Happy TravellerWelcome to Jagodina, a charming city located in the heart of Serbia’s Pomoravlje District. Situated on the banks of the Belica River, Jagodina is a city steeped in history, with a rich cultural heritage and a wealth of attractions to explore. Whether you’re interested in ancient history, natural beauty, or modern entertainment, Jagodina has something to offer every traveler. Join us as we take a closer look at this hidden gem of Serbia and discover why it should be on your travel itinerary.
Jagodina’s name is derived from the Serbian word for strawberry, and the town was first mentioned in 1399 as Jagodna. From 1946 to 1992, it was renamed Svetozarevo after the 19th-century Serbian socialist Svetozar Marković. The city has a population of 43,311 inhabitants, while its administrative area comprises 76,712 inhabitants.
Jagodina has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. In the early Neolithic settlement, the world’s largest collection of prehistoric artifacts was found, with nearly 100 manlike figures made of stone, bones, and clay, about 8000 years old. Geophysical research in 2012 in the area of Belica uncovered a prehistoric settlement, surrounded by a circular trench that has a 75-meter-long diameter. Inside that circle, triangular, trapezoid, and circular shaped foundations of monumental structures were found, unlike any found in other early Neolithic settlements. Gold bracelets similar to ones found on the nearby Juhor mountain dating to the Middle Bronze Age have been found in Trcevac. In addition, Bronze Age settlement has been discovered in a part of town called Sarina Međa. In the village of Belica, near Jagodina, Europe’s oldest sanctuary is found.
During the Serbian Revolution (1804–1815), when Serbs began their uprising against the centuries-long Ottoman rule, Jagodina was a scene of numerous battles, given the town’s strategic importance within Serbia proper. Following the Ottoman defeat and re-establishment of the Kingdom of Serbia, Jagodina experienced a period of relative industrial and civic development. From 1929 to 1941, Jagodina was part of the Morava Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Jagodina was heavily industrialized and underwent a period of planned expansion and growth within communist Yugoslavia. Jagodina was given the status of a city in December 2007.
Jagodina is a city of many attractions. The Aqua Park and Zoo opened in 2007, and since then, the tourism rate in Jagodina has risen exponentially. More attractions were added to increase tourism. In April 2015, a new artificial waterfall was opened in the park Potok. It was constructed in only twelve days, spanning the height of twelve meters. It is one of the longest waterfalls in Serbia, and it cost around 7 million dinars to complete. Jagodina attracted around 500,000 people in 2014 and 2015, and that number is expected to increase in the future. Besides those attractions, the city has a stadium and a sport center, which provide space for sporting events.
Jagodina is also home to several cultural institutions, including the National Theatre
