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Kragujevac

Крагујевац

City

City of Kragujevac

From top: City Assembly Building, The 21 October Museum, National Museum of Kragujevac, Temple of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, Architecture in Kragujevac, Theatre building, Monument to the executed pupils and teachers, Second Kragujevac Gymnasium

Flag

Location of Kragujevac within Serbia.

Country

Serbia

Region

Šumadija and Western Serbia

District

Šumadija

Founded

1476

Area

Area rank

22nd in Serbia

• Urban

82.83 km² (31.98 sq mi)

• Administrative

835 km² (322 sq mi)

Elevation

173 m (568 ft)

Population

(2011 census)

• Rank

5th in Serbia

• Urban

150,835

• Urban density

1,821.02/km² (4,716.42/sq mi)

• Administrative

179,417

• Administrative density

214.87/km² (556.5/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Kragujevac is the fourth largest city in Serbia and the administrative centre of the Šumadija District. It is the historical centre of the once densely-forested region of Šumadija in central Serbia, and is situated on the banks of the Lepenica River. According to the 2011 census^[update], the city proper has a population of 150,835, while its administrative area comprises a total of 179,417 inhabitants.

Kragujevac was the first capital of modern Serbia and the first constitution in the Balkans, the Sretenje Constitution, was proclaimed in the city in 1838. During the Second World War, Kragujevac was the site of a massacre by the Nazis in which 2,778 Serb males were killed.

Modern Kragujevac is known for its large munitions (Zastava Arms) and automobile (FCA Srbija) industries, as well as its status as an education centre housing the University of Kragujevac, one of the region's largest higher education institutions.

The name Kragujevac comes from the Serbian word 'kraguj', which describes a species of hawk. In the Middle Ages, this hawk was common in the woods of the area, and was used for hunting. Therefore, the city's name means 'hawks' roost', an origin well represented on the city's flag.

History
Economy
Cityscape
Images for kids
See also

History

Monument to the people from Šumadija in the wars

Over 200 archaeological sites in Šumadija confirm that the region's first human settlement took place around 40,000 years ago during the Paleolithic era. The Jerina cave, located near the village of Gradac, is dated to have been inhabited from around 37,000 BP to 27,000 BP. Dugouts dated to 5,000 BC have been found in the city's vicinity.

At the time of Roman conquest in 9 AD, the territory of the present-day city was largely inhabited by Illyrians and Celts.

By the late 6th and early 7th centuries, large-scale Slavic raids and settlement began, along with invasions from Hunnic and Germanic tribes. Later, the area would become part of the First Bulgarian Empire.

With the weakening of both the Bulgarian and Eastern Roman empires, Stefan Nemanja, Grand Prince of the medieval Serbian state, captured the territory between 1198 and 1199.

Historically, Kragujevac was the first capital of free Serbia (from 1818 to 1839), and the first constitution ever proclaimed in Balkans was in this city on February 15, 1835 (state holiday).

Stone lion in Šumarice park, World War I memorial

In 1841, capital city of Serbia was changed from Kragujevac to Belgrade, during World War I, Kragujevac again became the capital of Serbia from 1914–1915.

Nowadays, Kragujevac is a big centre of the automobile industry and weapons. Although Kragujevac lost its capital status to Belgrade, its importance only increased during the 19th century as it grew into a city marked by its industry.

The beginnings of the town's industry have been recognized by the Serbian government as vital to Serbia's cultural heritage and, as of 2017, consists of 151 individual objects, of which 31 are protected as unique heritage.

The city today remains an industrial heart of Serbia, and has grown with the influx of students and refugees from the Yugoslav wars.

Economy

The Kragujevac Cannon Foundry in its working days, originally built in 1856

Kragujevac has been an important industrial and trading centre of Serbia for more than two centuries, known for its automotive and firearms industries. The former state-owned Zastava Automobiles company was purchased by Fiat in 2008, and the new company, FCA Srbija, was established.

Weapons manufacturing in Kragujevac began with foundation of the VTZ in 1853 and has since grown to become Serbia's primary supplier of firearms through the Zastava Arms corporation. Today, Zastava Arms exports more than 95% of its products to over forty countries in the world. By the decisions of the Ministry of Defence of Serbia, Zastava Arms became a part of the Defense Industry of Serbia in 2003.

The Kragujevac Fair was established in 2005. It comprises 1,600 square metres (17,222 sq ft) of area dedicated to trade and exhibitions.

As of September 2017, Kragujevac is one of the 14 free economic zones established in Serbia.

Cityscape

Pedestrian zone in Kragujevac

The architecture of Kragujevac displays many different styles from the early years of its beginnings. Today newer architecture dominates the city's panorama. Brutalism as well as post-war concrete apartment blocks built during the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia period, is present throughout the city. Some important buildings in Kragujevac include:

The old church of Descent of the Holy Spirit, built in 1818 as a part of Prince Miloš's court
The Old Parliament, built in the court of the church where the first parliamentary meeting was held in 1859
The Amidža Konak, built by Prince Miloš in 1820 as a residential house (now exhibition) and an example of regional Serbian architecture
The Prince Mihailo Konak, built in 1860 to blend local tradition with European architectural concepts and now the National Museum
The grammar school built between 1885–87 in European style to serve as the first educational institution of its kind in Serbia

View of Kragujevac

Kragujevac Cathedral

The Upper (Great) Park is the largest park in Kragujevac. It was established in 1898. It is covered with more than 10 hectares (25 acres) of greenery, and a dense cover of century-old trees, renovated walkways and benches are the right place for rest, walk and relaxation.

In and around the park there are sports facilities for basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Lower (Small) Park is located in the city centre, within the Milos Wreath complex. At its centre there is a monument to the Fallen People of Šumadija. The Ilina Voda park, a legacy of Svetozar Andrejević, was established in 1900. It covers an area of 7 hectares (17 acres).

There is a fountain with a small waterfall, five mini lakes connected by a small stream, and a small zoo with about 100 animals and a garden with various types of trees characteristic of Šumadija. The main feature in the park is the largest sculpture of Easter eggs (3 metres (10 ft) high) in Europe and the second in the world; made from recycled metal, set in 2004.