Golubac

Golubac (Serbian Cyrillic: Голубац, pronounced [ɡǒlubats]) is a village and municipality located in the Braničevo District of the eastern Serbia. Situated on the right side of the Danube river, it is bordered by Romania to the east, Veliko Gradište to the west and Kučevo to the south. The population of the village is 1,655 and the population of the municipality is 8,161. Due to many nearby archeological sites and the Đerdap national park, the village is a popular tourist, fishing and sailing destination.

For other uses, see Golubac (disambiguation).

Golubac Голубац
Village and municipality
Town Center
Coat of arms
Location of the municipality of Golubac within Serbia
Coordinates: 44°39′N 21°38′E
Country	Serbia
Region	Southern and Eastern Serbia
District	Braničevo
Settlements	24
Government
• Mayor	Nebojša Miović
Area [1]
• Town	41.74 km^2 (16.12 sq mi)
• Municipality	367.29 km^2 (141.81 sq mi)
Elevation	72 m (236 ft)
Population  (2011 census)[2]
• Town	1,653
• Town density	40/km^2 (100/sq mi)
• Municipality	8,331
• Municipality density	23/km^2 (59/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	12223
Area code	+381(0)12
Car plates	PO
Climate	Cfb
Website	www.golubac.org.rs

Name

View of Golubac fortress from Danube

In Serbian, the town is known as Golubac (Голубац), derived from golub ("pigeon" or "dove") and is therefore often translated as "the town of doves." Other names: Romanian: Golubăţ (also known as Golumbacu Mare or Columbacu), Hungarian: Galambóc, German: Taubenberg and Turkish: Güvercinlik meaning "dovecote."

Historically, it was known as Columbria in Latin, a contraction of (castrum) Columbaria meaning "city of pigeons" (Latin: Columba, Greek: kòlymbos), and as a city derived from Cuppae during pre-Roman times.

History

It was a stronghold called Cuppae during Roman and Early Byzantine times (1-6th century) and turned into a city (Columbria) in 554/5 AD.[3]

Archeological sites include the remnants of one of Roman Emperor Trajan's tables near Trajan's Bridge, found along his road through the Danube's Iron Gates; and the Roman fortress Diana. Golubac fortress, 4 km downstream, is from the 14th century and also of interest. The fortress was the scene of a battle against the Turks in 1428, where the Polish knight Zawisza Czarny was captured and executed by the Turks.

Charles I of Hungary conquered the castle in 1334. In 1387 Lazar of Serbia sieged it. Becoming a Hungarian ally in 1403–04, he received large possessions, including the important Belgrade and Golubac Fortress. The Turkish occupied it for the first time in 1391, but after that, Péter Perényi recaptured it. King Sigismund of Hungary acquired Golubac by a contract in 1427, but its Serbian captain sold it to the Turks for twelve thousand golds. Sigismund sieged the fortress in spring 1428 in response, but the mission was a failure, the King himself was almost killed by the Turks. In 1458, Matthias Corvinus tried to recapture it, but the siege was interrupted by Hungarian internal conflicts.

From 1929 to 1941, Golubac was part of the Morava Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census results, the municipality of Golubac has a population of 8,331 inhabitants.

Ethnic groups

The ethnic composition of the municipality:[4]

Ethnic group	Population	%
Serbs	7,576	90.94%
Vlachs	424	5.09%
Romani	52	0.62%
Romanians	47	0.56%
Yugoslavs	13	0.16%
Montenegrins	9	0.11%
Macedonians	7	0.08%
Croats	6	0.07%
Hungarians	5	0.06%
Others	192	2.30%
Total	8,331

Economy

The following table gives a preview of total number of employed people per their core activity (as of 2017):[5]

Activity	Total
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	47
Mining	45
Processing industry	183
Distribution of power, gas and water	1
Distribution of water and water waste management	36
Construction	39
Wholesale and retail, repair	182
Traffic, storage and communication	30
Hotels and restaurants	90
Media and telecommunications	3
Finance and insurance	5
Property stock and charter	-
Professional, scientific, innovative and technical activities	38
Administrative and other services	39
Administration and social assurance	114
Education	116
Healthcare and social work	70
Art, leisure and recreation	25
Other services	30
Total	1,091

Tourism

The Iron Gate national park is noted for its natural environment and its hunting grounds, as well as its hiking trails. The village's quay along the Danube river is popular for more relaxed hiking.

Sailing

Golubac has become a well-known sailing site. The Sailing Center of the Sailing Association of Serbia, which the Serbian National Team uses for ground preparations before major sailing events, is located in Golubac. One of the events is a sailing Regatta, which is traditionally held in August. During the summer, the Center holds an Optimist Class sailing camp, where beginners can learn from the best Serbian sailors and their international guests.

See also

• List of places in Serbia

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. Notitia Dignitatum, the Synekdêmos and Prokopios’s Buildings IV.v.-vii, x
4. "ETHNICITY Data by municipalities and cities" (PDF). stat.gov.rs. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
5. "ОПШТИНЕ И РЕГИОНИ У РЕПУБЛИЦИ СРБИЈИ, 2018" (PDF). stat.gov.rs (in Serbian). Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

External links