Prijepolje | |
|---|---|
Town andmunicipality | |
      From top: City of Prijepolje from bridge, Prijepolje Clock tower, Prijepolje Old Town, Old mills on waterfall Sopotnica,Mileševa monastery , Monument toSt. Sava | |
 Location of the municipality of Prijepolje within Serbia | |
| Coordinates:43°23′N19°38′E / 43.383°N 19.633°E /43.383; 19.633 | |
| Country |  Serbia |
| Region | Šumadija and Western Serbia |
| District | Zlatibor |
| First time mentioned | 7 July 1343 (1343-07-07) |
| Settlements | 96 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Drago Popadić (SNS) |
| Area | |
| • Town | 9.67 km2 (3.73 sq mi) |
| • Municipality | 827 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)[3] | |
| • Town | 11,928 |
| • Town density | 1,230/km2 (3,190/sq mi) |
| • Municipality | 32,214 |
| • Municipality density | 39.0/km2 (101/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 31300 |
| Area code | +381(0)33 |
| Official languages | Serbian together withBosnian[1] |
| Website | www |
Prijepolje (Serbian Cyrillic:Пријепоље,pronounced[prijěːpoʎe]) is a town and municipality located in theZlatibor District of southwesternSerbia. As of 2022, the town has 11,928 inhabitants, while the municipality has 32,214 inhabitants.[4]
One possible meaning of the name Prijepolje is "Prija's field", where Prija is the owner ofpolje, 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 andVelika Župa are located. "Prije" means "before", and "polje" means "field", hence, the location might be called Prijepolje.[5][page needed]
Prijepolje is located at the confluence of the fast-flowingLim andMileševka rivers. It is also situated along the road fromBelgrade to theAdriatic Sea, as well as being a stop on the Belgrade –Bar railway. The Belgrade – Adriatic road intersects here with the regional road betweenPljevlja, Prijepolje andSjenica. This regional road follows roughly the same route as the ancientRoman road known as theDubrovnik road. Just north of Prijepolje, at Bistrica, there is a road leading towardsPriboj,Višegrad andSarajevo. 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]
Prijepolje has ahumid continental climate (Köppen climate classification:Dfb), that's very close to anoceanic 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) |
| Averageprecipitation 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] | |||||||||||||
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Prijepolje was established as a settlement in 1234, the same year theMileševa Monastery was built. Prior to its establishment as a settlement, the area was occupied as far back as the Stone Age. First settled byIllyrians, 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 theCelts, 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. TheGoths,Huns,Gepids,Langobards andAvars also passed through this area. The most interesting archaeological site in the territory is the Roman necropolis near the modern settlement ofKolovrat where pieces of ancient glass, silver, ceramics, and gold have been unearthed.
Prijepolje was mentioned for the first time byGijom 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 easternBalkans with the middleAdriatic 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 theAlbanianMatarugetribe lived in the kaza of Prijepolje, where they formed their own distinct community (nahiye) with 10 villages (katund).[7]
There was a cartographic reference to Prijepolje in "Regno della Servia detta altrimentri Rascia" byGiacomo Cantelli da Vignola, cartographer to theDuke of Modena, in 1689.
During theOttoman 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 theJavorian War in 1876, the Raonić Revolt, theBalkan Wars in 1912 and 1913, and both World Wars.[5] In 1912, during theFirst Balkan War, control of Prijepolje passed from the Ottoman Empire to the Kingdom of Montenegro.
DuringWorld War II, Prijepolje officially became part of theKingdom 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.[5]
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.[8] Those settlements are as follows, with population figures according to the 2002 census:
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 31,328 | — |
| 1953 | 35,568 | +2.57% |
| 1961 | 38,925 | +1.13% |
| 1971 | 44,022 | +1.24% |
| 1981 | 46,902 | +0.64% |
| 1991 | 46,525 | −0.08% |
| 2002 | 41,188 | −1.10% |
| 2011 | 37,059 | −1.17% |
| 2022 | 32,214 | −1.27% |
| Source:[9][4] | ||
According to the 2022 census, the municipality of Prijepolje has 32,214 inhabitants, and 63% of the municipality's population is rural.[4]
Prijepolje is an ethnically mixed town and municipality.[10][11]
The ethnic structure of population of town of Prijepolje (according to the 2022 census):[12]
| Ethnicity | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Serbs | 6,683 | 56% |
| Bosniaks | 3,428 | 28.7% |
| Muslims | 623 | 5.2% |
| Others | 262 | 2.2% |
| Undeclared | 225 | 1.9% |
| Unknown | 700 | 5.8% |
The ethnic structure of population of Prijepolje municipality (according to the 2022 census):[13]
| Ethnicity | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Serbs | 14,961 | 46.4% |
| Bosniaks | 12,842 | 39.8% |
| Muslims | 1,945 | 6% |
| Others | 387 | 1.2% |
| Undeclared | 379 | 1.1% |
| Unknown | 1,700 | 5.2% |
Based on the 2022 census, in the municipality of Prijepolje, Muslims surpassed the Orthodox Christians, becoming a relative plurality of 46.8% of the population.
| Religion | Adherents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Islam | 15,066 | 46.8% |
| Orthodox | 14,941 | 46.4% |
| Other Christians | 97 | 0.3% |
| Undeclared | 440 | 1.3% |
| Unknown | 1,670 | 5.2% |
The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):[14]
| Activity | Total |
|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 174 |
| Mining and quarrying | 4 |
| Manufacturing | 1,804 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 61 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 90 |
| Construction | 415 |
| Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1,220 |
| Transportation and storage | 655 |
| Accommodation and food services | 312 |
| Information and communication | 61 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 87 |
| Real estate activities | 14 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 186 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 204 |
| Public administration and defense; compulsory social security | 687 |
| Education | 529 |
| Human health and social work activities | 598 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 120 |
| Other service activities | 154 |
| Individual agricultural workers | 76 |
| Total | 7,455 |
Prijepolje has many historical monuments from both the periods of Christianity and Islam. TheMileševa monastery is located 6 km to the east of Prijepolje on theMileševka River. The monastery is famous forThe White Angelfresco, a famous and widely used religious icon inSerbia as well as being the former resting place ofSt. Sava, Serbia's most honored patriarch.
A famous monument from the Turkish period, theSahat-Kula, is in town, as well as several mosques, one of which is inHisardžik, interesting because of a four-hundred-year-old woodenQuran 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.[5]
Sveti Bor, known as the "Holy Pine," is a 5 centuries-old tree that has played a significant role in the village of Kamena Gora a nearby village. During the Ottoman occupation, the villagers were unable to construct a church, and this ancient pine served as a substitute, becoming a spiritual gathering point. Over time, Sveti Bor has not only become a symbol of the region but also a notable tourist destination. Its cultural importance and remarkable beauty, attributed to its great age, continue to attract visitors from all over the country.[15]
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.
In Prijepolje there are many forms of recreation. There is the local football club "FK Polimlje", as well as "FK Jasen" from nearbyBrodarevo (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 climbedMount Everest.
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.[16]
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.
There are 29 registerednon-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, theWoman Forum.
Prijepolje opened a Youth Club, under the auspices of National Strategy for Youth, and theYouth 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.
The coat of arms of Prijepolje depicts the mountainZlatar (zlat from the word zlato which means gold in Serbian), the golden "pyramid of Zlatar", the sign ofSaint 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 ofMileševa. The angels are holding the flags ofSerbia, and Prijepolje. The curved line represents theLim River.
Prijepolje istwinned with:
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