Zemun

Zemun, situated in front of the fortress of Kalemegdan and wedged between the hill of Gardos and the Danube is a clad town with many trumps of its own. Along the Danube, a walking pathway with the trees an a lot of cafes and fish restaurants of reputation will permit you to admire the majesty of this very wide river of a greenish colour in front of the little isle Lido bound to the banks by little private boats is a harbour of peace in summer time. In the town there are many orthodox and catholic churches which rival the beauty. Finally on the hill of Gardos a splendid view of the Danube and Belgrade.

The tourist sites

Zemun, because of its position at the confluence of the Sava and the Danube has always conserved the longings. Celts established themselves here in the IV century B. C., then Roman have constructed an important commercial town on the Danube called Taurunum. The Roman town takes the name of Zemun in IX century since Slavs established themselves here (“zemlja” meaning earth).

But the position on cross roads had led to the battle between Turks and Austrians for the control of this position, and that transformed. This bourgh into an important Austrian town. In fact, after an ottoman occupation from 1521 to 1717 Zemun became Austro-Hungarian by the Karlovac Treaty in 1739. In this time the town takes its development and the rich bourgeois houses flourished. In XX century Zemun became a part of Serbian Kingdom, and thereafter communist.

GLAVNA ULICA (The Main Street) - Cinemas and several interesting taverns, but also a commercial centre along the avenue going uphill to the left with little souvenir shops. On the number 9 entirely redecorated Spirta’s house of rose and whit colours. Constructed in 1855 by a rich Romanian merchant this nice particular house impresses by its mixture of romantic and neo-gothic styles. On the number 8, going toward Belgrade the post office of the same colours seems more impressive with its neo-renaissance style end its elements of baroque.

PARK NEMANJINA - Going in the town by the street Strossmayer look in the street Akademska 30 meters on, there is a very nice house from XIX century entirely renewed. The continue and you will be in a park at the beginning of which there is the lyceum constructed in 1879 in the admirable neo-renaissance style. Continuing your escape you could compare the orthodox chapel of Archangel Gabriel in a baroque style typical for the orthodox churches in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, visit its iconostasis from 1830, with the catholic chapel St. Rocco constructed in 1836. don’t miss between these two chapels the memorial column of Lamartine erected in 1833 in honour to the 100th anniversary of his stay in Zemun.

THE QUARTER OF THE PORT - Go back to the main street and take the Preradoviceva street. At 50 meters on your left hand there is the great walking street “Trg Pobede”. At the side there is the municipality office in a nice classical style and in front of it shops and restaurants in typical houses. At right, on a square the house of Dimitrije Davidovic built in 1825 by the creator of the first journal in Serbia. After this historical pause you will cross the Zemun market which is a true town in the town. Every day here are crowding little peasants selling their fruits and vegetables. In summer time taste the juicy watermelons, but Belgrader use to come here to buy exceptional food. The home made pita, fish and others. On the North side a lot of stands offering the artisan products. Here will you buy traditional presents and other souvenirs.

THE HILL OF GARDOS - The quarter preferred by Zemunians and Belgraders short of greenery because its paved little streets that are climbing and its traditional restaurants make here a good luck to the walking people. One should first walk on the quay and watch the fishermen and the sailing people dancing on their boats, then took at the hill. You will find many interesting houses down there like the house of Karamata-Karamatina street 17, one of the most ancient in the ton. Constructed 1763 in the baroque style with a classical façade it was dwelt by the magnificent persons like the Emperor Joseph II or the writer Vuk Karadzic. The family of Karamata who were living here continually since 1772 have preserved the milieu internal as well as many picture of value and have engraved in many walls the coat of arms of the Austrian Imperial Army. On number 10 of the street Vasiljevica there is the house Beli Medved, a very rustically two stories house with wooden balconies and the roof with tiles of the Turkish type. Constructed in 1717. here sojourned Eugene of Savoy during his campaigne against Turks.
To climb take the charming streets “Gardos” and “Strma”, little streets bordered by low typical houses. On the summit of the Millennium tower constructed in 1896 in honour of the 100th anniversary of the coming of Hungarians in Panonia. Recognisable by its red bricks and the roof of the Hungarian style this tower offers a superb view to the Danube and is at the same time the symbolic monument of Zemun.