Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Sremski Karlovci

Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Sremski Karlovci tickets: which one to buy

The Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas stands on the main square of Sremski Karlovci, a small baroque town on the Danube about twelve kilometres from Novi Sad, and entry is free or by a small donation. Sremski Karlovci was the spiritual and cultural centre of the Serbs in the Habsburg Empire, and the cathedral is its most important monument.

Most visitors come on a day trip from Novi Sad or Belgrade, often combined with the monasteries of Fruska Gora National Park, such as Krusedol, and with wine tastings, because the town is known for its wineries and the dessert wine bermet. Walking tours of the town cover the cathedral, the Patriarch's Palace, the Four Lions fountain, the gymnasium and the Chapel of Peace, where the Treaty of Karlowitz was signed in 1699. The town is small and easily explored on foot. Buses from Novi Sad run frequently and stop near the main square.

Visiting Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Sremski Karlovci: what to see

The cathedral was built between 1758 and 1762 in the baroque style, with two bell towers added later, and it was the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitans and Patriarchs in the Habsburg lands. Its iconostasis is its greatest treasure: carved and gilded in a rich baroque style, it holds icons painted by the Serbian artists Teodor Kracun and Jakov Orfelin in the late eighteenth century, which are among the masterpieces of Serbian baroque painting, showing a strong Western influence in the style of the saints. The walls of the church carry portraits and paintings. The cathedral stands beside the Patriarch's Palace, built in the late nineteenth century, which houses a treasury with icons and manuscripts.

The square in front is decorated with the Four Lions fountain, and the Karlovci Gymnasium, the oldest Serbian grammar school, faces it. The treasury in the Patriarch's Palace displays icons, manuscripts, liturgical objects and embroidered vestments. The cathedral's bell towers dominate the square. Portraits of Serbian metropolitans hang in the nearby palace. The icons of the iconostasis are arranged in several rows, and the Royal Doors are especially richly carved. Inside, the walls are painted in pastel colours with gilded frames. The cathedral's baroque facade reflects Central European models. The Four Lions fountain in front was built in 1799. The gymnasium opposite holds a library of old books.

Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Sremski Karlovci opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open during the day, with visits limited during services. Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with pleasant weather and, in autumn, the grape harvest; the Grape Harvest Festival, Berbanski dani, takes place in late September and early October. Summer is warm, and the Danube banks nearby are popular. Orthodox Christmas and Easter bring large services.

Weekends are busy with day-trippers from Novi Sad and Belgrade. Allow about twenty minutes for the cathedral, and spend a few hours in the town, including a wine tasting at one of the family cellars. The Chapel of Peace, on a hill above the town, marks the spot where the Treaty of Karlowitz was signed and has a small exhibition.