Saint George Cathedral, Novi Sad

Saint George Cathedral, Novi Sad tickets: which one to buy

The Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George stands in the old centre of Novi Sad, just off the main square, and entry is free. It is the seat of the Eparchy of Backa and one of the most important Orthodox churches in Vojvodina. Walking tours of Novi Sad combine it with the Catholic Church of the Name of Mary on the main square, the pedestrian Zmaj Jovina and Dunavska streets, the Bishop's Palace next door and the Petrovaradin Fortress across the Danube.

Novi Sad is about an hour and a half from Belgrade by train or bus, and it is often visited on a day trip along with Sremski Karlovci and the monasteries of Fruska Gora. The cathedral is an active church; modest dress is expected, and visiting pauses during services. The courtyard is quiet and shaded. The Bishop's Palace next door is not open to the public, but its facade can be admired from the courtyard.

Visiting Saint George Cathedral, Novi Sad: what to see

A church stood on this site from the early eighteenth century, but it was badly damaged when Novi Sad was bombarded during the Hungarian revolution of 1848 and 1849. The present cathedral was rebuilt and completed in 1905, designed by the architect Mihajlo Harminc, in a style that mixes baroque and classical elements, with a tall bell tower. Inside, the cathedral is rich and colourful. The iconostasis, with thirty-three icons, was painted by Paja Jovanovic, one of the most famous Serbian painters of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, known for his historical scenes. The walls and ceiling are decorated with frescoes by Stevan Aleksic.

The stained glass windows were made in Hungary. The Bishop's Palace beside the cathedral, built at the beginning of the twentieth century in a Serbian-Byzantine style with red and yellow brick, forms a picturesque ensemble with the church. The cathedral's bell tower rises above the rooftops and is visible from the Danube. Carved choir stalls and bishop's thrones stand before the iconostasis, and the chandeliers are of gilded brass. The frescoes on the ceiling show the Evangelists and scenes from the Bible, and the icons of Paja Jovanovic are especially admired for their realism. In the courtyard, the grave markers of bishops recall the history of the diocese.

Saint George Cathedral, Novi Sad opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily, and weekday mornings are quiet. Novi Sad is busiest in early July during the EXIT music festival, held in the Petrovaradin Fortress, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors from across Europe. Summer is warm, and the city's cafes and the Strand beach on the Danube are popular. Orthodox Christmas on 7 January and Easter bring large congregations.

Winter is cold, with Christmas lights in the centre. The main square and the pedestrian streets are lively in the evening. Allow about twenty minutes for the cathedral, and walk across the Varadin bridge to the fortress for a view of the old town. The Petrovaradin Fortress clock tower, with its reversed hands, is a short walk across the bridge.