Zrenjanin[a] is acity and the administrative center of theCentral Banat District in the autonomous province ofVojvodina,Serbia. The city urban area has a population of 67,129 inhabitants, while the city administrative area has 105,722 inhabitants (2022 census data).[2] The old name for Zrenjanin isVeliki Bečkerek orNagybecskerek as it was known underAustria-Hungary up until 1918. After World War I and the liberation of Veliki Bečkerek the new name of the city wasPetrovgrad, in honor of His MajestyKing Peter I the Great Liberator, the King of Serbia and the King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
Zrenjanin is the second largest city in the Serbian part of theBanat geographical region, and the 4th largest city in Vojvodina (afterNovi Sad,Subotica andPančevo).[2] The city was designated European City of Sport 2021.[3]
Over the course of its history, the city has undergone several name changes. Under Habsburg administration, it was referred to asGroßbetschkerek inGerman,Bečkerek (Бечкерек) orVeliki Bečkerek (Велики Бечкерек) inSerbian andNagybecskerek inHungarian. In 1935, as part ofYugoslavia, it was renamed toPetrovgrad (Петровград) in honor of kingPeter I of Serbia.[4]
Prehistory can be divided into thePalaeolithic – Old Stone Age and theNeolithic – New Stone Age. In Zrenjanin's regions no archaeological sites of thePalaeolithic have been found. The only exception was the discovery of amammoth's head and other bones found on the banks ofTisa River nearNovi Bečej in 1952.[5]
The region had already been inhabited in the earlyNeolithic period about 5000 years BC. The most important archaeological site from this period is the so-calledKrstić tumulus, located nearMužlja, about 10 km (6 mi) away from Zrenjanin whereceramics, withornaments were found. Beside the brewery ground, coloured fine ceramics, and ornaments from theStarčevo culture were discovered. The middle Neolithic appeared in our area asVinča and Potisje culture, in the down course of theTisa River. The influence of two parallel cultures flew through it at the same time. TheIron Age has not been enough explored yet. A few regions with some archaeological materials from the Iron Age have been found: in the residential areaŠumica a tip of a spear was found and near the oil factory, and pieces of ceramics from theBronze Age were also discovered.[5]
The area was settled by many native tribes, but also by many newcomer tribes: theIllyrians, theCelts, theGoths, theGeths, theSarmatian andJazghs. At the end of the third century and towards the middle of the fourth century, in the area of Zrenjanin and its surroundings, theSarmatian tribeRoxolani appeared. From this period, aSarmatian's graveyard has been found in a city residential district, near the railroad bridge. Finally in the necropolis, not far fromAradac, “Mečka”, more than 120 graves, which date from the end of the sixth and the beginning of the seventh century, were excavated in 1952.[5]
The first historical records mentioning Zrenjanin (Bečkerek) date from the 14th century, the time whenCharles I, King of Hungary and Croatia (1301–1342), used to visitBanat and spend time in his capitalTimișoara. Near today's Zrenjanin a coin was found with the inscription "Charles I".[6] Many noblemen came with the King, including the powerfulImre Becsei. The areas where Becsei settled down were named for him, “Bechereki” and “Beche” (Novi Bečej). The oldest written records of Bečkerek date fromBudim Capitulum's document of collecting the Pope's tens taxes in 1326, 1331 and 1332. Judging by the size of the taxes, Bečkerek of the 1330s was an average village. The first settlers were the landlessHungarian peasants. There were theSerbs inBanat, too. During the reign ofLouis I of Hungary (1343–1382), more Serbs migrated to the area from the south, and with them manyOrthodox priests.[6]
After theTurkish victory at thebattle of Nicopolis (1396) the HungarianKing Sigismund (1387–1437) was considering defending the territory settled by theSerbs, and he is known to have visited Bečkerek on September 30, 1398. The town was granted toStefan Lazarević at the end of the 1403. The despot became thevassal of the Hungarian King and was granted administrative control of Bečkerek and the title of the Great Head of theTorontál County.[6]
Ottoman city of Bečkerek (Zrenjanin) in 1697–98, including mosque with minaret that dominated the city.Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, founder of Bečkerek vakuf
The HungarianKing Ferdinand appointed friar Djordje Martinović, a commander of his forces, to defend the town from the Ottomans. Hungary was attacked by 80,000 Ottoman soldiers under the command of VizierSokollu Mehmed Pasha. On 15 September 1551, the siege of the townBečej was raised and the town was taken after four days. On 24 September, the Bečkerek fortress was besieged. Many people left town earlier and with few defenders the town couldn't be defended and those eighty, who left surrendered the next day. Malković was appointed the lord of Bečkerek. After the Ottomans had takenTimișoara in 1552,Banat became a special province, theTemeşvar Eyalet, which was made up of severalsanjaks, including theSanjak of Beçkerek.[6]
During Ottoman occupation, the sanjak had a military administration. Due to good behaviour of therayah, the inhabitants were exempt from war taxes. During the 165 years of Ottoman rule, Bečkerek consisted of two separate settlements: the settlement of Bečkerek and the village ofGradnulica. The town was divided into two parts, a Turkish and a Serbian. The Turkish part was fenced and closed, while the Serbian one was open. On the main square there was a largemosque built and inside the fortress there was a little one. There was aTurkish bath, and around it there were about twenty stores. Gradnulica was a disorderly village, whose centre was approximately on the crossroad of the present streets Sindjelićeva and Djurdjevska. Prior to Ottoman occupation, the citizens were Serbs and Hungarians. At the end of the 18th century, there were about fifty Turkish families. According to theTreaty of Karlowitz (1699), the Temeşvar Eyalet, including Bečkerek, stayed under Ottoman rule, while bordering territories once again came under theMilitary Frontier. After theAustro-Turkish War of 1716–18 Bečkerek went under Habsburg rule.[6]
As a crown province,Banat belonged directly to theVienna court. The first governor, appointed by the Emperor, was CountClaudius Mercy. By the imperial edict on 12 September 1718,Banat was divided into 13 districts, with the main administration inTimișoara at its head. TheDistrict of Banat included a few settlements:Idjoš,Arač,Bečej,Itebej,Elemir,Ečka andAradac. The first chief of this district wasTitus Vespanius Slucki. After the Turkish forces and Turks families had withdrawn, the land was left devastated without labour, which could till the soil and paid taxes. That's why the Austrian court tried to settleBanat as soon as possible.
The colonization lasted from 1718–24, when the town was settled mostly byGermans, but theSerbs never stopped arriving. The military frontier inPotisje was displaced. In the following yearsItalians,Frenchmen,Romanians arrived and then theCatalans fromBarcelona, who escaped the repression after theWar of the Spanish Succession and settled in a place which is now the suburb ofDolja within Zrenjanin. The town was calledNew Barcelona. But the life was difficult in thismarsh area with many contagious diseases, so many died and others left.
National Museum of Zrenjanin
In the summer of 1738 there was the great plague. The Count Mersy wanted to turn marshes into fertile soil and he began to regulate theBegej River. In the middle and down course of the river a long canal was built, to make the river traffic possible between Bečkerek andTimișoara. On the first of November 1745Sebastian Krazeisen began to make beer in the first brewery and that meant the first start of the industrialization. In the same year the first Serb's school was mentioned.
On 6 June 1769,Maria Theresa granted the Community of Great Bečkerek, the privilege of becoming the trading centre. By this privilege the whole social-economic life of the former Bečkerek was regulated and it got the status of the town. In 1769 the first hospital was built. In 1779, by the new organization ofTorontál County, Bečkerek became its centre. The city was briefly restored toOttoman administration from 1787 to 1788 duringAustro-Turkish War (1787–91).
During the 18th century it developed into thriving economic and cultural centre, but the great fire destroyed a large portion of the town in 1807. The town was soon rebuilt. The fire came from the brewery, on 30 August 1807. After the fire a new regulation of streets had been done, houses had been built from stronger materials, roads had been rebuilt. The river traffic was especially intensive. The theatre building with an attractively decorated hall was built in 1839. In 1846 the Grammar School was opened and in 1847 the first printing shop.
The1848–49 Revolutions impacted Bečkerek. TheSerbs revolted, aiming for autonomy within the Austrian Empire. At theMay Assembly (13–15 May 1848), theSerbian Vojvodina was proclaimed, including most of what is today Vojvodina. Serbs from Bečkerek participated in the uprising against Hungarian authority (which refused Serb rights) and from 26 January to 29 April 1849 the town was under Serb rebel control. In 1849, the town became part of theVoivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar until 1860.
Although that time was known in history as a period ofBach's absolutism, the second part of the 19th century brought the town new developing benefits. New industrial facilities and handicraft stores were opened in every part of the town. Late 19th and early 20th century was progressive period for Veliki Bečkerek. Railway arrived in 1883, while post office was opened back in 1737.
After theSarajevo assassination, more than 30 citizens of Bečkerek were accused by theAustria-Hungary's authorities of high treason. Among them was Dr Emil Gavrila, who together withSvetozar Miletić andJaša Tomić, worked very hard on the cultural and social strengthening of Serbs. Those Serbs recruited in theAustria-Hungary's army began to desert to avoid having to fight their own people. 7,000 of them formed volunteer detachments (people were fromBanat andSrem) at theEastern front and fought atDobruja, but 79 fought onthe Salonice front. After years, the Serbs forces made a breakthrough ofthe Salonice front in 1918 and began to liberate their own country. The First Army in command ofVojvoda Petar Bojović freedBelgrade on 1 November 1918 and began to occupyVojvodina.
On 17 November, Serbian army arrived at Veliki Bečkerek. On 31 October 1918, the Serb Chamber of People of the town founded in the war conditions, as a temporary authority with Dr Slavko Župunski at its head. Serb army, the infantry iron regiment “Prince Mihajlo” and the infantry brigade with Colonel Dragutin Ristić in command came into the town on 17 November 1918. A few days afterVojvodina had been occupied, its provinces were attached to theKingdom of Serbs and on December 1, 1918, theKingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was founded, as the firstSouth Slavic state. The town of Veliki Bečkerek became the administrative centre of Torontal-Tamiš County, and after its repealing, the town became the headquarters of District Office. In 1929 the town became part of theDanube Banovina. By the Town Council decision made on 29 September 1934, and confirmed by the Town Authority on 18 February 1935, the town was renamed Petrovgrad, after theking Peter I.
City center with Bukovac's Palace (1895) in the front
After theKingdom of Yugoslavia had capitulated on 18 April 1941, andNazi Germany occupied the country, the German Forces came into Petrovgrad. The authority inBanat had domestic Germans – Volksdeutsche, who immediately started to confiscate Jews' property and arrested patriots. The town was renamed Great Bečkerek and it was the headquarters of the occupation authority forBanat (1941–44), headed by Juraj Špiler, and a concentration camp in Cara Dušana Street. The Petrovgrad Synagogue was razed brick by brick by order ofJurgen Wagner.
The camp existed for almost two years and thousands of people passed through it. In town there were many underground groups supported by theCommunist Party, which fought the German occupiers and the Germans made reprisals. On 2 October 1944, theRed Army Forces came into town, and, after a short fight, took command of most vital public buildings. The following day the first meeting on National Liberation Committee for the town Petrovgrad was held. Eight members of the national liberation resistance, from the town and its surroundings were announced National Heroes:Žarko Zrenjanin,Svetozar Marković Toza,Pap Pavle,Stevica Jovanović,Servo Mihalj,Nedeljko Barnić Žarki, Boško Vrebalov, andBora Mikin Marko.
DuringWorld War II, the town infrastructure was kept almost saved. Except in the final fights for the town, there were no war actions on the territory of the town. The Germans tried to damage and destroy some industrial buildings, but it was prevented. Only Anau-Winkler's mill and the monumentalJewish synagogue in the centre of the town were destroyed. After World War II important social-political changes were made in the country, which, of course, had their influence on the development of Zrenjanin, newly named in 1946. In August 1945 the Agriculture Reform Act came into force, in June 1950 the Worker Self-Management Act, in 1959 the first direct urban plan of the town development, which indicated the urbanism-economic development of the town, was passed.
The development, in the first after war decade, was directed by the directive plans, which were based on the principles of socialist economy in which the most important industrial branches were industry and agriculture. By the 1980s many people left their villages and moved into towns which brought many changes in the social, educational and ethnic structure of the town. There was permanently shortage of housing. That is why many new parts of the town and many new apartment buildings were built. Zrenjanin became an important agricultural, industrial, cultural and sport centre, at the time Zrenjanin was one of the most powerful industrial centers of theSocialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia led byTito.
Main streetFreedom square in the center of the city
The town's development has always been strongly affected by the social-economic circumstances reflecting the State surroundings that Zrenjanin found in. At the beginning of the 1990s, whenthe war broke out on the territory of the former Yugoslavia, and the country was falling apart, it led to rather hard social and economic crisis in this area, all that caused an economic stagnation, unemployment, large migrations of refugees from theformer Yugoslav Republics: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The town experienced the first political changes by the introducing of multiparty system at the end of 1996 when the local government was ruled by the coalition Zajedno (Together) and in 2000 by the coalitionDemocratic opposition of Serbia. On 24 March 1999, theNATO bombing of Serbia began but the town was not targeted. Life in the town was quite normal, in spite of the dangerous situation elsewhere in the country.
In the first years after the end of war activities the Town and its citizens have been adjusting to new economic and social-economic conditions, known astransition. Instead of previous large economic combines and companies plenty of new flexible private enterprises are established and foreign capital is starting to flow in Zrenjanin. New industrial and work and residential zones are formed and the Town's General Plan 2006-2026 and Sustainable Development Strategy 2006-2013 are made and approved. At the end of 2007, introducing a new national territorial organisation followed by necessary legislation, the Municipality of Zrenjanin has been upgraded to an administrative and territorial status of a city.
In 2004, the town's tap water was deemed unsafe for consumption due to high levels ofarsenic. In October 2025, the ban was lifted and the water in the city was declared safe to drink again by the Provincial Secretariat for Health.[7][8]
Zrenjanin is situated on the western edge of theBanat loess plateau, at the place where the canalized RiverBegej flows into the former water course of the RiverTisa. The territory of the city is predominantly flat country. The City of Zrenjanin is situated at a longitude of 20°23’ east and a latitude of 45°23’ north, in the center of the Serbian part of theBanat region, on the banks of the RiversBegej andTisa. The city is located at 80 meters above sea level.
Zrenjanin is around 70 kilometres (43 mi) away fromBelgrade, and about 50 kilometres (31 mi) fromNovi Sad, which is also the distance to the present border with theEuropean Union (Romania), which makes its position a particularly important transition center and potential resource in the directions north–south and east–west.
The average temperature for the year in Zrenjanin is 12.1 °C (53.8 °F). The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of 22.9 °C (73.2 °F). The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of 0.7 °C (33.3 °F).
The highest recorded temperature in Zrenjanin is 42.9 °C (109.2 °F), which was recorded in July. The lowest recorded temperature in Zrenjanin is −27.5 °C (−17.5 °F), which was recorded in February.
The average amount of precipitation for the year in Zrenjanin is 597.1 mm (23.5 in). The month with the most precipitation on average is June with 84.3 mm (3.3 in) of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is February with an average of 33.7 mm (1.3 in). There are an average of 126.8 days of precipitation, with the most precipitation occurring in May with 12.4 days and the least precipitation occurring in August with 7.5 days.
Climate data for Zrenjanin (1991–2020, extremes 1961–present)
Zrenjanin no longer has a public transport operator, for the first time in its recent history, following the privatization and subsequent bankruptcy ofAutobanat. It used to operate as the city's public transport company and as the regional public transport service to the nearby cities of (Novi Sad,Belgrade,Kikinda,Vršac), etc.
In the past river traffic on theBegej river used to be most developed mode of cargo transport. Veliki Bečkerek got a railway in 1883, when it linked the city toVelika Kikinda. There are many taxi companies in Zrenjanin and the regulations are either lacking or are not enforced by the authorities.[citation needed]
The city is served byZrenjanin Airport, which however, as of 2023, has no hard runway, and no facilities for commercial air transport.
Zrenjanin (under the name of Petrovgrad) is mentioned in the novel "Waiting for Robert Capa" of Spanish authorSusana Fortes. Jewish protagonist's brothers who are running from persecution, are settling in Serbian village Petrovgrad, just on Romanian border, because there was never tradition ofantisemitism in the village.[16]
Crystal Hall is an indoor basketball and handball arena that was the home venue of the 2013 World Women's Handball Championship.
Zrenjanin has a long sports tradition.[18] First clubs were established during the 1880s. It was the home town ofProleter football club from 1947 until 2005. As of 2021,FK Radnički Zrenjanin plays inSerbian League Vojvodina division, which is the third-level football league inSerbia. The city was designated European city of sport in 2021.[19]
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