Zrenjanin

In the heart of Banat, and connected to the Tisa by a channel of a European model. Zrenjanin became the most spacious town in all Vojvodina. This town of 56,000 population had three times changed its name before, but that is has been understandable because it has been peopled by not less than 22 nationalities. This peaceful town with the shadowed parks and with the facades of central Europe presents the interest to be surrounded by a very particular nature and by the residences of princes and the houses of unique and attractive bourgeois hotels.

History
Born in the meanders of the river of Begej, the city had been called “Beckerek” in the XIV century this provincial burgh had in that period been inhabited by the Hungarian gentry who could from this point control their possessions in all Vojvodina. Under the Ottoman domination Serbs became the majority and represented the main working power of handicraft and agriculture. The development of Beckerek and of all Banat comes in XVIII century when Austrians had installed here the German colonies and the French merchants even for an adventure. From this period on, had got connected to Europe thanks to the channels on the Tisa. In 1934 the town takes the name of Petrograd in honour of the white Russia having sent here many of its sons. After the II World War the present name had been chosen by the communist authorities to leave to the posterity the name of the man who had organized the resistance against the Germans, Zarko Zrenjanin.

THE TOURIST SITES

The public edifices

The Mayoralty of Zrenjanin has been marking the beginning of the visit to the town. Dominating the central square if Zrenjanin, this edifice constructed in 1887 has been imposing its Habsburg style in the heart of the town. The neo-classical facades with columns over headed by a slate roof of various colours have been marking their imprint to the central square.

The same compact and rectangular shape could be found with the Palace of Justice situated on the river bank. But its rounded roof with the red tiles and its aligned windows have been tending to approach the constructions being in vogue in Budapest of that time. Constructed in 1908 the Palace of Justice remained a powerful witness of the secessionist Hungarian style.

The cultural places

The National Museum constructed 1903 has taken the neo-classical lines very much found in central Europe. The rectangular windows over held by capitols the rising columns and the sculptures representing the celebrated persons of the town, they are the imprints of the classics developed in central Europe. The municipal library constructed 1882 had been erected on the same principles. But especially on should not miss visiting the “Baroque Hall” of the municipal Counsel. The windows and the internal stair seats of the New Art style the ceilings richly decorated and brilliant of the ancients have been giving to this solemn place an impression of slightness and of the power at the same time.