Prijepolje
Пријепоље (Serbian)
Town and municipality
From top: Prijepolje Old Town, Monument to St. Sava, Prijepolje Clock tower, Old mills on waterfall Sopotnica, Mileševa monastery
Coat of arms of Prijepolje
Coat of arms
Location of the municipality of Prijepolje within Serbia
Location of the municipality of Prijepolje within Serbia
Coordinates: 43°23′N 19°38′E / 43.383°N 19.633°E / 43.383; 19.633
Country Serbia
RegionŠumadija and Western Serbia
DistrictZlatibor
First time mentioned7 July 1343 (1343-07-07)
Settlements96
Government
 • MayorDrago Popadić (SNS)
Area
[1]
 • Town9.67 km2 (3.73 sq mi)
 • Municipality827 km2 (319 sq mi)
Elevation
557 m (1,827 ft)
Highest elevation
1,734 m (5,689 ft)
Lowest elevation
440 m (1,440 ft)
Population
 (2022 census)[2]
 • Town
11,928
 • Town density1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi)
 • Municipality
32,214
 • Municipality density39/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
31300
Area code+381(0)33
Car platesPP
Websitewww.prijepolje.ls.gov.rs

Prijepolje (Serbian Cyrillic: Пријепоље, pronounced [prijěːpoʎe]) is a town and municipality located in the Zlatibor District of southwestern Serbia. As of 2022, the town has 11,928 inhabitants, while the municipality has 32,214 inhabitants.[3]


Etymology

One possible meaning of the name Prijepolje is "Prija's field", where Prija is the owner of polje, the "field" in English. However, a more likely theory is that the name originates from the location of Prijepolje and its relationship to the travels of caravans. When those caravans were passing through the area which would become Prijepolje, they would arrive at the settlement "before the fields", where the present day neighborhoods of Ivanje and Velika Župa are located. "Prije" means "before", and "polje" means "field", hence, the location might be called Prijepolje.[4]

Geography

Prijepolje is located at the confluence of the fast-flowing Lim and Mileševka rivers. It is also situated along the road from Belgrade to the Adriatic sea, as well as being a stop on the Belgrade – Bar railway. The Belgrade – Adriatic road intersects here with the regional road between Pljevlja, Prijepolje and Sjenica. This regional road follows roughly the same route as the ancient Roman road known as the Dubrovnik road. Just north of Prijepolje, at Bistrica, there is a road leading towards Priboj, Višegrad and Sarajevo. Prijepolje is surrounded by hills, such as Pušina, Srijeteži, Gradina and Sokolica, which, prior to the construction of the "Potpeć" hydro plant near Nova Varoš, created a unique climate around the municipality. Since the hydro plant's construction, Prijepolje's climate has been changed into one that is typical for this cold part of Serbia. The highest peak in the Prijepolje area is Katunić, which reaches 1,734 meters above sea level.

Forests surround most of Prijepolje, however, along the Lim, there are numerous beaches. Two of the most popular beaches are under bridges, one at the centre of the town, under the bridge in Ivanje, and another under the bridge in Petrovac.[5]

Climate

Prijepolje has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfb), that's very close to an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb).

Climate data for Prijepolje
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 3.8
(38.8)		 6.7
(44.1)		 11.8
(53.2)		 15.6
(60.1)		 20.5
(68.9)		 24.0
(75.2)		 26.6
(79.9)		 26.9
(80.4)		 23.3
(73.9)		 17.6
(63.7)		 10.0
(50.0)		 5.3
(41.5)		 16.0
(60.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.0
(32.0)		 2.4
(36.3)		 6.7
(44.1)		 10.3
(50.5)		 14.8
(58.6)		 18.2
(64.8)		 20.3
(68.5)		 20.4
(68.7)		 17.0
(62.6)		 12.1
(53.8)		 6.0
(42.8)		 1.9
(35.4)		 10.8
(51.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −3.7
(25.3)		 −1.9
(28.6)		 1.6
(34.9)		 5.0
(41.0)		 9.2
(48.6)		 12.5
(54.5)		 14.1
(57.4)		 13.9
(57.0)		 10.7
(51.3)		 6.7
(44.1)		 2.0
(35.6)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 5.7
(42.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 89
(3.5)		 81
(3.2)		 79
(3.1)		 88
(3.5)		 96
(3.8)		 87
(3.4)		 73
(2.9)		 69
(2.7)		 85
(3.3)		 97
(3.8)		 115
(4.5)		 106
(4.2)		 1,065
(41.9)
Source: Climate-Data.org [6]

History

Prijepolje was established as a settlement in 1234, the same year the Mileševa Monastery was built. Prior to its establishment as a settlement, the area was occupied as far back as the Stone Age. First settled by Illyrians, who migrated to the area after being forced out of the northern plains, they retreated to the more defensible and less accessible mountainous regions. Later arrivals were the Celts, with whom the Illyrians intermarried. With the arrival by the Romans, the Illyrians were again forced to flee, and after the Romans, the Slavs settled in the area, intermixing with some of the earlier Illyrians. The Goths, Huns, Gepids, Langobards and Avars also passed through this area. The most interesting archaeological site in the territory is the Roman necropolis near the modern settlement of Kolovrat where pieces of ancient glass, silver, ceramics, and gold have been unearthed.

Prijepolje was mentioned for the first time by Gijom Adam in 1332 while it was part of Dubrovnik's sphere of influence. According to historical sources, Prijepolje developed as a road settlement for caravans along the route known as "Dubrovnik's road", a road connecting the central and eastern Balkans with the middle Adriatic coast. The caravan route traversed both mountainous and heavily forested areas, which could prove dangerous to travelers. Local villagers were tasked with protecting local roads, due to the statute which said, "If, on the road, someone has been killed or has had a bullet stuck into his body, let the local guardians gather together to pay the damage. Hitting by one small drum, the passers by would know that there was no danger".

By 1477, part of the Albanian Mataruge tribe lived in the kaza of Prijepolje, where they formed their own distinct community (nahiye) with 10 villages (katund).[7]

Monument to the victims of the Operation Kugelblitz (1943)

There was a cartographic reference to Prijepolje in "Regno della Servia detta altrimentri Rascia" by Giacomo Cantelli da Vignola, cartographer to the Duke of Modena, in 1689.

During the Ottoman period, there were quite a few buildings constructed in Prijepolje. Most famous of these are Ibrahim Pasha's mosque and the Sahat Kula. Pasha's mosque is located in Šarampov, one of three regions in town (the other two being Vakuf and the Town Center), and was most likely built in the 16th century. It is adorned with a single minaret, and covered by a "cheramida" (a special covering of the houses in that time). The region has a very tumultuous past. It was part of First Serbian revolt in 1875, known as Banine's revolt, as well as seeing the Javorian War in 1876, the Raonić Revolt, the Balkan Wars in 1912 and 1913, and both World Wars.[8] In 1912, during the First Balkan War, control of Prijepolje passed from the Ottoman Empire to the Kingdom of Montenegro.

During World War II, Prijepolje officially became part of the Kingdom of Montenegro, a pro-Axis puppet state. Prijepolje was liberated on 4 December 1943, which is now celebrated as the Day of the Liberation of Prijepolje.[9]

Settlements

The municipality of Prijepolje covers an area of 824 km2 (318 sq mi) with an altitude ranging from 440–1,735 metres (1,444–5,692 ft). Not including the town of Prijepolje itself, it contains 96 other settlements.[10] Those settlements are as follows, with population figures according to the 2002 census:

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
194831,328—    
195335,568+2.57%
196138,925+1.13%
197144,022+1.24%
198146,902+0.64%
199146,525−0.08%
200241,188−1.10%
201137,059−1.17%
202232,214−1.27%
Source: [11][3]

According to the 2022 census, the municipality of Prijepolje has 32,214 inhabitants, and 63% of the municipality's population is rural.[3]


Ethnic groups

In 1991, the majority of the population of the municipality was composed of Serbs (54.78%) and ethnic Muslims (43.42%). By 2002, the population of the municipality had shifted to mostly Serbs (23,402) and ethnic Muslims (13,109), with ethnic Muslims now representing the third largest segment with 3,812. A reason for this is that a large portion of those who in 1991 declared themselves as ethnic Muslims, now declared themselves as Bosniaks.

In 2022, the two largest groups in the municipality were Serbs (46.4%) and Bosniaks (39.9%), followed by ethnic Muslims (6%), therefore in line with pre-1991 balances.

The ethnic composition of the municipality:[12][13]

Ethnic group Census 2011 Census 2022
Population % Population %
Serbs19,496 52.61 14,961 46.44
Bosniaks12,792 34.52 12,842 39.86
Ethnic Muslims3,543 9.56 1,945 6.04
Yugoslavs47 0.13 64 0.20
Others1,181 3.19 2,402 7.46
Total37,059 32,214

Religion

Based on the 2022 census, in the municipality of Prijepolje, muslims surpassed the orthodox creating a relative majority of 46.8% of the population.

Religious group Census 2022 [14]
Population %
Islam15,066 46.8
Orthodox14,941 46.4
Other Christians97 0.30
Did not declare / other440 1.37
Unknown1,670 5.18
Total32,214

Economy

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):[15]

Activity Total
Agriculture, forestry and fishing174
Mining and quarrying4
Manufacturing1,804
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply61
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities90
Construction415
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles1,220
Transportation and storage655
Accommodation and food services312
Information and communication61
Financial and insurance activities87
Real estate activities14
Professional, scientific and technical activities186
Administrative and support service activities204
Public administration and defense; compulsory social security687
Education529
Human health and social work activities598
Arts, entertainment and recreation120
Other service activities154
Individual agricultural workers76
Total7,455

Culture and tourism

Mileševa monastery

Prijepolje has many historical monuments from both the periods of Christianity and Islam. The Mileševa monastery is located 6 km to the east of Prijepolje on the Mileševka River. The monastery is famous for The White Angel fresco, a famous and widely used religious icon in Serbia as well as being the former resting place of St. Sava, Serbia's most honored patriarch.

A famous monument from the Turkish period, the Sahat-Kula, is in town, as well as several mosques, one of which is in Hisardžik, interesting because of a four-hundred-year-old wooden Quran which was recently unearthed. Jusovića's kula tower, built in the 18th century as a protective house tower for the wealthy. Currently in ruins, there are plans being made to reconstruct this building, adding another unique monument to Prijepolje.

The Museum of Prijepolje is a very significant part of the cultural life of Prijepolje. It serves as a gathering place for artists from diverse locations to visit Prijepolje, and corroborate on large projects to improve the town's culture. In addition to the museum, there is also another major cultural building in Prijepolje, where amateurs, led by Meša Šendelj, are very active in refreshing the cultural life in Prijepolje.[16]

Society

Education

There are 2 kindergartens and one elementary school in town. Prijepolje also has a Gymnasium, a technical high school, an economics high school, and a higher technical school.

Sport

In Prijepolje there are many forms of recreation. There is the local football club "FK Polimlje", as well as "FK Jasen" from nearby Brodarevo (also in the municipality of Prijepolje). There are volleyball clubs like "FAP-Livnica" and "Putevi", a handball club "White angel", and a chess club "Priko". Many parks and playfields are in and around town. Traditionally every year during MOSI (an annual regional sporting event), both the male and female volleyball teams representing Prijepolje see great success. Ilija Andrejic, an alpinist from Prijepolje, together with the Serbian alpinist team, successfully climbed Mount Everest.

  • On 14 of July, Prijepolje was the host of the European coupe in rafting on the Lim River.
  • On 22 of September 2007, Vlade Divac, came to Prijepolje, with a group of NBA basketball players, and opened the newly built museum building.

Besides basketball player Vlade Divac and numerous volleyball man and woman players, other notable sportspeople from Prijepolje are footballers Spaso Perić, Muhamed Preljević, Latif Čičić, Mirsad Kahrović, Ljubomir Brašnjević, Husein Mekić, Mihajlo Pjanović, Ivica Dragutinović, while Dragoslav Divac, Siniša Nestorović, Stevo Ljujić and Vule Maksimović archived notability in athletics.[17]

Media

There is one weekly newspaper published in Prijepolje, Polimlje, and three radio stations. There is also one media civic station working from 2008 called Television Forum, operated by NGO Women forum of Prijepolje. There are two wireless internet operators, one TV cable operator, and two private TV and radio stations. Prijepolje got digital telephonic central since May 2003.

Flyer from REFRACT festival in Prijepolje

Events

  • "Sopotnički izvori", is held near the famous Sopotnica's waterfalls, where you can hear old national songs.
  • A famous diving demonstration is held at Petrovac, consisting of highly ranked divers from the Balkan region.
  • There is a famous art colony called Mileševa, consisting of many artists from this municipality.
  • "Gifts from Lim", is a sports and entertainment event where you can see diverse activities such as beach volleyball, a fish-soup making contest, and Prijepolje's Best son-in-law contest.

Activism and youth

There are 29 registered non-governmental organisations in Prijepolje, the most active ones being Jump, Helium, New Vision, Scout's "Boško Buha", Friends of Brodarevo, Friends of Sopotnica and Friends of Kamena Gora. Prijepolje has the first civic television program in Serbia run by a women's organization, the Woman Forum.

Prijepolje opened a Youth Club, under the auspices of National Strategy for Youth, and the Youth office of municipality Prijepolje was created in April 2008. The Youth Office's priority is to care for the rights and wills of the youth of the area, through constant youth work using the goals of local and national development organizations.

Night life

The night life in Prijepolje consists of cafes & night clubs. There is also a yearly regional festival called "Refract", highlighting many different cultural options. A new rock festival has recently begun in Prijepolje, gathering rock bands from the local region.

In 2005, the city hosted a Glaswegian Band, Quinn. The following year, in December 2006, one of the superstars of Serbian hip hop, Marčelo, held a concert in Prijepolje.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of Prijepolje depicts the mountain Zlatar (zlat from the word zlato which means gold in Serbian), the golden "pyramid of Zlatar", the sign of Saint Sava and two crowns which symbolize the two coronations which took place in Prijepolje. The more famous coronation was that of the King of Bosnia and the Serbs, Tvrtko I. Also on the coat of arms are two white angels from a fresco located in the monastery of Mileševa. The angels are holding the flags of Serbia, and Prijepolje. The curved line represents the Lim River.

Notable people

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Prijepolje is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Municipalities of Serbia, 2006". Statistical Office of Serbia. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  2. ↑ "2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia: Comparative Overview of the Number of Population in 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2002 and 2011, Data by settlements" (PDF). Statistical Office of Republic Of Serbia, Belgrade. 2014. ISBN 978-86-6161-109-4. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  3. 1 2 3 "2022 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  4. ↑ Milinko Femić, Prijepoljski kraj u prostoru i vremenu
  5. ↑ Milinko Femić, Prijepoljski kraj u prostoru i vremenu
  6. ↑ "Climate: Prijepolje, Serbia". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  7. ↑ Rexha, Iljaz. "SHTRIRJA DHE SLLAVIZIMI I VLLAZËRIVE ALBANE MESJETARE, BURMAZI DHE MATARUGA NË AREALIN E TREKËNDËSHIT TË KUFIJVE TË BOSNJËS E HERCEGOVINËS, MALIT TË ZI DHE SERBISË (SIPAS DY DEFTERËVE TË SANXHAKUT TË HERCEGOVINËS TË SHEK. XV) [Geography and Slavicization of the Albanian brotherhoods of Burmazi and Mataruga in the border area between Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia according to two defters of the 15th century]".
  8. ↑ Milinko Femić: "Prijepoljski kraj u prostoru i vremenu"
  9. ↑ Milinko Femić, Prijepoljski kraj u prostoru i vremenu
  10. ↑ "2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia: Comparative Overview of the Number of Population in 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2002 and 2011, Data by settlements" (PDF). Statistical Office of Republic Of Serbia, Belgrade. 2014. ISBN 978-86-6161-109-4. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  11. ↑ "2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia" (PDF). stat.gov.rs. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "Попис становништва, домаћинстава и станова 2011. у Републици Србији" (PDF). stat.gov.rs. Republički zavod za statistiku. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  13. ↑ НАЦИОНАЛНА ПРИПАДНОСТ Подаци по општинама и градовима
  14. ↑ "Претрага дисеминационе базе". data.stat.gov.rs. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  15. ↑ "MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019" (PDF). stat.gov.rs. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. 25 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  16. ↑ Milinko Femić, Prijepoljski kraj u prostoru i vremenu
  17. ↑ Monografija FK Polimlje 1920-2010, Siniša Nestorović, page 12 (in Serbian)
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