More than 200 bird species have been recorded in both Carska bara and Slano Kopovo. But these natural areas tell different stories: here, rare herons, cormorants, grebes and ducks catch the eye; there, the landscape is an important stopover on migratory routes. In Central Banat District, nature experiences alternate with urban history, architecture and a vibrant spa tradition.
Birdlife and waterscapes
More than 200 bird species have been recorded in Carska bara, including rare herons, cormorants, grebes and ducks, as well as endangered species. Boats can be rented in the Stari Begej–Carska bara Special Nature Reserve to explore the lagoon and its picturesque shores. The area is about two kilometres from the Zrenjanin–Belgrade highway — an approximate reference point, not information about travel time or local access.
More than 200 different bird species have also been recorded in Slano Kopovo. The area’s importance as a stopover during migration is particularly striking: several hundred thousand waterbirds pass through from various parts of Europe and Western Siberia. While Carska bara highlights specific bird groups and the chance to explore its lagoon, Slano Kopovo illustrates the scale of bird migration.
Urban history and architecture
In Zrenjanin, the National Museum offers different ways to explore the region’s cultural heritage. Its collections preserve more than 49,000 objects relating to the heritage of Central Banat; permanent exhibitions present the cultural heritage of Banat in three exhibition rooms. The historic city centre also tells the story of the city’s development: most of its attractive buildings date from the 19th or early 20th century. The lakeside promenade along the city’s lakes offers a different perspective; the lakes were created by damming an abandoned course of the Begej.
In Ečka, you can see buildings from different periods and with different functions. Kaštel Ečka is a manor house built in the English style in 1820. The Serbian Orthodox Church of St Nicholas was built in 1711, is roofed with shingles and is considered the oldest surviving church in Banat. The Roman Catholic church dates back to a 1884 endowment by the Lazar family and is adorned with works by Flemish masters. The manor house and churches each bring their own distinctive character to the architectural history of the village.
Spa tradition and ethnological heritage
Banja Rusanda combines a long tradition of treatment with a wooded spa complex. Treatments using healing mud from Lake Rusanda have been offered there for almost a century and a half. Banja Rusanda is an active spa and, as a specialised hospital for physical medicine and rehabilitation, offers various wellness packages; check in advance which packages are currently available. The entire spa complex is set in a pine and linden forest criss-crossed by walking and leisure paths.
In Belo Blato, a significant destination for rural and ethno-tourism is taking shape, based on the natural surroundings and ethnological heritage. The ethno centre includes an ethnographic house with a courtyard, a classroom and a souvenir shop. These facilities give the village’s ethnological focus a tangible form.
Water and technology provide their own points of interest, too. The Great Lake of the Čenćanska Lakes offers opportunities for swimming and fishing. The Tisa flows through the centre of Novi Bečej, and the Žeravica Museum collection includes more than 150 tractors. The range therefore extends from nature-watching and waterside landscapes to regional cultural heritage and the history of technology.
Discover more destinations: Zrenjanin, Srpski Itebej, St George on the Begej, Melenci, Taraš, Elemir, Ečka, West Bačka.
Return to the regional travel overview: Vojvodina.
