Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Zrenjanin, Serbia

Zrenjanin, a youthful and diverse city located on the northern plains of Serbia’s Vojvodina, unmistakably embodies a regional capital. The well-maintained city center is remarkably easy to navigate, enhancing the exploring experience.

In the 1980s, much of the historic district was designated for pedestrian use, allowing for leisurely strolls and unobstructed views of the city’s significant landmarks. One main thoroughfare is King Alexander Street, lined with an array of café terraces that contribute to a welcoming, vibrant ambiance. Freedom Square serves as a focal point during your visit, where you can admire iconic sights like the majestic City Hall and delve into Zrenjanin’s intricate history at the National Museum.

Let us examine the most notable attractions in Zrenjanin:

1. Freedom Square (Trg Slobode)

Your exploration of Zrenjanin should commence at the central square, where many of the city’s principal landmarks encircle a spacious plaza.

Here, you will find the City Hall, City Library, Cathedral, National Theatre, and the historic Stock Exchange (Finansijska Palata).

The latter is an impressive Neoclassical edifice currently accommodating the National Museum.

Dominating the square is a statue of Peter I, King of Serbia and subsequently all of Yugoslavia after the First World War, elegantly placed on a dark marble pedestal.

2. City Hall

Following a devastating fire in the early 1800s that destroyed much of old Bečkerek, the exquisite City Hall (Gradska Kuća) was constructed in its recovery.

As the most iconic structure in Zrenjanin, it has represented the city for nearly two centuries.

In 1887, additional wings were incorporated, and the courtyard was transformed into a picturesque park.

The interior of City Hall is remarkable, particularly the stained glass windows on the staircase that depict Justice, Wisdom, and Power.

3. Cathedral of St John of Nepomuk

Located adjacent to Freedom Square, this site serves as the headquarters of the regional Catholic Diocese of Zrenjanin.

This structure is approximately situated where the mosque once stood during Ottoman rule, prior to the Austrians’ arrival in 1718. Following this event, a church was constructed, but a century later, due to structural failures, it was replaced by this Neo-Romanesque building erected in 1868, featuring a distinct Austrian influence.

The exquisite stained glass windows date back to 1907, while the lavish interior decorations were completed by the Tyrolean artist Josef Goigner.

The cathedral’s most prized possession is the organ, crafted in the workshops of the renowned Austrian organ-maker Carl Leopold Wegenstein located in the Romanian city of Timișoara.

4. Ulica Kralja Aleksandra

Since the Ottomans’ retreat from Zrenjanin in 1716, this street adjacent to Freedom Square has become a hub for dining, commerce, and social gatherings.

Each building along this thoroughfare has its own historical significance.

The fashionable Benceova Kuća, established in 1906, represents Art Nouveau and was the city’s inaugural department store.

Another notable structure is Kuća Kamenoresca Tunera Teodosija, which stands out with its Moorish Revival architecture and is affectionately termed “Scheherazade.” The street is lined with outdoor seating for various cafés and restaurants, facing a continuous row of elegant shops housed in beautifully designed buildings.

5. National Museum

The award-winning National Museum in Zrenjanin was inaugurated in 1906 and showcases the archaeology, ethnography, art, and natural history of the Banat region.

Its archaeological displays span 8,400 years, featuring a Bronze Age burial (skeleton included), Neolithic tools and ceramics, as well as jewelry and weapons from various historical periods up to the Middle Ages.

Additionally, the museum’s fine art collection is recognized as one of the most expansive in Vojvodina, encompassing numerous specimens of both flora and fauna. It also provides insights into how both affluent and modest households evolved between the 18th and 20th centuries.

6. Church of the Assumption (Upenska Crkva)

Preserved from the catastrophic fire that devastated much of Zrenjanin in 1807, this church was completed in 1746 and is recognized as a Serbian “Cultural Monument of Great Importance.” Constructed in the High Baroque style, it features blind semicircular niches and pilasters beneath a tower crowned with an ornate black bud dome.

Among the most captivating elements in Orthodox churches is the iconostasis, which in this case was created by the local craftsman Georgije Popović. The icons, illustrating scenes from the New and Old Testaments, were executed by the esteemed academic painter Aleksandar Sekulić in 1924.

7. Gradska Bašta

The park situated in the courtyard of the City Hall is accessible during the summer months and offers a hidden oasis in the heart of Zrenjanin.

This area dates back to the building’s expansion in 1887, and the façade of City Hall imparts a significant sense of importance to the park.

Visitors can enjoy meticulously manicured lawns, colorful flowerbeds, and a pavilion hosting musical and theatrical performances on summer evenings.

Additional features include a café, a 19th-century fountain shaped like a stork, various sculptures, and a mural depicting the old Bečkerek fortress.

8. Church of the Holy Presentation (Crkva Svetog Vavedenja)

Founded in 1777, Gradnulica was an autonomous settlement from Bečkerek, and this elegant Baroque church served as its primary place of worship.

Located a short walk from Freedom Square, it is well worth the visit.

Built atop a monastery that was a branch of Hilandar at Mount Athos in Greece, this site holds significance in Serbian religious and cultural history.

The chapel on the church’s southern side houses the relics of the Hilandar monk Prepodobni Rafailo Banatski, making it a pilgrimage destination for Serbian Orthodox believers.

The intricately crafted iconostasis features icons painted in the 1810s, allowing for a glimpse into biblical narratives depicted in the backgrounds.

9. Zrenjanin Courthouse

Perhaps the most striking structure in Zrenjanin is the Neo-Romanesque Courthouse located on Kej 2 Oktobra, just a few steps from the City Hall.

This impressive building is best appreciated from the lakeside, adjacent to where the Begej River existed prior to its rerouting in the 1980s.

Completed in 1908, the grandeur of the Courthouse reflects Zrenjanin’s status within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The central section of the façade is adorned with balustrades, pyramidal spires, and a grand entrance featuring three arches.

Currently, the Courthouse operates as the administrative office for northern Serbia’s Central Banat District.

10. National Theatre Toša Jovanović

Named after a celebrated 19th-century stage actor, Zrenjanin’s theatre is housed within a magnificent Baroque hall that dates back to 1836, representing the oldest theatre structure in Serbia, occupying the former site of Bečkerek’s fortress.

Founded in 1946, this theatre is renowned for its prominent puppet theatre, which conducted its inaugural performances a decade later.

Its resident puppet ensemble, highly decorated nationally, presents approximately 250 performances annually and frequently embarks on international tours to the Netherlands, Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and Austria.

11. Modern Art Gallery (Savremena Galerija)

Another noteworthy destination at Freedom Square, Savremena Galerija claims the distinction of being the first gallery dedicated specifically to modern art in Yugoslavia.

This gallery has been hosting exhibitions since 1962, following the establishment of an art colony in the nearby village of Ečka in 1956. Over the years, the gallery has cultivated an extensive collection of Serbian paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints.

In addition, numerous works by international artists attracted by Ečka’s picturesque surroundings are also featured.

The gallery’s flagship event is its International Aquarelle Biennial, which hosts special exhibitions, awards ceremonies, and workshops.

12. National Library

Positioned on Freedom Square, this library serves primarily as an impressive architectural feature to admire from outside, although entry is permitted for those eager to explore further.

Constructed in 1882, the building boasts a façade painted in pink and terracotta hues.

The library relocated here in 1967, with the building originally serving as the headquarters for Bečkerek’s first newspaper.

Its collection encompasses over 150,000 titles, and despite potential language barriers, it hosts an annual calendar of literary events.

13. Carska Bara

Located south of Zrenjanin, along the road to Belgrade, lies Carska Bara, Serbia’s largest wetland area featuring a diverse landscape of ponds, marshes, and woodlands.

Protected since 1955, this reserve serves as a habitat for heron and cormorant colonies.

In December and January, numerous bird species, including the greater white-fronted goose, visit, populating the marshes and preventing the water from freezing during winter.

The waterfront is adorned with rare pendulate oaks, ancient willows, and many orchids among the 500 plant species present.

In warmer months, visitors can engage in fishing and canoeing, or take a cruise aboard the Carska Lađa tour boat.

Carska Bara park also features a small visitors’ center complete with a mini-zoo at its entrance.

14. Beer Days Festival

Held citywide at the end of August, the Beer Days Festival stands as one of the largest events of its kind in Serbia, providing an authentic opportunity to engage with Zrenjanin’s culture and traditions.

This festival highlights beer, featuring stalls dispersed throughout the city where over 20 different types can be sampled, complemented by traditional Serbian snacks.

In addition to the beverages, the festival offers a rich program including spontaneous performances by folk musicians playing tamburicas, an international folklore festival, sporting events, and evening rock concerts.

A uniquely appealing aspect of the event is the cooking competition for local fish soup, prepared in cauldrons suspended over open fires.

15. Ečka

Situated on the northern bank of Carska Bara, Ečka is a charming village nestled in lush, low-lying terrain.

Previously highlighted as the site of an art colony dedicated to capturing the beauty of Carska Bara’s landscape, Ečka also carries a noble lineage.

In 1820, a member of the Lázár family constructed a hunting lodge, known as the “Kaštel,” which embodies a unique blend of Central European castle architecture with English Georgian elegance.

The estate now operates as a luxury hotel, but even if you are not staying overnight, the exterior can be appreciated from the adjoining park.