Zeleni Venac
Encyclopedia
Zeleni Venac or colloquially Zelenjak (Serbian
Cyrillic: Зелени Венац or Зелењак) is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade
, the capital of Serbia
. It is located in the Belgrade's municipalities of Savski Venac
(major part) and Stari Grad
.
, the designated center of the city, down the Prizren
ska street. It borders the neighborhood of Savamala
to the south, while the northern border is the Brankova
street. The car tunnel (Terazije tunnel) under Terazije connects it to the Square of the Republic
while underground pedestrian passage connects it to Terazije and Prince Michael Street via Prizrenska and Sremska streets, respectivelly. Population of the local community of Zeleni Venac was 3,517 in 2002.
fortress in the 18th century. When the trench was covered, a pond was formed. As the Belgrade grew around it, the pond became popular hunting attraction (for fowls, ducks, etc) for the inhabitants of Belgrade. In the middle of the 19th century, the pond was partially drained as a designated area for the future National Theatre
, but the area proved to be unstable and after the foundations were laid down, the idea was abandoned and the theater was constructed on another site. The completely forgotten foundation were rediscovered during the 2005/06 reconstruction of Zeleni Venac. In the early 20th century the pond was drained completely.
The name of the neighborhood means the green wreath
. Venac is usually used in Belgrade's geography in term of a round street (Obilićev Venac, Kosančićev Venac) or a rim of the river (Savski Venac, Dunavski Venac
). However, in this case, it is used in the word's initial usage, meaning wreath. On the location of the present McDonald's
restaurant in the Brankova street, for decades was located kafana
Zeleni venac whose logo was a green wreath. Belgrade historians still debate whether the neighborhood was named after the kafana or the opposite.
s of the city's public transportation, with almost 20 bus lines beginning there, is located next to the market.
The market was opened in 1924 and was intended to be the central city open market, being closest to the city center. A thorough reconstruction of the market, which is supposed to give back the market its original looks, began in June 2005 and was recently completed. As the entire Terazije slope, including Zeleni Venac, is very active mass wasting
area, it caused much of the public and academic debate during the reconstruction, especially when a massive rains resulted in sliding which ruptured the streets around the market as if they were hit by a very strong earthquake. After the completion, the market will be multi-leveled, two-stored complex with lowest section partially below the ground. The communal infrastructure is completely renewed, a special parking lot is built and the area will be protected from future mass wasting.
Municipal government of Savski Venac began turning the underground passage into the exhibition gallery. For now, it includes 20 exhibition panels set for the official Belgrade holiday, Belgrade Days, in April 2008, but soon individual panel cameras and sound system with loudspeakers for the 24 hour a day classical music
play will be also installed.
Serbian 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....
Cyrillic: Зелени Венац or Зелењак) is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, the capital 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...
. It is located in the Belgrade's municipalities of Savski Venac
Savski Venac
Savski Venac is one of 17 urban municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Savski Venac is one of the three municipalities that constitute the very center of the city .-Location:Savski Venac is located on the right bank of the Sava river...
(major part) and Stari Grad
Stari Grad, Belgrade
Stari Grad is an urban neighborhood and one of 17 municipalities which constitute the Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It encompasses some of the oldest sections of urban Belgrade, thus the name...
.
Location
Zeleni Venac is located in downtown Belgrade, just few minutes away to the east of TerazijeTerazije
Terazije is the central square and an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in the Belgrade municipality of Stari Grad.- Location :...
, the designated center of the city, down the Prizren
Prizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
ska street. It borders the neighborhood of Savamala
Savamala
Savamala is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipalities of Savski Venac and Stari Grad.- Location :...
to the south, while the northern border is the Brankova
Branko Radicevic
Branko Radičević , an influential Serbian poet, within a short space of time contrived to enhance Serbian literature with several perennially attractive poems.- Biography:...
street. The car tunnel (Terazije tunnel) under Terazije connects it to the Square of the Republic
Republic Square
Trg Republike or Square of the Republic is one of the central town squares and an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, located in Belgrade's municipality of Stari Grad...
while underground pedestrian passage connects it to Terazije and Prince Michael Street via Prizrenska and Sremska streets, respectivelly. Population of the local community of Zeleni Venac was 3,517 in 2002.
History
Zeleni Venac is built in the area that was previously part of the trench which surrounded the KalemegdanKalemegdan
Belgrade Fortress , represent old citadel and Kalemegdan Park on the confluence of the River Sava and Danube, in an urban area of modern Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Stari Grad...
fortress in the 18th century. When the trench was covered, a pond was formed. As the Belgrade grew around it, the pond became popular hunting attraction (for fowls, ducks, etc) for the inhabitants of Belgrade. In the middle of the 19th century, the pond was partially drained as a designated area for the future National Theatre
National Theatre in Belgrade
The National Theatre was founded in the latter half of the 19th century. It is located on Republic Square, in Belgrade, Serbia.The National Theatre was declared a Monument of Culture of Great Importance in 1983, and it is protected by the Republic of Serbia....
, but the area proved to be unstable and after the foundations were laid down, the idea was abandoned and the theater was constructed on another site. The completely forgotten foundation were rediscovered during the 2005/06 reconstruction of Zeleni Venac. In the early 20th century the pond was drained completely.
The name of the neighborhood means the green wreath
Wreath
A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs and/or various materials that is constructed to resemble a ring. They are used typically as Christmas decorations to symbolize the coming of Christ, also known as the Advent season in Christianity. They are also used as festive headdresses...
. Venac is usually used in Belgrade's geography in term of a round street (Obilićev Venac, Kosančićev Venac) or a rim of the river (Savski Venac, Dunavski Venac
Dunavski Venac
Dunavski Venac is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Palilula, geographically located in Banat.- Location & neighborhood :...
). However, in this case, it is used in the word's initial usage, meaning wreath. On the location of the present McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurant in the Brankova street, for decades was located kafana
Kafana
Kafana , kafeana , kavana are terms used in the former Yugoslav countries for a distinct type of local bistro which primarily serves alcoholic beverages and coffee , and which sometimes also has a live band.The concept of a social gathering place for men to drink...
Zeleni venac whose logo was a green wreath. Belgrade historians still debate whether the neighborhood was named after the kafana or the opposite.
Zeleni Venac Market
The major feature by which Zeleni Venac is known today is the open market of the same name (Serbian: Pijaca Zeleni Venac, Cyrillic: Пијаца Зелени Венац), one of largest in Belgrade. Also one of the major terminal stationTerminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
s of the city's public transportation, with almost 20 bus lines beginning there, is located next to the market.
The market was opened in 1924 and was intended to be the central city open market, being closest to the city center. A thorough reconstruction of the market, which is supposed to give back the market its original looks, began in June 2005 and was recently completed. As the entire Terazije slope, including Zeleni Venac, is very active mass wasting
Mass wasting
Mass wasting, also known as slope movement or mass movement, is the geomorphic process by which soil, regolith, and rock move downslope under the force of gravity. Types of mass wasting include creep, slides, flows, topples, and falls, each with its own characteristic features, and taking place...
area, it caused much of the public and academic debate during the reconstruction, especially when a massive rains resulted in sliding which ruptured the streets around the market as if they were hit by a very strong earthquake. After the completion, the market will be multi-leveled, two-stored complex with lowest section partially below the ground. The communal infrastructure is completely renewed, a special parking lot is built and the area will be protected from future mass wasting.
Municipal government of Savski Venac began turning the underground passage into the exhibition gallery. For now, it includes 20 exhibition panels set for the official Belgrade holiday, Belgrade Days, in April 2008, but soon individual panel cameras and sound system with loudspeakers for the 24 hour a day classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
play will be also installed.