Serbia has connected West with East for centuries – a land in which civilizations, cultures, faiths,
climates and landscapes meet and mingle. It is located in the center of the Balkan Peninsula, in southeastern Europe. The northern portion belongs to central Europe, but in terms of geography and climate it is also
partly a Mediterranean country. Serbia is landlocked but as a Danube country it is connected to distant seas
and oceans. Serbia is a crossroads of Europe and a geopolitically important territory. The international roads
and railway lines, which run through the country’s river valleys, form the shortest link between Western
Europe and the Middle East.
From the agricultural regions of the Pannonia Plain in the north, across the fertile river valleys and
orchard-covered hills of Šumadija, the landscape of Serbia continues southward, gradually giving way to
mountains rich in canyons, gorges and caves, as well preserved forests. Serbia’s beautiful mountains, national parks, rivers and lakes are the perfect location for an active outdoor holiday – from hunting and fishing to
extreme sports.
Many times during its rich, centuries-long history, Serbia has been at the center of Europe’s and
the world’s attention, out of all proportion to its modest size, economic might and number of inhabitants.
Many lessons on bravery, patriotism and the struggle for freedom can be learned wherever you turn
in Serbia, as you pass through its cities and regions. The cultural and historical heritage of Serbia begins
with pre- historic archaeological sites and its legacy from classical antiquity. Perhaps its greatest riches,
though, are in the many mediaeval Serbian churches and monasteries, some of which are included on the
UNESCO World Heritage list. All year round, numerous cultural, entertainments, traditional and sporting
events are held in Serbia, demonstrating the creative power and spiritual vitality of this country. Today,
Serbia is a modern, democratic European country, on the path to membership of the European Union,
which a diverse range of visitors – from young backpackers to participants in congresses and fairs – visit
every day.
Roman fort Timacum Minus, near village of Ravna, with excavated walls, parts of the civilsettlement, the rich necropolis, explains the history of the period of Knjaževac area until the Middle Ages. In the
town were found the remains of the other famous, Late Roman town, Timacum maius.
In the Roman road map from the IV century Knježevac was written under the name of Timac Maiori, a settlement that is built on the foundations of the fortress Veliki Timok on the Zdanije hill (the present
church, “St. George”).
From the period of medieval century are towns Ravna and Koželj, Church of the Virgin in Gornja
Kamenica and Holy Trinity Monastery in Donja Kamenica, which were built in the XV century, and the
first track of the name Gurgusovac. In some older literature this place were called Kolumbija, it comes
from the Latin word columba, meaning pigeon and a true translation is Golubac. This term has no
archaeological or
written confirmation. In the same time with this name was used, for a long time, name Gurgusovac.This
name is mentioned in the Turkish census from 1455. Country legend says that this is the name given by Grivas pigeons.
The Turks conquered this area 1396 and annexed it to Vidinski pašaluk. From the time of theTurkish rule there is little information from this area. Records from the VII century precisely recorded
Gurgusovac as a military fort with palisades and cannon, with 46 Turkish and 120 Christian homes.
Knjaževac area is settled during prehistoric times, the evidenced of this are settlements of Baranica,
Škodrino polje, Dubrava, etc., horseman cave drawing in Gabrovnica and other archaeological findings. The ancient
chronicler Pliny (II century AD) records this territory as a part of the Roman province of Moesia in which live Mezi
people, Thracians, Dardanians, Tribals, Timahs, who had been formed, in symbiosis with the Slavic tribes, the local
indigenous population of Timočani, called Putuk- lije.
First Serbian Rebellion came in Knjaževac area at 1807 when Hajduk Veljko attacked Gurgusovac,
but he could not conquer it until the Serbian-Russian victory in Malajnica. After the Serbian defeat in Čegar,
Turks again conquered Gurgusovac. With the capitulation of Serbia 1813, capitulated Gurgusovac, which
was again, connected Vidinski pašaluk, until the liberation from the Turks and its association to Serbia
The town inherited Gurgusovac Tower, the prison for political prisoners, known as “The Serbian Bastille”. The tower was burned by order of Prince Miloš Obrenović, so in his honor, the citizens changed the
name of town to Knjaževac in 1859.
Difficult economic situation after the war and new taxes for railroad Belgrade – Niš and formilitary
weapons, as well as immediate political situation in the country, led to a revoltTimočka buna in 1883.
The immediate cause of the revolt was collection of weapons from the national army and the
rebellion swept Knjaževac and Knjaževac discrict in October 1883. and one of the initiators of the rebellion
was Aca Stanojević from Knjaževac.
People from Knjaževac were good fighters through all the wars that affected this region, as the
Serbo-Bulgarian War, Balkans, and World War I. During the withdrawal of Serbian military in 1915 they
were particularly emphasized in the battles for the defense of Belgrade. XIV regiment within the Second
Armyin breakthrough of Salonika Front in 1918 in crossed the Drina river as the vanguard and it first came
to Sarajevo, and reached the Adriatic Sea. After the war flag of the XIV regiment was awarded by
Karadjordje Star.
The period between the two wars will be remembered by people who live in Knjaževac in the
sign of the development of the municipality, opening of different craft shops and workshops, as well as the
industry’s first capacity: tanneries, brick wine cellar, so that Knjaževac gets all the elements of the urban
environment.
World War II in Knjaževac started with demonstrations against the signing of the pact of association of Yugoslavia with theTripartite Pact on March 25/27, 1941 and the occupation of the 11th April 1941
by Germany and the occupation of Budžak by Bulgaria. After a long battle with the Bulgarians and
Germans, Knjaževac was finally released on October 10th, 1944.
The rapid development started in 1960 when they started clothing industry “Branka Dinić”, shoe
factory “Leda”, tractors and machinery industry IMT, Timok furniture industry “Tina”, a wine cellar became
the “Džervin”.
From all of this we can say that the period since 1970.until 1985 were the most important in current
development of Knjaževac in all elements of economic and social development. During this period, some
buildings which are the symbols of Knjaževac were erected, namely: the Cultural Center, Health Center,
Kindergarten, and kindergarten network, several apartment blocks, and, as for the cultural community of
Knjaževac is best known one national festival, the Festival of Youth Culture of Serbia, which was
established 1962 and continues until today.