Novi Sad
A city on the Danube with a century-old culture of gathering, debate, and creativity. Ocupi was built here - for everyone who lives here.
History
Novi Sad was founded in 1694 as Petrovaradin Trench, a settlement across the river from the Petrovaradin Fortress built by the Habsburg Empire. In 1748, Empress Maria Theresa granted it city rights, and Novi Sad began its rise as a cultural and intellectual centre of the Serbian people. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the city earned the nickname "Serbian Athens" - it was home to Serbian publishing houses, theatres, schools, and the Matica srpska, the oldest Serbian cultural institution still active today.
Modern Novi Sad
Today Novi Sad is Serbia's second-largest city with around 290,000 inhabitants. It sits on the banks of the Danube, connected to the old fortress town of Petrovaradin by several bridges. The city is known for the EXIT Festival, one of Europe's largest music festivals, held annually in July at Petrovaradin Fortress. In 2022, Novi Sad was named a European Capital of Culture, cementing its role as a hub for arts, music, and public life in the region.
Landmarks
Petrovaradin Fortress - the 18th-century fortress overlooking the Danube, home to EXIT and dozens of artists' studios. Zmaj Jovina Street - the main pedestrian thoroughfare lined with cafés, bookshops, and street musicians. Dunavski Park - a 19th-century park in the heart of the city. The Synagogue - one of the finest examples of Moorish Revival architecture in southeastern Europe. The Danube quay (Kej) - a riverside promenade where people walk, run, cycle, and meet.