Belgrade

Belgrade (Serbian: Бeoгpaд, Beograd) is the capital of Serbia. Among the oldest cities in Europe, it is located in the geographical region of central Serbia, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the territory of the Balkan Peninsula meets Pannonia. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes from 1919 to 1929 and, from then until 1992, of Yugoslavia.

With a population of 1,233,796 inhabitants, it constitutes the most populous metropolitan area in former Yugoslavia, as well as the third most populous in Southeastern Europe, after Athens and Bucharest. The urban area occupies 3.6% of the territory of Serbia and is home to 21% of the Serbian population (excluding that of the disputed Kosovo).

As the economic and financial capital of Serbia, as well as a cultural and scientific hub, and one of the main tourist destinations in the country, the city holds a status that grants it greater autonomy compared to other urban centers in Serbia. It is divided into 17 municipalities, each with its own organizational autonomy.

Belgrade's history dates back to around 4800 BC with the Starčevo culture, followed by the Vinča people. In the 3rd century BC, Celts founded a village in what is now the historic center of Belgrade, later conquered by the Romans who named it Singidunum. From the 9th to the 16th century, Singidunum alternated between Byzantine, Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Serbian rule. In 1521, it was conquered by the Ottomans. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Belgrade was repeatedly captured and lost by the Habsburgs. After finally being liberated from Ottoman rule in 1841, it became the capital of the Principality of Serbia, which was renamed the Kingdom of Serbia in 1882.

Etymology

Singidūn, a Celtic-derived appellation, was the initial name for Belgrade, first recorded in 279 BC. Later, the Romans transformed it into Singidunum. During the period when Bulgarians dominated Serbian territories, from 824 onwards, Belgrade was known as Alba Bulgarica.

The name Beograd, in Cyrillic Бeoгpaд (literally "white city"), was imposed on the city by Pope John VIII but was used for a short period. The Bulgarians, who governed it, renamed it Alba Græca (meaning "Greek white city").

Hungarians referred to Belgrade as Fehérvár, Nándoralba, Nándorfehérvár, and Lándorfehérvár, while Germans commonly used Weissenburg (which also means "white city" or "white country"). The Byzantines, who ruled the city for several centuries, called it Velígradion (Βελίγραδιον), and Italians, in ancient times, used Castelbianco.

History

The area around Belgrade has been inhabited since 5000 BC by Neolithic cultures like the Starčevo and Vinča. Later, the Celtic tribe of Scordisci founded the city, originally called Singidūn and later renamed Singidunum under Roman rule. It served as a vital stronghold alongside Viminacium in the Danubian region.

After various invasions, including by Huns, Sarmatians, Ostrogoths, and Avars, Slavs renamed Singidunum to Belgrade around 630 AD. Over centuries, it was contested by Byzantines, Hungarians, and Bulgarians until Serbs conquered it in 1284.

Following the Battle of Kosovo Polje in 1389, Belgrade fell under Ottoman rule before being ceded to the Hungarian crown. It was conquered by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1521. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, it changed hands between Austrians and Ottomans. In 1806, Serbs rebelled against Ottoman rule, gaining autonomy in 1817.

After Serbia's independence in 1878 and integration into the Kingdom of Serbia in 1882, Belgrade became a significant trade hub, experiencing rapid population growth. It became the capital of Yugoslavia in 1929 and suffered severe bombings during World War II. After the war, it became the capital of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia.

In subsequent years, Belgrade witnessed various historical events, including protests against communist rule in the 1990s and NATO bombings during the Kosovo War in 1999. Following the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, Belgrade became the capital of Serbia.

Climate

Belgrade experiences a moderate continental climate. The average annual temperature is 11.7°C, with July being the warmest month at 22.1°C. On average, there are thirty days per year with temperatures exceeding 30°C and ninety-five days with temperatures above 25°C. Annual precipitation amounts to 700 mm of rainfall, and there are approximately 2,096 hours of sunshine per year. July and August have the most sunlight, with around 10 hours per day, while December and January have the least, with only 2 hours per day.

In winter, a very cold wind called the Košava blows into the city from the southeast. Summers are typically very hot, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C. The mildest months are May, September, and October.

Accommodation

Majestic Hotel Belgrade

Located in the heart of Belgrade, 200 meters from the famous Knez Mihailova shopping street, the Hotel Majestic, with its traditional style, offers elegant rooms with modern amenities, free WiFi, a restaurant, and on-site garage parking.

Built in 1936, the accommodations feature air conditioning, wooden furnishings, cable TV, a minibar, a balcony, and a private bathroom with a hairdryer and bathtub or shower.

The Hotel Majestic houses a cafeteria, a bar and a restaurant serving breakfast every morning and national and international specialties for other meals.

The Hotel Majestic is 500 meters from Kalemegdan Park, with the medieval fortress of Belgrade, a 5-minute walk from the old bohemian district of Skadarlija, 2 km from the main bus station, and 20 km from Nikola Tesla Airport.

Address: Obilicev Venac 28, Belgrado 11000 | Serbia
Phone: +381 11-328-5777
Email: office@majestic.rs

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