Apatin, a Combination of the Danube's Energy and the Peace of a Plain

Those who love the Danube and everything this river entails, should not forget Apatin, a town in northwestern Backa. Known for its fish stew and its largest brand – beer, are more than glad to welcome you and offer numerous things you can enjoy here. The place features a perfect balance of the energy of the river and the peace of the plain.

– On one hand, there are numerous options for an active vacation: hunting, fishing, cycling, canoeing, horseback riding and so on, and on the other, there are countless ways to rest and relax, from wellness and spa features of Banja Junakovic, outdoor pool complexes, beaches, or simple walks by the Danube or within the Special Nature Reserve Gornje Podunavlje – the director of the Tourism Organization of Apatin, Nemanja Jovic, says for eKapija.

Fans of history have something to see here too. Apatin offers a kind of time travel, as its streets are full of historical buildings of cultural, religious or industrial significance, making for a perfect cultural mix that is characteristic of Vojvodina.

– From the Apatin Brewery, which dates back to 1756, through the authentic town hall, designed by Apatin-born Ferenc Raichle, to the grand Orthodox Temple, which was built at the beginning of this century – Jovic says.

The warm days of spring, summer and early autumn are ideal for a visit to the Apatin municipality. Many tourists opt for Banja Junakovic, whose offer has been expanded, but there are also those arriving on yachts and other vessels, as Apatin has a modern nautical marina.

– During the great migration of Germans to Vojvodina in the mid-18th century, Apatin was a major stop for everyone who came here and then later populated the town and other areas of Vojvodina. Their descendants find out municipality very attractive for this reason, so there's been a considerable increase in the number of tourists from Germany, Austria and other countries of the Western Europe, who love to visit the Museum of the Danube Swabians, the Church of the Assumption of Mary with a rare sculpture of Black Madonna, and other places – Nemanja Jovic points out.



Apatin is a municipality with a substantial number of tourist and hospitality events, which attract tourists throughout the year. As eKapija's interviewee says, the Apatin Fishing Nights are the absolute highlight. The event is held in early July, when the town's capacity become filled very quickly and people start seeking accommodation in the neighboring towns and municipalities.

An opportunity to see Serbia's highlights

Jovic believes that the citizens of Serbia will for the most part decide to vacation locally this year, given the situation.

– In case of coronavirus infection, I believe it is extremely difficult to find yourself abroad, relying of the health system of a foreign country and the adjacent financial consequences. I believe that this is reason enough for many to spend their vacations in Serbia – he explains.

He says that this is a fantastic opportunity to learn about our own country and abandon some prejudices:

– As a tourism student, I had the opportunity to travel throughout Serbia and I can say that this has largely changed my perception of it. For example, I expected the least from Eastern Serbia, and it is probably the most beautiful part of our country. One should go everywhere and learn, as it makes one appreciate the country more. Finally, there are the economic effects. The pandemic has had a very negative impact on the economy of all countries, including ours, so I believe that it is also a patriotic act to leave money here this year, helping our fellow citizens, companies, agencies and providers of other tourist services earn something.

The Tourism Organization of Apatin is also preparing for the summer ahead of us, which will be different from the previous one. Still, there is still a lot that remains unknown about the restriction measures that will be in force, so it's not easy to say anything definitive about any concrete strategies, Jovic says and adds:

– We should certainly be prepared. There are several different options, and we are sure to rely on the demand of local tourists and our natural environment, the Special Nature Reserve Gornje Podunavlje and the Danube, as nature trips will certainly not pose a risk. At the moment, we are in the final stages of the preparation of a promotional campaign, oriented to local tourists, and we believe that, once the situation normalizes in June, the tourist offer will increase.

Aleksandra Kekic

Turistička organizacija Apatin

Apatinska pivara doo Apatin

Tourism Organization of Apatin

Banja Junaković

Special Nature Reserve Gornje Podunavlje

Nemanja Jović

Danube

Bačka

northwestern Bačka

fish stew

wellness

spa

Ferenc Raichle

German migrations

Museum of the Danube Swabians

Church of the Assumption of Mary

Black Madonna

Apatin Fishing Nights

coronavirus

covid 19