Located on the banks of the Belica River, Jagodina lies in the heart of Serbia, roughly halfway between Belgrade and Niš. Archaeological findings suggest that the area has been inhabited since the Neolithic period while the city’s modern-day name is derived from the Serbian word for “strawberry”.
Things to do in Jagodina
At the Regional Museum of Jagodina, you’ll find natural, archaeological and ethnological artefacts of relevance to the region. It was established in 1954 based on the antiquities collection of Dusan Vukicevic and has since expanded to include more than 10,000 objects. In addition to ancient coins, traditional costumes and folk objects, it houses paintings and sculptures by local artists.
Also not to miss is the Museum of Naïve and Marginal Art, which was founded in 1960 as the Gallery of Self-Taught Artists. It houses more than 3,000 works of naïve and marginal art by creatives from across the globe. In addition to hosting solo retrospectives and group exhibitions, the museum also manages the Salon Oto Bihalji-Merin where the Serbian painter and art critic spent his final years.
If you’re visiting in the summer months, you can cool off at Aqua Park Jagodina, where you’ll find family-friendly pools, children’s play areas and water slides. There are plenty of sun loungers where parents can relax and watch all of the action, as well as fast-food eateries for refuelling throughout the day. Nearby is the Muzej Foštanih Figura, which is renowned for its life-like wax sculptures of Serbian celebrities.
Getting around Jagodina
Jagodina is around 1.5 hours’ drive from both Niš and Belgrade. Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is just under two hours away and has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Jagodina railway station and buses travel throughout the city.