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Culture, nature and Encounters in Vojvodina and Slavonia (Novi Sad)

In our "On the edges of the Danube Monarchy" travel series, we will be in Serbia in 2022 and Slavonia in eastern Croatia.
We will start in Subotica, which boasts some of the most beautiful buildings of the Hungarian Art Nouveau and (fortunately for us) has not yet been discovered by tourists. There, we meet parish priest Csaba Paskó, Caritas president, cathedral director and TV chef, and are immediately introduced to the region's culinary delights. This historic region, Batschka, is today divided between Hungary and Serbia. In 1699, the Batschka came under the Habsburgs, who carried out intensive colonisation of this border region by German-speaking settlers, mainly Danube Swabians. But also Hungarians, Serbs and Croats inhabited this lowland. Then we travel to nearby Novi Sad, the capital of Vojvodina, where we can see the mighty fortress of Peterwardein. Novi Sad will be the European Capital of Culture in 2022 and also has much to offer. There will be plenty of time for sightseeing and meetings. From here, we'll take two excursions: one to the hilly landscape of Fruska Gora with its Serbian Orthodox monasteries, and the other to the capital Belgrade, stunningly situated at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers.
Finally, we make a detour to the other side of the Danube, Croatia, to visit Vukovar, which gained notoriety during the 1991 Croatian-Serbian war, and Ilok, Croatia's easternmost town, with its fortress and Franciscan monastery perched high above the Danube. The Kopački rit Nature Park near Osijek, at the mouth of the Danube, is explored by boat.
On this trip, we pay the utmost attention to social and ecological sustainability. Transport is by a climate-friendly, modern bus. We work with local, mostly small, businesses so that people in the area can benefit from our trips. As always, the programme includes meetings with interesting people, giving a deep and authentic insight into the country's history and current situation.

Day 1: Arrival IN Subotica 

Departure from Linz at 6 am with a comfortable bus from Lehner Busreisen. Travel via St. Pölten, Vienna and Budapest to Serbia. On request, it is possible to change buses along the route. Arrive in Subotica around 16:30 and check in for 2 nights at the centrally located ****Hotel Forum.
Subotica is the northernmost city in Serbia and has a special atmosphere. Turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau buildings dominate it, and you feel like you are being transported back to the imperial and royal eras. time. Subotica is the stronghold of the Hungarian ethnic group, with over 40% of the 100,000 inhabitants being Hungarian. In addition, the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina is home to a significant Croatian and Slovak minority, as well as several other ethnic groups, including some Germans (Do-Nauschwaben). 19% of the population of Vojvodina is Catholic, 3% Protestant, and the majority belong to the Serbian Orthodox Church. However, in recent years many have left, especially the young and educated, and this applies to all ethnic groups.

In the village of Kelebija, 9 km away, we will meet Pastor Csaba Paskó at his parish around 5 pm. He studied in Graz and speaks perfect German. His great passions are cooking and music. He is a well-known television chef in Hungary and a cathedral choirmaster in nearby Subotica. He is also president of Caritas Szabadka.
Father Pasko and his team will prepare Hungarian and Serbian specialities for us, which we will then enjoy at an evening dinner in the parish garden. There will also be wines from the region and homemade specialities. Music will be provided by a Croatian tamburica band.

DAY 2: Subotica

Today we explore the city with Attila Novák. He is a full-time teacher in a high school. We walk along the pedestrian street and visit some beautiful Hungarian Art Nouveau buildings. Be sure to visit the town hall, also in Art Nouveau style, with its beautiful plenary hall. And we are also impressed by the UNESCO-protected synagogue, now shining in its new splendour after years of renovation.
We also make a detour to nearby Palić, an old resort on the shores of the lake of the same name. There used to be even a tramway connecting the two places. It's beautiful to walk through the park with its old trees, built in 1845, past the Wilhelminian-style villas. The natural lake used to be salty and full of medicinal mud. Today, due to severe pollution, it is a beautiful sight to behold, but you shouldn't swim in it. Our guide will tell you about this less pleasant chapter.

The rest of the afternoon and evening is free to explore this beautiful and picturesque city. Of course, you will also have the opportunity to attend Sunday mass.
 

DAY 3: Subotica – Novi Sad 

Today we will have breakfast at the Svezda (German for "Stern") café-bakery, a unique social enterprise of Caritas Subotica, and learn about the social situation and the work of Caritas. There is long-standing cooperation between Caritas Subotica and Caritas Upper Austria.
In the early afternoon, we arrive in Novi Sad, the second largest city in Serbia with 250 000 inhabitants and the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina. At first glance, the city looks inviting and clean. A guided walk takes you first to the centre of Novi Sad, where the architectural influence of the Habsburgs is undeniable. The town hall and the Church of St. Mary are located on Liberty Square. There is also a synagogue, a testimony to the former importance and size of the Jewish community.
Petrovaradin Fortress (Peterwardein) was the largest fortress in Europe in the 17th century and the most important fortress of the Habsburg Monarchy in the Balkans. Built between 1692 and 1780, it covers an area of 112 hectares, including a unique underground tunnel system 16 km long under the fortress. On 5 August 1716, Prince Eugene of Savoy won a decisive victory here against the Ottoman army. Today the fortress is a museum and every July it hosts one of the largest music festivals in southeast Europe ("Exit"). We will take a tour of the site and enjoy the view from the Danube terrace.
Afterwards, we will move into our centrally located ****Garni Hotel Centar for 4 nights, followed by dinner in one of the city's restaurants.

day 4: Cultural Capital- Novi Sad

Today you are free to explore the cultural capital's programmes all day long. This is the first time a city outside the EU has been awarded this title. The artistic concept of the "Novi Sad 2022 - European Capital of Culture" project is based on the European Union's core values of human rights, multiculturalism, intercultural dialogue, environmental awareness and peace policy. We will also be sure to talk to the people responsible for the programme and visit one or other of the exhibitions. The exact itinerary will be announced later.
There will certainly be time today to walk around the bustling old town with its alleys, squares and charming pubs - almost the whole centre is a pedestrian street - or along the nearby Danube embankment with its magnificent views of the Petrovaradin fortress and the green hills of Fruska Gora. Here you will also find the legendary Štrand, a leisure mile, a bathing beach and a meeting place for young and old.

Day 5: excursion Fruška Gora and Sremski Karlovci 

Just outside Novi Sad, the unspoilt hills of Fruška Gora (Franconi Forest, 539 m) begin, with a total of 17 Serbian Orthodox monasteries. This is why Fruška Gora is also known as the "Holy Mountain of Serbia". From a geological point of view, the region is nothing more than a mountain range of the Alpine system pushed far to the east. It is a popular hiking destination and a beautiful place for excursions, the forest is almost entirely protected. We'll take a short hike through this beautiful landscape, and of course we'll visit two or three monasteries still in operation, and we'd like to have a chat with a monk.
For lunch, we will have lunch at Perkov Salas, an idyllic country estate in the middle of the mountains. And as the area is known for its good wine, we'll taste some during lunch.
Sremski Karlovci (Hungarian: Karloca, German: Sirmisch-Karlowitz) is just 10 km below Novi Sad, on the banks of the Danube, and was a major player in the Serbian freedom movement of the 19th century. We take a walking tour of the baroque town with its Serbian Orthodox cathedral.
Return to Novi Sad and free evening.

DaY 6: Day excursion Belgrade

Belgrade is the country's bustling economic and cultural centre, with 1.2 million inhabitants and one of the oldest cities in Europe, with a 7000-year history. In 1717, Prince Eugene won a decisive victory against the Ottomans and Belgrade was part of the Habsburg Empire for two decades, before reverting to the Ottomans in the Peace of Belgrade of 1739 (the border was then the Sava and the Danube). The city was briefly occupied by the Habsburgs on several occasions. The last major confrontation with the Turks, however, was the liberation struggle of the Serbs. In 1867, the last Turkish soldiers left the city. The first Serbian constitution was drafted in 1835 and the Kingdom of Serbia was proclaimed in 1882. The Sava River formed the border between Serbia and Austria-Hungary until the First World War.
We visit the main attractions of this lively and modern metropolis at the mouth of the Danube. These include the Old Town with the old Kaleme-gdan fortress, beautifully perched on a plateau above the Sava, and the impressive, huge Church of St. Sava.
Journalist Andrei Ivanji is asked to discuss the political and social situation in the country. Mr Ivanji writes for newspapers including Der Standard and taz.de. 

DAY 7: Novi Sad – Ilok – Vukovar - Osijek (ca. 120 km)

We leave Novi Sad and Serbia and cross the Danube into Croatia. Our first destination is the small town of Ilok, perched above the Danube at the easternmost tip of Croatia. Here the Romans built the fortress of Cuccium, on whose walls Ilok Castle was built in the 12th century. A walking tour of the town includes a visit to the old town with its massive medieval walls and the Franciscan monastery. Ikok is also known for its good wine.
In the afternoon we visit Vukovar, the largest Croatian town on the Danube, which was besieged and destroyed in the 1991 Serb-Croat war. During the Yugoslav period, Vukovar had a majority Croatian population, but the surrounding area was Serb-majority, so after Croatia declared independence in August 1991, the Yugoslav People's Army besieged and eventually occupied it. The massacre of the civilian population was the greatest war crime on Croatian soil during the war of independence. Many still remember the horrific images. Today Vukovar has been rebuilt. After Ottoman rule, Vukovar came under the Habsburgs in 1687 and was the capital of the Srijem (Sirmium) region, now part of Serbia. Many Swabians from the Danube settled here, most of whom were resettled after the Second World War. We will visit the town and look at its recent history, the 1991-1992 war.
In the evening, we reach Osijek (Esseg in German, Osijek in Hungarian), the cultural and economic centre of Eastern Slavonia on the banks of Drava, the fourth largest city in Croatia. We spend the last two nights at the central hotel ****Hotel Osijek.

DAy 8: Naturpark Kopački Rit And Osijek

Kopački Rit is one of the largest and most important protected wetlands in Europe. It includes several river branches and lakes at the confluence of the Drava and the Danube. This bird paradise is home to around 300 bird species, including bald eagles and black storks. But this natural jewel is also known for its large populations of deer and wild boar. We explore it on foot and by boat with an expert guide.
In the afternoon we will return to Osijek. The rich past permeates the whole town, making it not only culturally and historically interesting, but also worth a visit. We will visit the so-called fortress, which forms the old town centre with winding alleys, and the western upper town, where the most sought-after attractions are located, such as the Cathedral of Peter and Paul and the Croatian National Theatre. The Drauprome-nade pedestrian street is also highly recommended.

DAY 9:Osijek - Linz

 Today our caring bus driver will take us back to Austria. Arrival no later than 20:00
 

INcludes: 

- Bus transfer from/to Linz by Lehner Busreisen modern bus.
- Overnight accommodation with breakfast in the specified or similar 4* hotels.
- Meals as indicated in the programme description for each day; F = breakfast; M = lunch; A = dinner.
- Tasting of Hungarian and Serbian specialities, wines and homemade brandies with Csaba Pasko in Kelebia
- Guided tours and meetings according to the programme
- WELTANSCHAUEN escort from/to Linz
- Donation for Caritas Serbia

For detailed questions and further information about the programme, please contact the Weltanschauen team (0670 40 900 86; info@weltanschauen.at). Minor changes to the programme are still possible. Status December 2021.
Please also visit our website www.weltanschauen.at for more interesting travel offers.