Fruška Gora

Fruška Gora
Фрушка Гора
Highest point
Elevation 539 m (1,768 ft) [1]
Coordinates 45°09′04″N 19°42′40″E / 45.1511°N 19.7111°E / 45.1511; 19.7111Coordinates: 45°09′04″N 19°42′40″E / 45.1511°N 19.7111°E / 45.1511; 19.7111
Geography
Fruška Gora
Фрушка Гора

Location in Serbia (map including Kosovo)

Location Syrmia / Serbia
Parent range Pannonian island mountains
IUCN category II (national park)

Fruška Gora National Park
Area 255 km²
Established 1960

Fruška Gora is a mountain in north Srem. Most of it is located within Srem, Serbia, but a smaller part on its western side overlaps the territory of Croatia. Sometimes, it is also referred to as jewel of Serbia, due to its beautiful landscape protection area, nature and its picturesque countryside.

Name

In Serbian, it is known as Fruška gora (pronounced [frûʃkaː ɡǒra], Фрушка гора), in Hungarian as Tarcal (also Almus-hegy or Árpatarló), in German as Frankenwald, and in Latin as Alma Mons. In Medieval Greek, it was known as Frangochoria.

The mountain's name originates in the old Serbian word "Fruzi" of which singular form is "Frug"; and its adjective is Fruški, which was used for naming the Frankish people. The name of "Fruška Gora" is "Frankish mountain" in English whose meaning is based on describing a historical event, viz, the mountain served as a natural border when Frankish campaigns were set up in the area. In the time of the Roman Empire, its name was Alma Mons "fertile mount".

Features

To the north, the mountain is bordered by the Danube river. Lengthwise, it is approximately 80 km from east to west and is 15 km from north to south. Its highest peak is Crveni Čot at 539 m.

The slopes of Fruška Gora are perfectly suited for growing grape arbors on there, and there are many wine-makers producing Traminer, Riesling and other wines in the region. Many people have been captivated by its picturesque beauty, due to its outstanding location which is famous for the peaceful and lucrative lifestyles of its inhabitants, and a perfect destination for sightseeing where tourists can relax and enjoy themselves in the spectacular natural environment.

Since 1960, there has been a large national park in the Fruška Gora that attracts a lot of visitors every year. After the fall of communism, the Serbian Orthodox Church got 10,000 hectares restitution in the area of their nationalized properties.[2]

History

There are traces of human habitation in this area that date from neolithic times. Before the Roman conquest, Illyrians and Celts inhabited this region. In 31 AD, this area was conquered by the Romans and was included into Pannonia province. The Danube river was a border of the Roman Empire (Limes), and on the northern side of the mountain several Roman border fortresses were built.

In the Middle Ages, this area was settled by Quadi, Huns, Goths, Gepids, Slavs, Avars, Bulgarians, Pechenegs and Hungarians. In the 11th century, when Christianity was split between Catholicism and Orthodoxy, both communities had their churches in this region. A very important group of Serb medieval monasteries was formed on the mountain.

During the time, the area was part of the Hun Empire, the Ostrogothic Kingdom, the Gepid Kingdom, the Lombard state, the Byzantine Empire, the Avar Khaganate, the Frankish Empire, the Bulgarian Empire, Pannonian Croatia, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, the Habsburg Monarchy, the Austrian Empire, Austria-Hungary, the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, the Kingdom of Serbia, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, and now is within the Republic of Serbia.

During World War II, this area was occupied by the Axis Powers, and Fruška Gora was an important center of partisan resistance movement. A liberated partisan territory was formed in this region.

Population and settlements

In 1991, population of Fruška Gora region numbered 114,263 people. Settlements in the area are including 23 villages, as well as several towns, which are located on the edge of the mountain. These towns are: Šid, Beočin, Petrovaradin, Sremska Kamenica, Sremski Karlovci, Irig and Ilok.

Monasteries

Map showing monasteries of Serbian Orthodox Church in Fruška Gora
Krušedol monastery.

Thanks to its hospitable environment, there are also over a dozen Serbian Orthodox monasteries located on Fruška Gora. According to historical data, these monastic communities were historically recorded since the first decades of the 16th century. Legends, however, place their founding to the period between the 12th and 15th centuries. The monasteries are concentrated in an area 50 kilometers long, and 10 kilometers wide. In the course of centuries of their existence, these monasteries sustained the spiritual and political life of the Serbian nation. In the eighteenth century the monasteries became the home of monks from Rača monastery in the Bajina Bašta municipality by the Drina River. These monks were writers famous for their illuminated manuscripts.

Fruška Gora Monasteries were declared Monuments of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and are protected by Serbia.

List of monasteries:

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Jovan Đokić. "Katalog planina Srbije". PSD Kopaonik Beograd.
  2. ↑ Crkva neće novac za šume

References

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