Kragujevac

Kragujevac, with 179,417 inhabitants on the territory of the City, according to the 2011 census, is the fourth largest city in Serbia, and the seat of the Šumadija District, and is located about 120 kilometers south of Belgrade. It was built on the banks of the Lepenica River, in a valley between the extreme branches of the Rudnik, Crni vrh and Gledićke planine mountains. Kragujevac was first mentioned in a Turkish census book from 1476 as "Kragujfoča". It was named after the kraguj bird (a type of hawk) which was used for hunting in the Middle Ages, and today occupies a place of honor on the city's coat of arms.
 
In many ways, this city can be called "the first in Serbia" - it was the first capital of the modern Serbian state (1818-1841), the first gymnasium in Serbia was founded there, as well as the Lyceum, the forerunner of the University of Belgrade, the first court, the first theater, the first newspaper, the first pharmacy, a picture gallery, a museum, a library... The city has several significant institutions of regional, and some of national importance in the field of culture and artistic activities.
 
Kragujevac is a significant economic, cultural, educational and health center of Šumadija, Pomoravlje and neighboring regions, and today it is one of the strongest administrative and industrial centers in Serbia. Thanks to railway and road transport, Kragujevac is connected to Belgrade, Niš, Kraljevo, Čačak and other cities. It is best known for the "Zastava" automobile factory and the arms factory of the same name.
 
It is a city with a rich history and cultural heritage. One of the most significant historical sites in Kragujevac is the Memorial Park, dedicated to the suffering of civilians during World War II. This monument commemorates the massacre that took place on October 21, 1941, when more than 7,000 people were executed in Kragujevac. The memorial park consists of a memorial chapel, a monument, a museum, and a memorial complex that is perfectly designed to reflect the significance of this tragic event.
 
In the very center of the city, visitors can explore historical landmarks such as the Prince's Arsenal. Along with walks through the old city center, you can visit numerous cafes, souvenir shops, and restaurants offering traditional Serbian cuisine. If you want to learn more about the history of this city, be sure to visit the Kragujevac Museum.
 
Nightlife
 
Club Tresor, Club Caffe Caffe, "Geto", "Dionis"
 
Restaurants
 
"Mustang", "Gastro Komitet 27", Restaurant Dvorište, "Biblioteka Kod Milutina", "Oranica Woodland", "Vega"
 
Taverns
 
Townhouse Akustik Kragujevac, Garden House cafe, Kafana Balkan, Tapas bar
 
Events
 
ARSENAL fest, Joakimfest, International Jazz Festival OFF. International Music Festival OKTOH, International Puppet Festival "Golden Spark"
 
Accommodation
 
Popular hotels and motels
 
Hotel Šumarice, Hotel Ženeva, Hotel Ravni Gaj, Hotel President De Luxe, Hotel Zelengora, Hotel Industrial
 
Shopping
 
BIG FASHION Kragujevac, "Decathlon", Radnički Shopping Center
 
Important telephone numbers
 
Ambulance 194
 
Police 192, +381 34 378-200
 
Fire brigade 193
 
Bus station +381 34 354-659 , +381 34 354-660
 
Health center +381 34 32 30 52

Leskovac

Leskovac is a city settlement and administrative center of the Jablanica Administrative District.

The settlement dates back to the Roman Empire. The medieval name of the settlement is Glubočica.

The legend says that under the hill near the present city there was a lake, and when its drying was occurred there was a plant of hazel (hazelnut), after which the city was named more than 700 years ago. The present name of the city as the name of the settlement was first mentioned in 1308 in the Charter of King Milutin.

During the NATO bombing of the FRY in 1999, Leskovac and its surroundings were bombarded almost daily. During a raid on April 12, 1999, a railroad bridge in Grdelicka Gorge hit the passenger train, which was crossing the bridge at that time. In this attack, several dozen civilians were killed.

In Leskovac there is the National Library Radoje Domanovic, which was created from the City Reading Room, founded in 1869. The library was designated in 1961 for the home library of the Jablanica District. The library now has over 80,000 books and other publications distributed in different sectors, among which are the loan and children's department, the foreign book, as well as the local department that was established in 2012 as a legacy and is named after Nikolai Timchenko and has over 15,000 titles.

On May 2, 1948, the National Museum was founded in Leskovac, comprised of three departments - ethnographic-archaeological, national liberation struggle with the workers' movement and the Textile Industry Museum. The museum then moved to a new building on May 10, 1974, which opened the possibility for the development of museum activities, and today it has more departments for archeology, history, art history, ethnology, conservation and souvenir making.