City of Kraljevo - Cradle of Serbian state and culture

Kraljevo is found in the middle part of Serbia and occupies space around the lower course of the River Ibar and part of the middle course of the West Morava river. With area of 1530 km²  it is the largest municipality in Serbia. Around 125,500 people lives in the City of Kraljevo, that belongs to the Region of Sumadija and Western Serbia, the largest region in Serbia.

Kraljevo has excellent position in the map of Serbia, and represents important intersection of mayor regional roads, and railway in Serbia. It is 70 km away from the highway E-75 (Belgrade - Nis) with the planned so-called Morava Coridor that should connect highway E-75 with Coridor 11. Kraljevo is also on the famous Ibarska magistrala (Ibarska mainroad), that connects this part of Serbia with Montenegro, and Adriatic Sea. Belgrade-Bar railway goes through Kraljevo as well.

With sports airport "Magnohrom", located in the industrial zone, and former military, and now civil and cargo airport Morava, located 12km form the city center, Kraljevo offers additional ways of transportation.

It has long tradition in metals and machine building industry, mechanical production, manufacture of refractory materials, agricilture and wood processing. Also, it has excellent human capital with a lot of experience in industrial production.

Kraljevo offers a various Brownfield and Greenfield locations for potential partners and investors. It also has two industrial zones – Sports Airport, and Seovac. All the locations are equipped with necessary infrastructure. In addition to this, Kraljevo offers possibility of investing in tourism, especially in Mataruska and Bogutovacka Spa.  Agriculture, with its most developed branches – livestock, fruit and animal feed production is another option. Of special significance are also hydropower potentials, having in mind Ibar, Morava and other, smaller rivers that belong to the territory of Kraljevo.

Some of the main investors that are already doing business in Kraljevo are Noble Environmental, Pureberry, Mondi Serbia, Aeroeast, Sicoberry, etc.

Beside the numerous high schools, and departments of several Faculties, Kraljevo is famous by its Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Civil.  On faculty there is Laboratory "3D Impuls" - a scientific research unit of the faculty. It stimulates innovation and increases the competitiveness of its environment by promoting and applying digital technologies to develop new products.

Culture

The territory of the City of Kraljevo represents a cradle of Serbian state and culture. It reached its highest significance in the Middle Ages, that numerous historical monuments, and above all Zica and Studenica and the Maglic Fortress, testify about.

The Studenica Monastery is a 12th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery situated 39 km from Kraljevo.  It is one of the largest and richest Serb Orthodox monasteries.  The monastery was founded in 1186 by Stefan Nemanja, the founder of the medieval Serb state. Studenica was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1979, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia, and in 1986 UNESCO included Studenica monastery on the list of World Heritage Sites.

Žiča is an early 13th-century Serb Orthodox monastery near Kraljevo.It was built by the first King of Serbia, Stefan the First-Crowned and the first Head of the Serbian Church, Saint Sava. Žiča was the seat of the Serbian Archbishop. Žiča was declared a Cultural Monument of Exceptional Importance in 1979, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia.                        

Every year in late of April and at the beginning of May, city of Kraljevo is host of event called Days of Liliac. It is held to commemorate the event from 13th century when Serbian King Uros I made the whole valley of the river Ibar fragrant lilac plant and with floral species flourish bare cliffs of the canyon, as a welcome for French princess Helen of Anjou, his future bride and Serbian queen.                            

With its National Museum, History Archive, Institute for Protection of Monuments of Culture, and highly awarded City Theatre, Kraljevo is a regional cultural centre.                    

Tourism

Vrnjacka Banja, the most popular mineral spa in Serbia. Under the mountain of Goc, this spa and recreative centre, owes its reputation to its therapeutic effects known already to the Roman troops in the second century AD. Today, Vrnjacka Banja is the most visited and developed spa in Serbia.

Golija mountain, located at the Kraljevo teritory, is heavily forested, with significant biodiversity and it hosts the Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve, the first UNESCO-MAB registered biosphere reserve in Serbia. It is also a small ski resort, with several historical monuments and monasteries. The highest peak is Jankov kamen at 1,833 m.

Kraljevo is a home of traditional manifestation “Veseli spust”, rafting of the river Ibar that starts from Medieval City of Maglic and ends at the City of Kraljevo. For almost 30 years people from all over Serbia and region participate at this summer event, always accompanied with music and gastronomic program.

For more than 25 years, in autumn Kraljevo organizes “Srebrni kazan”, the competition in national food, that takes place at the very centre of Kraljevo.

Kraljevo also welcomes Moto-car racing manifestations at the Beranovac, city suburb, but also Lovefest in Vrnjacka Banja, and other manifestations as well.

For more information, please see here.