KRUSEVAC - THE CAPITAL OF LAZAR

We would say: and more than that. Everything famous lives here with the spirit of the glorious history of medieval Serbia, whose capital was right here, and mostly with the memory of the famous prince Lazar Hrebeljanović.

About the city

Certainly one of the pearls that the country of Serbia possesses, the great Lazar Hrebeljanović, determined this city to be the capital, but not only the capital, but also the medieval cultural, political, trade and creative center of the then Serbia. He built it from river stone, the remains of which, together with the church of Lazarica in its center, have forever remained a symbol of Kruševac.

Today, this is a charming and dignified city, which lies 189 kilometers south of Belgrade. Today's modern city center with the surrounding settlements covers the area of the composite valley of the West Morava, between Župa, Kopaonik, Jastrebac and the Ibar valley.

Symbols of Kruševac

Every citizen of Krusevac, when asked what the symbols of the former Serbian capital are, will answer without much thought that they are the Lazarica Church, the monument to Kosovo heroes, the Bagdala hill, from which the view of the city, the Rasina and West Morava valleys, Jastrebac mountain and Kopaonik slopes.

The Lazarica Church was built immediately after the construction of Lazar's town, and was completed in 1380. Prince Lazar raised it both as part of the reconciliation of Constantinople with the Serbian Patriarchate, and as part of the birth of his son Stefan. It is believed that it was built by the famous Rade Neimar. 

Today, you can see a handmade ark in the church, made of rosewood and silver, where the holiest treasure of Kruševac rests - Prince Lazar.

The monument to the heroes of Kosovo, the work of the famous sculptor George Jovanovic, dominates the main town square.

On this occasion, we would like to emphasize one special feature of this monument - it is one of the two monuments in the world dedicated to the armies defeated in the war. Another such monument is in Thermopylae valley, Greece.

Monumentality and strong artistic expression will immediately remind the visitor that the capital used to be here, and it is completely clear that this collective, capital spirit is still alive in Kruševac.

From the modern era, the Second World War, there is Slobodiste, also known as the hill of Bagdala near Krusevac. Slobodište is located southwest of Kruševac, on the slopes of Bagdala hill.

As interesting as Kruševac itself is, so attractive is its surroundings. The Monastery of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God in Đunis, as well as the Monastery of St. Roman, located a few kilometers away, on the right bank of the South Morava, is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. And not far from Djunis, Ribarska Banja, a health resort and rehabilitation center, has been known since ancient times. And only the wooded Jastrebac…

Why did the people of Kruševac get the name Charapani

Legends about the origin of the nickname of the people of Kruševac - "Charapani" are related to a historical event that took place on January 25 (according to the old calendar) in 1806. In the final battles for the liberation of Krusevac in the First Serbian Uprising, a company led by Mladen Milovanovic managed, having previously overcome the resistance of the Turks in earthen trenches, to penetrate the city during the night "in socks" silently and to defeat the Turkish crew in the fortification.

CITY OF ARTISTS AND TAVERNS

The "Charapani" are proud of the civic tradition and the fact that Krusevac is a city of culture. They emphasize their widely known and awarded theater ("the best in Serbia outside Belgrade") in which the bards of Serbian acting began their careers: Čkalja, Rada Savićević, Đuza Stojiljković, Taško Načić, Rada Živković, but also famous actors of the younger generation Sergej Trifunović, Vojin Ćetković. ..

They boast of events such as the "Days of Binicki" in nearby Jasica, the birthplace of the famous composer, the literary magazine "Bagdala" which has lasted for 49 years, the choir "St. Prince Lazar", a large number of painters and poets ...

Krusevac used to be a town of taverns. From the famous tavern "Musa and Marko" in the Old Bazaar to "Rasina" at the entrance to Grstak, there were more than 60 cafes. Some of them have been demolished or rearranged.

If you are still thinking about going to Krusevac, you should know that here, with the spirit of bohemianism, there is an extremely rich and varied culinary offer - from ethno restaurants and real local cuisine to restaurants with venison specialties, from monastery brandy and wine to famous “orasnica” and “pancakes with all” “

Well then, you keep thinking! ;)