RITAM SRBIJE / RHYTHM OF SERBIA
First Serbian Uprising. Preserved there to this day are Karađorđe’s church (Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary), the official residence and a monument to the great leader. The residence hous- es a museum dedicated to the First Ser- bian Uprising, where visitors can see Karađorđe's personal weapons, the fa- mous Avan cannon and authentic items from that turbulent period. A walk through this complex provides an introduction to understanding the spir- it of Šumadija – defiant, diligent and deeply attached to the land. The crown of Oplenac: mosaic made of 40 million tiles An asphalt path rises through the dense pine and oak forest to the top of Oplenac Hill, which is dominated by the monumental Church of St. George, representing the mausoleum of the Karađorđević dynasty. Initiated as an endowment of King Peter I, construc- tion of the church was completed dur- ing the reign of King Alexander I. Built of white Venčac marble, it is one of the most impressive architectural achieve- ments in this part of Europe. The in-
terior is breathtaking for visitors. The walls and domes are covered in fas- cinating mosaics covering an area of more than 3,500 square metres. The mosaics are composed of over 40 mil- lion glass tiles in more than 15,000 dif- ferent shades, which were produced at Venice’s famous Murano workshops. The mosaics represent faithful copies of the most beautiful frescoes from 60 medieval Serbian monasteries. The church’s crypt is modelled af- ter the most beautiful royal mausole- ums and marks the final resting place of members of the Karađorđević dy- nasty. Immediately beside the church is the House of King Peter I, where the king resided during the construction of the mausoleum and which has to- day been converted into an exhibition space containing precious royal relics, including Uroš Predić’s famous portrait of King Peter I. Golden drops of the Oplenac vineyards Šumadija is dubbed the Serbian Tuscany for good reason, and Oplenac is its heart of wine. The viticulture tra-
dition of its slopes has continued for centuries, but it only experienced its flourishing under the patronage of the royal family. For wine lovers, vis- iting the King’s Winery at the foot of Oplenac, which was founded in 1930, is a must. Its underground cellars, which naturally maintain a constant temperature year-round, preserve mas- sive oak barrels that King Alexander I received as gifts from cities through- out the then kingdom. The royal win- ery’s cellars also boast the oldest col- lection of archive wines in the Balkans, with bottles dating back to the 1930s and including the famous Žilavka and Oplenac. Apart from the historic Royal Win- ery, the Oplenac area is currently ex- periencing a genuine booming renais- sance of modern winemaking. The slopes of the surrounding villages are covered with impeccably arranged vineyards. Wineries and numer- ous family cellar workshops produce top-quality sauvignon blanc, chardon- nay and cabernet sauvignon, but also authentic local varieties such as proku- pac. Many of them offer sophisticated tasting rooms with panoramic views of the hills of Šumadija. In the build up to the October holiday Although September is a perfect month for relaxed tours, enjoying tast- ings and observing the early vineyard harvest, the entire area is heavily en- gaged in preparations for the central event of the year: the Oplenac Grape Harvest Festival. This traditional event, which takes place annually during the second weekend of October, is one of the oldest and most popular wine and tourist festivals in Serbia. Over the course of its three days, the streets of Topola are transformed into a large “Wine Street” and an open-air bazaar. In addition to tasting wines and young grape must directly from the producer, visitors also enjoy the Festival of Tra- ditional Folk Creativity, exhibitions of fruit and grapes, as well as evening con- certs. Visiting during September pro- vides a unique opportunity to feel that buzzing, festive spirit of anticipation, when the best barrels are prepared for the upcoming celebrations.
Obavezno probajte šumadijsko pečenje, pogaču i domaći sir u nekoj od lokalnih kafana ili restorana u sklopu vinarija Be sure to try Šumadija roast meat, scones and homemade cheese at one of the local taverns or restaurants within the wineries
102 | Srbija » Serbia
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