Petrovaradin: Fortress, Museums and Culture

Petrovaradin Fortress covers 112 hectares. Construction was completed in 1780. Because of its exceptional urban-architectural and cultural-historical value, the fortress was declared a cultural monument.

A long, curved stone staircase with 214 steps connects the Lower Town with the Upper Fortress. The Lower Town is associated with the Gradić Fest street music festival, while the Upper Plateau is home to several museums and cultural institutions.

At the fortress clock tower, the large hand shows the hours and the small hand shows the minutes. The plateau near the clock tower offers a view of Novi Sad. The Roman Catholic Church of St. George and its monastery were built in the Baroque style between 1701 and 1714.

These sites give the fortress different historical and spatial accents. During your tour, you can therefore switch between military architecture, religious architectural history and views over the city without leaving Petrovaradin’s thematic setting.

The Museum of the City of Novi Sad is located on the Upper Plateau of the fortress. The museum building Topovnjača (Powder Magazine) houses the permanent exhibitions “Petrovaradin Fortress of the past” and “Novi Sad from the 18th to the 20th century”.

The Space Museum is Novi Sad’s first technical museum and is also located in Petrovaradin Fortress. It offers interactive content, audiovisual effects, workshops and practical demonstrations on astronomy, space technology and deep-space exploration. The multimedia exhibition “Mileva: Mi smo stena” (“Mileva: We are a rock”) is dedicated to Mileva Marić Einstein and her achievements.

Visual art is also part of the cultural offering. The Likovni krug artists’ association brings together more than 100 artists; its studios are open to visitors. In addition to exhibitions, this gives you an insight into working spaces and artistic production on site.

The international summer music festival EXIT takes place every July in Petrovaradin Fortress. For your travel planning, the month is therefore a distinct event-related consideration, separate from the museums, historic buildings and studios described.

The Gradić Fest street music festival takes place in the Lower Town of the fortress. Its programme includes musical performances, theatre productions, street performances and acrobatics. As another option, the Petras Riding Club in Petrovaradin Fortress offers recreational and therapeutic riding.

Further destinations include Žabalj, Bečej, Bački Petrovac, Bač, Sremska Kamenica, Temerin and Novi Sad.

What is special about the Great War Well?

The Great War Well is located in the Arsenal building and is considered a masterpiece of architecture and engineering. It was part of the fortress’s unique water-supply system and could provide the entire fortress with drinking water during a major siege.

How many tapestries did Atelje 61 produce?

During its 60-year history, Atelje 61 produced around 900 tapestries together with more than 300 artists.

What makes Atelje 61 a special cultural venue?

In Petrovaradin Fortress, Atelje 61 is also one of only five comparable cultural institutions in Europe.

To the main travel overview: Juzna-Backa.

Relevant information for your travel planning:

Novi Sad: Danube, Petrovaradin and Vojvodina.