highlights

Bac is a little town with about 20,000 inhabitants, 24 km north from Backa Palanka. Fortress Bac is placed there, and although it’s not in a good condition, the most of the ramparts with its three smaller towers and the main tower Donzon are preserved. 20 m tall Donzon is in the center and you can climb to the top of it by long winding stairways.

There is also very interesting looking Franciscan church, founded by Templars in 1169. There is enormous stone gate in the town, as well as the remainings of Turkish bath. The fortress of Bac represents the best preserved medieval fortress in Vojvodina.

history

 

Bac is one of the oldest towns in Vojvodina with very rich history. It is mentioned, for the first time, in 535 in emperor Justinian’s letter to Serbian mitropolite Katelian. In Salzburg chronicle in 873, Bac is mentioned like Avarian fortress. It is mention again as a parish and archbishop’s residence.

It is far known in 12th century, and even Arabian geographer Al-Idrisi was writing about it in 1154:”Bac (Bakasin) is famous town mentioned among other old, big towns. It has trade-market and squares, craftsmen and Greek scholars”.

In 1242 Mongolian invasion hits Bac as well, and in the Saj battle church Principal of Bac dies. Thanks to the support and efforts of the King Bela IV, the town manages to recover and rise from the dust left after Mongolian.

In 1462 National assembly, organized by Hungarian King Matthias, took place in Bac. After the victory gained in battle at Mohacs in 1526, Turks temporarily occupy Bac to finally take it over in 1529. Bac becomes center of nahija (region) and traces of Turkish occupation are noticeable even today.

By the end of the 17th century Bac is taken over by Austrians just to be totally destroyed in 1704 during Rakoci uprising. Bac never regained its old shine and significance because other towns like Sombor and Novi Sad later, took priority.

things to see

 

What to see in Bac? Above all- the fortress founded by Hungarian King Robert Karoly in the 14th century. The fortress is in a pretty bed condition, but the ramparts with three smaller towers and central tower Donzon are preserved. Donzon is 20 m tall, and you can climb to the top using long winding stairways.

Bac is very old town therefore, beside the fortress, in different parts of town, remainings of other ancient buildings can be found. As you enter the town you will cross a little pedestrian bridge and walk through the stone gate. Ruins of an old Turkish bath exist nearby.

The Franciscan church originally founded by Templars in 1169 is very interesting for seeing. After suspension of this order, in 1312, the church is taken over by Franciscan monks. In the 18th century philosophy was studied here, with the works of Plato and Aristotle included. The church was built in Roman and Gothic style with baroque details added later.

The oldest part of the church is Roman apsis-altar and southern wall with fragments of gothic frescoes from 15th century. In the church an Italo-Cretan icon painted by Dima in 1687 exists, as well as the copy of “The Last Supper” in the dinning room dating from 1737.

accommodation

 

No information at the moment.