B92 - Travel

3 August 2006

Irig

Already a substantial settlement in the 13th c, in late Middle Ages Irig was an important fort in the hands of the Branković family.

In 18th c. it was the biggest town in the region of Srem but in 1795 a disastrous plague epidemic killed half of its population. Since then it has slumbered, known only for being the center of a famous winegrowing area.

Irig has three 18th c. Orthodox churches. Just to the east of the main town square and park is the oldest and most important of the three, dedicated to St Nicholas (Nikolajevska crkva). Built in 1732, its architecture copies almost exactly the model of the nearby Hopovo monastery. The carvings of the iconostasis dating from 1760 are among the most interesting of the period; the icons are the work of painter Vasa Ostojić, from the same period. The church dedicated to the Virgin (Bogorodičina crkva) lies at the southern approach to the town. It has a late baroque iconostasis and frescoes from 1863. The third church celebrates St Theodore (Teodorovska crkva) and lies at the western end of Irig. It is the youngest of the three – it was built and got its iconostasis shortly before the devastating plague.

Wider area: 7 km to the north of Irig, on the ridge of Mt Fruška Gora is Iriški venac (451 m), one of the best-loved excursion points on this mountain. The focal point here is a huge monument, created by the sculptor Sreten Stojanović in 1951 to commemorate the victims who fell in the fight against fascism. Nearby you will find the hotel “Norcev” (tel. 021/621-172), the motel “Vojvodina” (with a restaurant, tel. 021/463-008) and the restaurant “Venac” (tel. 021/463-023). A short walk through the woods to the east will bring you to the TV tower. Damaged in the 1999 bombing it still stands, perhaps even more markant than before.

Source: www.serbiainyourhands.com