highlights

 

A ruin of the colossal Roman cathedral, which, as it is thought, was built in 13th century, is surrounded by fields as long as your eyes can reach. Although the cathedral is pretty dilapidated, a huge part is preserved and represents impressive building with massive pillars, arches, windows and one tall tower.

The greatest building in the region, erected in the endless plain, Araca Cathedral makes an impression of bursting out from the land. It’s built out of stone and reddish brick; in the inside it’s very specious, with plenty of interesting architectural details.

history

 

Araca is mentioned for the first time in 13th century, when it worked like Benedictine monastery, but it’s unknown when exactly it was built. It was robbed and devastated in 1280 and reconstructed in 1370 as required by the Queen Jelisaveta Anzujska, and that’s when the tower that exists today was, probably, built.

In the year 1417 it comes into possession of despot Stefan Lazarevic. Later it belonged to despot Djuradj Brankovic who gave it, as a present, to Pavle Birinji. In the year 1551 Turks burned the cathedral down and it was never reconstructed again. Araca Cathedral is totally ruined today, surrounded by fields. In medieval times there was a little town under the same name of which there is no trace to be found today.

getting there

 

Take the road from Novi Becej to Novo Milosevo and, on twelfth kilometer from Novi Becej, on the right side, you’ll see the country road crossing the railway, passing by crumbled train station ”Crna Bara”, than by a little farm and soon disappearing in the forest. You have to walk for about 6 km more away from the forest, over the fields to the Cathedral Araca.

There is the train operating on this line, but it didn’t stop in Crna Bara. The best would be to take the bus from Novi Bacej to Novo Milesevo and then ask the driver to kick you out on the twelfth kilometer. The distance between Novi Becej and Novo Milosevo is 20 km in total.

You can reach Novi Becej using direct bus line from Novi Sad (four buses a day; departures from Novi Sad on the work days at 06:00, 13:00, 14:45 and 18:00), or you can take the bus from Novi Sad to Becej (many lines during the day) and then catch one to Novi Becej, which is only 10km away from Becej.

things to see

 

Today Araca represents a ruin of a great, impressive cathedral which dominates the plain. From the time when this was Benedictine abbey, only basilica with three apsides remained, of which the middle one is higher and bigger with massive walls made of red brick. On the west side the portal of red marble and big rosette is preserved.

Gray sandstone columns can be seen inside the church, with capitals decorated with Roman floral ornaments shaped like acacia leaves. The capital itself is in the shape of Adam picking an apple. In the northwest corner great head-shaped console can be seen.

The church is placed in a very vivid area, surrounded by endless fields, with herds of does and roebucks playing on them and, from time to time, a rabbit passes. Up, in the tower, hawks, grouse or some other birds are nesting. There are two imposing crosses, with low underbush around and piles of rocks which were, once, parts of the ramparts, probably.

accommodation

 

Because the Cathedral is not close to any larger place, there is no possibility to sleep there. The closest village is Novo Milosevo (8 km) and a little bit closer is an old farm, on the turning from the road Novi Becej - Novo Milosevo, when you cross the railway. On the farm you can ask the owners to let you sleep in one of the few additional buildings.

If it doesn’t work , there is a crumbled, deserted train station ”Crna Bara”, in the pretty bad condition, but it’s got walls and the roof, so if you have brought your sleeping bags you can use it as well.

Forest surrounding the place is pretty convenient for camping. The only problem could be the lack of drinking water nearby.

misc

 

A travelogue from a short winter hitchhiking trip to Araca can be seen here.