Located on the banks of the Danube River, Sremski Karlovci is a peaceful town near Novi Sad that served as the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Habsburg Monarchy. It’s clustered with well-preserved Baroque and Neoclassical buildings and holds strong ties to the Romantic poet Branko Radičević.
Things to do in Sremski Karlovci
In the heart of Sremski Karlovci is Branko Radičević Square, which is named after the Croatian-born poet who lived and worked in the town for most of his life. It’s watched over by the monumental Patriarch’s Court, which now houses the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Also in the square is the famous Four Lions Fountain, with local legend saying that anyone who drinks its water will return to Sremski Karlovci to marry.
One of Stremski Karlovci’s most famous religious buildings is the Cathedral Church of Saint Nicholas, which is considered a masterpiece of Serbian Baroque architecture. Two bell towers frame its ornately decorated facade while the cathedral’s interior houses an iconostasis painted by Serbian artists Zaharije Orfelin, Teodor Kračun and Paja Jovanović.
Beekeeping enthusiasts shouldn’t miss a visit to the Jovan Živanović Apiculture Museum and Winery, which details a family’s long-established history of making honey. In addition to seeing vintage smokers and several types of hives, you can also sample local wines in the 300-year-old cellar. The Živanović family not only makes well-known varieties like Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot but also produces fruit and honey brandies.
Getting around Sremski Karlovci
Sremski Karlovci is around 20 minutes’ drive from Novi Sad and an hour from Belgrade while Nikola Tesla Airport is 45 minutes away. Regular buses connect from Novi Sad to Sremski Karlovci while the centre of town is compact enough to explore on foot.