area increased. A new wave of colonisation occurred in 1748 when many German colonists settled in Apatin, pushing out the Serbs mostly by force, who then evacuated towards Stapar
.
The colonists came from many different regions. The gathering centre was in Ulm
, Germany
and from that point they were transported by the Danube to Apatin, which became the main base of the German expansion in Vojvodina. The church was built near the port and the city square was also built at this time. The real estate value of buildings, such as schools, fishermen’s station, hand craft’s workshops, began to rise.
The Chamber of Court decided to put forth economic objectives to better the economy, and in 1756 the brewery and distillery were built. In 1764 a large textiles factory was built. In 1760 Apatin was officially proclaimed a town and a main trade centre with a special status.
At the end of the 18th century, a catastrophic flood destroyed the old town square, and ruined half of the settlement. The new square was built north-westward from the brewery. The town as seen today, began to take shape. During the 18th and in the early part of 19th century, Apatin had prospered economically, mostly because of developed trade, handcraft and shipbuilding.
In 1848-1849 Apatin was part of the Serbian Voivodship, a Serb autonomous region within Austrian Empire
, and between 1849 and 1860 it was part of the Voivodship of Serbia and Tamiš Banat
, a separate Austrian province. In 1860 it was included into Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary
, which became one of two autonomous parts of the Monarchy after 1867.
In the year of 1869 numerous banks and saving-banks were established, and that opened the door to industrial development. A great number of brickyards produced brick and tile, which were used to construct many buildings in Vienna
and almost all in Pest
. In 1912 Apatin was connected to Sombor and Sonta by the railroad, and the following year, a shipyard was founded. Today, the shipyard has been modernized as it the only shipyard on the whole Danube which has a special lift for quickly drawing boats out onto the docks.
In 1918, as part of Banat, Bačka and Baranja
, Apatin became part of the Kingdom of Serbia
, which later together with the Kingdom of Montenegro
and the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
formed the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (renamed to Yugoslavia
in 1929). Between 1929 and 1941, Apatin was part of the Danube Banovina
, one of the provinces of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
.
When Axis Powers
invaded and partitioned Yugoslavia
in 1941, Apatin was placed under Hungarian
administration. During the Battle of Batina, the front was stretched all the way to Apatin and Bogojevo
, and these places became military bases overnight. Yugoslav Partisans
entered Apatin on October 24, 1944, and since then Apatin was part of the new Socialist Yugoslavia
, within the People's Republic of Serbia
and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina
.
The antifascist council for deliberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ) declared its mainly German population as public enemies. The death toll among the German population of Apatin amounts to 2,074 people known by name. This figure includes the victims of deportation to the USSR.
Between 1992 and 2003, Apatin was part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, between 2003 and 2006 part of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro
, and since 2006 it is part of an independent Serbia
.
Apatin municipality includes the city of Apatin and the following villages:
s live in the Apatin municipality, including:
ethnic majority are Apatin and Prigrevica. The settlement with a Croat
/Šokac ethnic majority is Sonta. Settlements with Hungarian ethnic majority are Kupusina and Svilojevo.
(built in the 18th century), the new Orthodox Christian
cathedral, the Apatin city hall, and the Speiser mausoleum.
(brewery
, built in 1756), Rapid (silicate bricks factory), Jedinstvo (agricultural company) and Apatin Shipyard (formerly known as "Boris Kidrič").
). It will also represent one of the potentially largest economical undertakings in the region.
is by far the most famous athlete from this area, but in the past, Apatin has had athletes represent Yugoslavia (and now Serbia) on the international stage. Today, some of the well known professional sports clubs are:
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
administrative region of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, located in the West Bačka District
West Backa District
West Bačka District is a northern district of Serbia. It lies in the region of Bačka, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It has a population of 215,916...
, at 45°40′N 18°59′E. The town of Apatin is the administrative, economic, cultural, educational and tourist centre of the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Apatin (333 km²). The population of the town is 19,289, while the municipality has 32,793 inhabitants.
Name
In SerbianSerbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
, the town is known as Apatin (Апатин), while the same name is also used in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
, Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
(Šokac
Šokac language
The Šokac language was a language listed in Austro-Hungarian censuses. Population censuses performed in Austria-Hungary recorded the native language of the citizens, whereby the Šokac language was declared as native language to one part of the population, presumably members of the Šokci ethnic...
), and Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
. The name Apatin is derived from the old form Opaty, by which the town was first mentioned in the 11th century during the administration of the Hungarian Kingdom.
Geography
The Municipality of Apatin is located on the left bank of the DanubeDanube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
river (natural border with Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
), between the Municipality of Sombor
Sombor
Sombor is a city and municipality located in northwest part of Serbian autonomous province of Vojvodina. The city has a total population of 48,749 , while the Sombor municipality has 87,815 inhabitants...
(in the north) and Municipality of Odžaci
Odžaci
Odžaci is a town and municipality in the West Bačka District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The town of Odžaci has a population of 9,832 people, while the population of the municipality of Odžaci is 35,474 people .-Name:The name Odžaci means "chimneys" in Serbian...
(in the southeast).
History
Apatin is situated in the north-western part of the spacious plain in BačkaBacka
Bačka is a geographical area within the Pannonian plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east of which confluence is located near Titel...
, on the left side of the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
. It is considered one of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
's pristine gems.
The favourable geographic position, proximity to the Danube, and natural wealth of this area (fruitful ground, woods next to the river, abundance of fish in swampy regions and backwaters, and game in woods) attracted people through all ages and made them settle here. Because of these reasons, even in pre-historic times, cultures such as the Sarmatians
Sarmatians
The Iron Age Sarmatians were an Iranian people in Classical Antiquity, flourishing from about the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD....
, the Celts, the Goths
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
and many others were replacing each other within this region, one by one.
In the 1st century, during the Roman conquest, the settlement was turned into a military trench with fortifications, and played an important role in the defense of the Pannonia
Pannonia
Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
province. In the 6th century the Slavs settled, and in the 10th century the Hungarians as well, thereby establishing a state, which was populated by both, Hungarians and Slavs.
The first mentioning of Apatin in any written script was in the year 1011, by the Abbey of Kalocsa
Kalocsa
Kalocsa is a town in Bács-Kiskun county, Hungary. It lies 88 miles south of Budapest. It is situated in a marshy but highly productive district, near the left bank of the Danube River. Historically it had greater political and economic importance than at present.Kalocsa is the Episcopal see...
Bishopric.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the area became feudalistic, and in exchange for lands, the vassals would need to complete military service to the lord of the property. Many fishermen, hunters, and millers then began to settle down in this area.
In 1417, Apatin is mentioned as a property of Stefan Lazarević
Stefan Lazarevic
Stefan Lazarević known also as Stevan the Tall was a Serbian Despot, ruler of the Serbian Despotate between 1389 and 1427. He was the son and heir to Prince Lazar, who died at the Battle of Kosovo against the Turks in 1389, and Princess Milica from the subordinate branch of the Nemanjić dynasty...
, crowned the Despot of Serbia in 1402. In 1526-1527 it belonged to the short-lived state of Emperor Jovan Nenad
Emperor Jovan Nenad
Jovan Nenad was a 16th-century military commander of Serb mercenaries in the Kingdom of Hungary who took advantage of a Hungarian military defeat in the Battle of Mohács and subsequent struggle over the Hungarian throne to carve out his own state and styled himself emperor , ruling over a...
, and soon after this became part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. During the Ottoman rule Apatin was mainly populated by ethnic Serbs.
In the end of the 17th century it became part of the Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
. Many of the refugees during the massive migration of Serbs led by Arsenije Čarnojević in 1690, came to Apatin, Sombor
Sombor
Sombor is a city and municipality located in northwest part of Serbian autonomous province of Vojvodina. The city has a total population of 48,749 , while the Sombor municipality has 87,815 inhabitants...
and Prigrevica
Prigrevica
Prigrevica is a village located in the Apatin municipality, in the West Bačka District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The village is located 9 km east from Apatin...
, thus the Serb population in this area increased. A new wave of colonisation occurred in 1748 when many German colonists settled in Apatin, pushing out the Serbs mostly by force, who then evacuated towards Stapar
Stapar
Stapar is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Sombor municipality, in the West Bačka District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 3,720 people .-History:...
.
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and from that point they were transported by the Danube to Apatin, which became the main base of the German expansion in Vojvodina. The church was built near the port and the city square was also built at this time. The real estate value of buildings, such as schools, fishermen’s station, hand craft’s workshops, began to rise.
The Chamber of Court decided to put forth economic objectives to better the economy, and in 1756 the brewery and distillery were built. In 1764 a large textiles factory was built. In 1760 Apatin was officially proclaimed a town and a main trade centre with a special status.
At the end of the 18th century, a catastrophic flood destroyed the old town square, and ruined half of the settlement. The new square was built north-westward from the brewery. The town as seen today, began to take shape. During the 18th and in the early part of 19th century, Apatin had prospered economically, mostly because of developed trade, handcraft and shipbuilding.
In 1848-1849 Apatin was part of the Serbian Voivodship, a Serb autonomous region within Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
, and between 1849 and 1860 it was part of the Voivodship of Serbia and Tamiš Banat
Voivodship of Serbia and Tamiš Banat
The Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar or Serbian Voivodeship and Banat of Temeschwar was a province of the Austrian Empire that existed between 1849 and 1860....
, a separate Austrian province. In 1860 it was included into Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, which became one of two autonomous parts of the Monarchy after 1867.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and almost all in Pest
Pest (city)
Pest is the eastern, mostly flat part of Budapest, Hungary, comprising about two thirds of the city's territory. It is divided from Buda, the other part of Budapest, by the Danube River. Among its most notable parts are the Inner City, including the Hungarian Parliament, Heroes' Square and...
. In 1912 Apatin was connected to Sombor and Sonta by the railroad, and the following year, a shipyard was founded. Today, the shipyard has been modernized as it the only shipyard on the whole Danube which has a special lift for quickly drawing boats out onto the docks.
In 1918, as part of Banat, Bačka and Baranja
Banat, Backa and Baranja
Banat, Bačka and Baranja was a de facto province of the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes between October 1918 and March 1919...
, Apatin became part of the Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
, which later together with the Kingdom of Montenegro
Kingdom of Montenegro
The Kingdom of Montenegro was a monarchy in southeastern Europe during the tumultuous years on the Balkan Peninsula leading up to and during World War I. Legally it was a constitutional monarchy, but absolutist in practice...
and the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
The State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs was a short-lived state formed from the southernmost parts of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy after its dissolution at the end of the World War I by the resident population of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs...
formed the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (renamed to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
in 1929). Between 1929 and 1941, Apatin was part of the Danube Banovina
Danube Banovina
The Danube Banovina or Danube Banate was a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1929 and 1941. This province consisted of the geographical regions of Syrmia, Bačka, Banat, Baranja, Šumadija, and Braničevo. The capital city of the Danube Banovina was Novi Sad...
, one of the provinces of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
.
When Axis Powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
invaded and partitioned Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
in 1941, Apatin was placed under Hungarian
Hungary during World War II
Hungary during World War II was a member of the Axis powers. In the 1930s, the Kingdom of Hungary relied on increased trade with Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany to pull itself out of the Great Depression. By 1938, Hungarian politics and foreign policy had become increasingly pro-Fascist Italian and...
administration. During the Battle of Batina, the front was stretched all the way to Apatin and Bogojevo
Bogojevo
Bogojevo is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Odžaci municipality, West Bačka District, Vojvodina province. The village has an ethnic Hungarian majority and its population numbering 2,120 people .-History:...
, and these places became military bases overnight. Yugoslav Partisans
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
entered Apatin on October 24, 1944, and since then Apatin was part of the new Socialist Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, within the People's Republic of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
.
The antifascist council for deliberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ) declared its mainly German population as public enemies. The death toll among the German population of Apatin amounts to 2,074 people known by name. This figure includes the victims of deportation to the USSR.
Between 1992 and 2003, Apatin was part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, between 2003 and 2006 part of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
, and since 2006 it is part of an independent Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
.
Inhabited places
- KupusinaKupusinaKupusina is a village located in the Apatin municipality, in the West Bačka District of Serbia...
- PrigrevicaPrigrevicaPrigrevica is a village located in the Apatin municipality, in the West Bačka District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The village is located 9 km east from Apatin...
- SvilojevoSvilojevoSvilojevo is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Apatin municipality, in the West Bačka District, Vojvodina province...
- SontaSontaSonta is a village located in the Apatin municipality, in the West Bačka District of Serbia. It is situated in the autonomous province of Vojvodina...
Ethnic groups in the municipality
As many as 24 ethnic groupEthnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
s live in the Apatin municipality, including:
- SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
= 20,216 (61.61%) - Hungarians = 3,785 (11.53%)
- CroatsCroatsCroats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
= 3,766 (11.47%) - RomaniansRomaniansThe Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
= 1,191 (3.62%) - YugoslavsYugoslavsYugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
= 727 (2.21%) - Roma = 524 (1.59%)
- Others (including Montenegrins, MacedoniansMacedonians (ethnic group)The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
, MuslimsMuslims by nationalityMuslims by nationality was a term used in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an official designation of nationality of Slavic Muslims. They were one of the constitutive groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, AlbaniansAlbaniansAlbanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
, Germans, SlovaksSlovaksThe Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
, etc.).
Settlements by ethnic majority
Settlements with a SerbSerbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
ethnic majority are Apatin and Prigrevica. The settlement with a Croat
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
/Šokac ethnic majority is Sonta. Settlements with Hungarian ethnic majority are Kupusina and Svilojevo.
Ethnic groups in the town
- Serbs = 13,990 (72.41%)
- Romanians = 967 (5.01%)
- Hungarians = 848 (4.39%)
- Croats = 658 (3.41%)
- Yugoslavs = 612 (3.17%)
- Roma = 369 (1.91%)
- Germans = 142 (0.74%)
- Montenegrins = 100 (0.52%)
- Others.
Spa
Near the city of Apatin lies the Junaković spa. It is a modern and well-equipped rehabilitation and recreation centre with sports fields, outdoor pools, indoor therapy, and saunas.Buildings
Major buildings in Apatin include the Catholic church of The Assumption of MaryAssumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
(built in the 18th century), the new Orthodox Christian
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
cathedral, the Apatin city hall, and the Speiser mausoleum.
Companies
The largest companies in Apatin today are the Apatinska pivara ADApatinska pivara
Apatin Brewery Apatinska Brewery is a member of the StarBev Group, based in Apatin. Its commercial center is in Belgrade, while it has distribution centers in Odžaci, Inđija, Mladenovac, Novi Sad, Čačak and Niš.-Location:...
(brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
, built in 1756), Rapid (silicate bricks factory), Jedinstvo (agricultural company) and Apatin Shipyard (formerly known as "Boris Kidrič").
Free port Apatin
The Free port Apatin is a free customs zone, cargo-transportation center and port with wharf, which will form an economic unit known under the name "Slobodna zona Apatin" (and will cover 160 hectares of ground next to river DanubeDanube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
). It will also represent one of the potentially largest economical undertakings in the region.
Tourist attraction
Apatin has popular tourist location, and because of its proximity to the Danube river and the forests, it is gathering place for fishermen and hunters. There is also an annual gathering called "Apatinske ribarske večeri" (Apatin Fishermen Nights), which has taken place for the last forty some years. "Ribarske večeri" usually starts on July 1, and lasts five or seven days.Sport
Apatin has a rich history in sports. Željko RebračaŽeljko Rebraca
Željko Rebrača is a retired Serbian professional basketball player. Formerly in the NBA, he finished his career with the Spanish ACB League team Pamesa Valencia.-Europe:He began his professional career in 1991 with KK Partizan...
is by far the most famous athlete from this area, but in the past, Apatin has had athletes represent Yugoslavia (and now Serbia) on the international stage. Today, some of the well known professional sports clubs are:
- FK MladostFK Mladost ApatinFK Mladost Apatin is a football club from Apatin, Serbia.-History:The club was founded in 1928, then known by the name of Tri Zvezde . In 1950, the club changes its name to Mladost . Team colour is red...
- member of the Serbia First League Soccer Association - RK Apatin - member of the Serbia Second League Handball Association
Famous citizens
- Željko RebračaŽeljko RebracaŽeljko Rebrača is a retired Serbian professional basketball player. Formerly in the NBA, he finished his career with the Spanish ACB League team Pamesa Valencia.-Europe:He began his professional career in 1991 with KK Partizan...
(born in 1972), a professional basketball player, and ethnic Serb, playing in the NBA with the L.A. Clippers. He was born in 1972 in the village of PrigrevicaPrigrevicaPrigrevica is a village located in the Apatin municipality, in the West Bačka District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The village is located 9 km east from Apatin...
near Apatin. - Pavle Marčetić (born in 1957), a writer and ethnic Serbian, born in Apatin.
- Paul Abraham (1892–1960), a Jewish composer, born in Apatin.
- Gyula PártosGyula PártosGyula Pártos was a Hungarian architect. Together with Ödön Lechner he designed a number of buildings in the typical Secession style of the turn of the century Hungary.-Career:...
(1845–1916), an architect and ethnic Hungarian, born in Apatin. - Ervin Sinkó (1898–1967), a writer and ethnic Hungarian, born in Apatin.
- Josef Sayer (born 1941), German Roman Catholic priest, theologian and development aid official
- Jovan Lakatoš (born in 1944), ornitologist of Hungarian origin, born in Apatin.
- Mirko Djuric (born in 1960), a famous classical guitarist.
- Nenad MedićNenad MedicNenad Medić is a Serbian-Canadian professional poker player with a World Series of Poker bracelet and World Poker Tour Championship title. He resides in Niagara Falls, Ontario...
(born 1983), poker player