Fruška Gora
Encyclopedia
Fruška Gora is a mountain
in north Syrmia
. Most part of the territory is located within Vojvodina
, Serbia
, but a smaller part on its western side overlaps the territory of Croatia
. Sometimes, it is also referred to as jewel of Serbia , due to its beautiful landscape protection area, nature and its picturesque countryside.
word "Fruzi" of which singular form is "Frug"; and its adjective is Fruški, which was used for naming the Frankish people. The name of "Fruška Gora" is "Frankish mountain" in English
whose meaning is based on describing a historical event, viz, the mountain served as a natural border when Frankish campaigns were set up in the area. During the time of the Roman Empire, its name was Alma Mons "fertile mount".
river. Lengthwise, it is approximately 80 km from east to west and is 15 km from north to south. Its highest peak is Crveni Čot at 539 m.
The slopes of Fruška Gora are perfectly suited for growing grape
arbors on there, and there are many wine
-makers producing Traminer, Riesling
and other wines in the region. Many people have been captivated by its picturesque beauty, due to its outstanding location which is famous for the peaceful and lucrative lifestyles of its inhabitants, and a perfect destination for sightseeing where tourists can relax and enjoy themselves in the spectacular natural environment.
Since 1960, there has been a large national park
in the Fruška Gora that attracts a lot of visitors every year. After the fall of communism, the Serbian Orthodox Church
got 10,000 hectares restitution in the area of their nationalized properties.
times. Before the Roman
conquest, Illyrians
and Celts inhabited this region. In 31 AD, this area was conquered by the Romans and was included into Pannonia
province. The Danube
river was a border of the Roman Empire (Limes
), and on the northern side of the mountain several Roman border fortresses were built.
In the Middle Ages
, this area was settled by Quadi
, Huns
, Goths
, Gepids, Slavs, Avars
, Bulgarians
, Pechenegs and Hungarians. In the 11th century, when Christianity
was split between Catholicism
and Orthodoxy
, both communities had their churches in this region. A very important group of Serb
medieval monasteries was formed on the mountain.
During World War II
, this area was occupied by the Axis Powers
, and Fruška Gora was an important center of partisan resistance movement. A liberated partisan territory was formed in this region.
, Beočin
, Petrovaradin
, Sremska Kamenica
, Sremski Karlovci
, Irig
and Ilok
.
Thanks to its hospitable environment, there are also over a dozen Serbian Orthodox monasteries located on Fruška Gora. According to historical data, these monastic communities were historically recorded since the first decades of the 16th century. Legends, however, place their founding to the period between the 12th and 15th centuries. The monasteries are concentrated in an area 50 kilometers long, and 10 kilometers wide. In the course of centuries of their existence, these monasteries sustained the spiritual and political life of the Serbian
nation.
Fruška Gora Monasteries were declared Monuments of Culture of Exceptional Importance
in 1990, and are protected by Serbia
.
List of monasteries:
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in north Syrmia
Syrmia
Syrmia is a fertile region of the Pannonian Plain in Europe, between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is divided between Serbia in the east and Croatia in the west....
. Most part of the territory is located within Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
, 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...
, but a smaller part on its western side overlaps the territory of 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 ...
. Sometimes, it is also referred to as jewel of Serbia , due to its beautiful landscape protection area, nature and its picturesque countryside.
Name
The mountain's name originates in the old 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....
word "Fruzi" of which singular form is "Frug"; and its adjective is Fruški, which was used for naming the Frankish people. The name of "Fruška Gora" is "Frankish mountain" in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
whose meaning is based on describing a historical event, viz, the mountain served as a natural border when Frankish campaigns were set up in the area. During the time of the Roman Empire, its name was Alma Mons "fertile mount".
Features
To the north, the mountain is bordered by 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. Lengthwise, it is approximately 80 km from east to west and is 15 km from north to south. Its highest peak is Crveni Čot at 539 m.
The slopes of Fruška Gora are perfectly suited for growing grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
arbors on there, and there are many wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
-makers producing Traminer, Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
and other wines in the region. Many people have been captivated by its picturesque beauty, due to its outstanding location which is famous for the peaceful and lucrative lifestyles of its inhabitants, and a perfect destination for sightseeing where tourists can relax and enjoy themselves in the spectacular natural environment.
Since 1960, there has been a large national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in the Fruška Gora that attracts a lot of visitors every year. After the fall of communism, the Serbian Orthodox Church
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
got 10,000 hectares restitution in the area of their nationalized properties.
History
There are traces of human habitation in this area that date from neolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
times. Before the Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
conquest, Illyrians
Illyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
and Celts inhabited this region. In 31 AD, this area was conquered by the Romans and was included into 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. 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....
river was a border of the Roman Empire (Limes
Limes
A limes was a border defense or delimiting system of Ancient Rome. It marked the boundaries of the Roman Empire.The Latin noun limes had a number of different meanings: a path or balk delimiting fields, a boundary line or marker, any road or path, any channel, such as a stream channel, or any...
), and on the northern side of the mountain several Roman border fortresses were built.
In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, this area was settled by Quadi
Quadi
The Quadi were a smaller Germanic tribe, about which little is definitively known. We only know the Germanic tribe the Romans called the 'Quadi' through reports of the Romans themselves...
, Huns
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
, 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....
, Gepids, Slavs, Avars
Avars
Avar or Avars may refer to:* Eurasian Avars, a nomadic people that conquered the Hungarian Steppe in the early Middle Ages* Uar * Caucasian Avars, a modern people of the Caucasus** Avar language, the language of the Caucasian Avars...
, Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
, Pechenegs and Hungarians. In the 11th century, when Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
was split between Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and Orthodoxy
Orthodoxy
The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
, both communities had their churches in this region. A very important group of Serb
Serbs
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...
medieval monasteries was formed on the mountain.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, this area was occupied by the 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...
, and Fruška Gora was an important center of partisan resistance movement. A liberated partisan territory was formed in this region.
Population and settlements
In 1991, population of Fruška Gora region numbered 114,263 people. Settlements in the area are including 23 villages, as well as several towns, which are located on the edge of the mountain. These towns are: ŠidŠid
Šid is a town and municipality in the Srem District of Vojvodina, Serbia. Šid town has a population of 16,301, and Šid municipality 38,921.-Name:...
, Beočin
Beocin
Beočin is a town and municipality in the Vojvodina province, Serbia. The population of the town is 8,037, whilst Beočin's municipality population is 16,029...
, Petrovaradin
Petrovaradin
Petrovaradin , is part of the agglomeration of Novi Sad in Serbia...
, Sremska Kamenica
Sremska Kamenica
Sremska Kamenica is a town and urban neighborhood of Novi Sad, in Serbia.-Name:In Serbian, the town is known as Sremska Kamenica , in Croatian as Srijemska Kamenica, in Hungarian as Kamanc, and in German as Kamenitz.-Geography:The town is located in the Syrmia region, on the northern slopes of the...
, Sremski Karlovci
Sremski Karlovci
Sremski Karlovci is a town and municipality in Serbia, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, situated on the bank of the river Danube, 8 km from Novi Sad...
, Irig
Irig
Irig is a town and municipality in the Srem District of Vojvodina, Serbia. The town has a population of 4,854, while Irig municipality has 12,294 inhabitants.-Name:...
and Ilok
Ilok
Ilok is the easternmost town and municipality in Croatia. Located in the Syrmia region, it lies on a hill overlooking the Danube river, which forms the border with the Vojvodina region of Serbia. The population of the town of Ilok is 5,036, while the total municipality population is 6,750...
.
Monasteries
Serbs
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...
nation.
Fruška Gora Monasteries were declared Monuments of Culture of Exceptional Importance
Monuments of Culture of Exceptional Importance (Serbia)
Cultural Monuments of Exceptional Importance are the monuments in the Republic of Serbia that have the highest level of the State protection, and some of them are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites....
in 1990, and are protected by 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...
.
List of monasteries:
- BeočinBeocin monasteryThe Beočin monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery just outside of Beočin, on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina. The date of its founding is unknown...
- The time of founding is unknown. It is first mentioned in Turkish records dated in 1566/1567. - BešenovoBešenovo monasteryThe Bešenovo Monastery was a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina...
- According to the legend, the Bešenovo monastery was founded by Serbian KingMonarchA monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
Dragutin at the end of the 13th century. The earliest historical records about the monastery date from 1545. - Velika RemetaVelika Remeta monasteryThe Velika Remeta Monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina. Traditionally, its founding is linked to King Dragutin...
- Traditionally, its founding is linked to King Dragutin. The earliest historical records about the monastery date to 1562. - Vrdnik-RavanicaVrdnik-Ravanica monasteryThe Vrdnik-Ravanica Monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery in Vrdnik in the Fruška Gora mountains in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina. The exact date of its founding is unknown...
- The exact date of its founding is unknown. The records indicate that the church was built at the time of Metropolitan Serafim, in the second half of the 16th century. - GrgetegGrgeteg monasteryThe Grgeteg Monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina. According to tradition, the monastery was founded by Zmaj Ognjeni Vuk in 1471...
- According to tradition the monastery was founded by Zmaj Ognjeni Vuk (Despot Vuk GrgurevićVuk GrgurevicVuk Grgurević Branković , also known as Vuk the Fiery Dragon , was the titular Despot of Serbia from 1471 until his death in 1485...
) in 1471. The earliest historical records about the monastery date to 1545/1546. - DivšaDivša monasteryThe Divša Monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina. It is believed to have been founded by Despot Jovan Branković in the late 15th century...
- It is believed to have been founded by Despot Jovan BrankovićJovan BrankovićJovan Branković was the titular Despot of Serbia from 1496 until his death in 1502. He held the title of despot given to him by Vladislas II of Hungary, and ruled a region known as Racszag under the Kingdom of Hungary...
in the late 15th century. The earliest historical records about the monastery date to the second half of the 16th century. - JazakJazak monasteryThe Jazak Monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina...
- The monastery was founded in 1736. - KrušedolKrušedol monasteryThe Krušedol monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina. The monastery is the legacy of the last Serbian despot family of Srem - Branković. It was built between 1509 and 1514...
- The monastery was founded between 1509 and 1516, by Bishop Maksim (Despot Đorđe Branković) and his mother Angelina. - KuveždinKuveždin monasteryThe Kuveždin monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina. Traditionally, its foundation is ascribed to Stefan Štiljanović. The first reliable record of its existence are dated in 1566/1569...
- Traditionally, its foundation is ascribed to Stefan ŠtiljanovićStefan ŠtiljanovicStefan Štiljanović was the last prominent Serbian nobleman of the period of Ottoman subjugation of Serbia, and according to folklore, he was the last Despot of Serbia. He ruled a large territory under the Hungarian crown, due to his famed operations against the Ottoman Empire in the frontiers...
. The first reliable records of it are dated in 1566/1569. - Mala RemetaMala Remeta monasteryThe Mala Remeta Monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina. Its foundation is traditionally ascribed to the Serbian King Dragutin...
- The foundation is traditionally ascribed to the Serbian King Dragutin. The earliest historical records relating to the monastery are dated to the middle of the 16th century. - Novo HopovoNovo Hopovo monasteryThe Novo Hopovo Monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina. According to tradition, the monastery was built by the Despots of the House of Branković...
- According to tradition, the monastery was built by the Despots of the House of BrankovićHouse of BrankovicHouse of Branković or Brankovići was a noble Serbian medieval dynasty. The family descent via female line through marriage from the Royal House of Nemanjić. The families rise to prominence during the time of disintegration of Serbian Empire under the last ruler of House of Nemanjić...
. The first reliable mention of the monastery is dated to 1641. - Privina GlavaPrivina Glava monasteryThe Privina Glava Monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina. According to legend, Privina Glava was founded by a man named Priva, in the 12th century...
- According to the legends, Privina Glava was founded by a man named PrivaPrivaPriva is a genus of plant in family Verbenaceae. It contains the following species :* Priva auricoccea, A.Meeuse* Priva socotrana, Moldenke...
, in the 12th century. The earliest historical records about the monastery are dated in 1566/1567. - PetkovicaPetkovica monasteryThe Petkovica Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina. According to tradition, it was founded by the widow of Stefan Štiljanović, Despotess Jelena...
- According to the tradition, it was founded by the widow of Stefan Štiljanović, Despotess Jelena. The earliest historical records mentioning the monastery are dated to 1566/1567. - RakovacRakovac monasteryThe Rakovac Monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina. According to a legend written in 1704, Rakovac Monastery was founded by a certain man, Raka, courtier of Despot Jovan Branković. The legend states that Raka erected the...
- According to a legend written in 1704, Rakovac was founded by a certain man, RakaRakaRaka can refer to:* A Turkish rendering of the Arabic geographical name Ar Raqqah* Raka'ah, one unit of Islamic prayer, or Salat* Raka Maomao* Rajdhani College* Raka, Burkina Faso* Raka, Tibet...
, courtier of Despot Jovan Branković. The legend states that Raka erected the monastery in 1498. The earliest historical records mentioning the monastery are dated to 1545/1546. - Staro HopovoStaro Hopovo monasteryThe Staro Hopovo monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina. According to tradition, the monastery was founded by Bishop Maksim...
- According to the tradition, the monastery was founded by Bishop Maksim (Despot Đorđe Branković). The first reliable mention of the monastery dates back to 1545/1546. - ŠišatovacŠišatovac monasteryThe Šišatovac Monastery is a Serb Orthodox monastery situated on the Fruška Gora mountain in the northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina. The foundation of the monastery is ascribed to the refugee monks from the Serbian monastery of Žiča...
- The foundation of the monastery is ascribed to the refugee monks from the Serbian monastery of ŽičaŽicaŽiča is an early 13th century Serb Orthodox monastery near Kraljevo, Serbia. The monastery, together with the Church of the Holy Dormition, was built by the first King of Serbia, Stefan the First-Crowned and the first Head of the Serbian Church, Saint Sava....
. The reliable facts illustrating the life of the monastery date back from the mid 16th century.
See also
- Lake of LedinciLake of LedinciLake of Ledinci was a small artificial lake on the mountain of Fruška Gora, near Novi Sad, in the Srem region of the Vojvodina province of Serbia....
- Pannonian Island MountainsPannonian Island MountainsThe Pannonian island mountains is a name for mountains located in the southern Pannonian Plain, in the Serbian province of Vojvodina. They include Fruška Gora and Vršac Mountains...
- List of mountains in Serbia
- Spatial Cultural-Historical Units of Great ImportanceSpatial Cultural-Historical Units of Great Importance (Serbia)Spatial Cultural-Historical Units of Great Importance are the monuments in the Republic of Serbia that have the second level of the State protection.Those are part of the Cultural Property of Great Importance protection list.- Further reading :...