Dear exchange student,

Welcome to beautiful Nis

City of Nis

Nis is located in Southern Serbia in the long Nishava river valley, on 48 15' latitude and 21 52' longitude.It is one of the oldest cities in the Balkan's known as the "Gateway" between East and West because of its geographical position as the crossroad of Balkan and European traffic lines which connect Europe with Near east an Greece.Inner part of the city is at an altitude of 194 meters above sea level.The city covers an area of 596,74 km.

Climate

Nis and surrounding area has a moderate-continental climate with an average temperature of 11,2 C.The warmest month is July with an average temp.of 21,2 but usually very hot and dry with Temperature between 30-40 C, and the coldest month is January with an average temperature of 0,2C.Average air pressure is 992,74 milibars, with 123 rainy days in a year, 43 days with snow, and wind with average.

Population

The town is cultural,industrial,political center of region and the 2nd big city in Serbia & Montenegro. According to the results of 1991 census, Nis had a population of 247.898 inhabitanants (today more than 300.000)

Religion

Almost all Serbs are orthodox. You can find also Catholic churches, Muslim mosques, Jewish churches of a minor religion groups like Baptists, Lutherans...

History

The city has, a long, reach history (from 3rd century B.C.).

In the pre-Roman period, Illyrians, Thracians, Celts and some other nations populated Nis and the surrounding area. Celts defeated the Illyrians in the 3rd century B.C. occupied this area and gave Nis its permanent name NAISSUS meaning "The city of nymphs" according to the ancient pagan belief that nymphs appear out of the river Nisava. In the 2nd centuries A.D. the Romans made Nis a military town. In the period of the late Roman Empire (306 A.D.) Flavius Valerius Constantine was declared an emperor. He made Nis capital of the empire, and built a luxurious place Mediana.

In 441 A.D. there was massive invasion of Huns on the Balkans, and many towns including Nis were destroyed.

The sixth century marked the beginning colonization of the Balkans, Nis and surrounding area by Slavs.

From the 7 th century Nis developed as a Byzantine city, but with Slavic population.

In 1183 Serbian head of the tribal state Stevan Nemanja occupied Nis.

In 1386 the Turks occupied Nis and December 29, 1877 Nis was finally liberated from Turks.

In 1878 the first city high school was established, 1881 1st bank, 1884 railway between Belgrade & Nis, 1886 Royal Serbian Academy, 1894 national library etc.

In 1914 Nis became center of the Serbian government and parliament. Nis was the town were telegram from Vienna declaring war on Serbia, arrived (beginning of the 1st Word War).

During 1915-18 Nis was under German-Bulgarian occupation. This was a period of great sufferings.The Bulgarian occupations executed Serbian patriots at the "Death Gate" of the Nis fortress.

In 1918 after winning in the 1st Word war, in Nis became Kingdom of Yugoslavia

In 1941 German fascist set up a concentration camp, called the death camp, because over 12000 prisoners were executed on Bubanj hill near Nis.

Nis was liberated on October 14,1944

In 1965 Nis became a University town.

Monuments

The rich history and the constant struggle for liberty through centuries left in Nis a lot of worthy cultural & historical monuments such as: Mediana- the summer residence of Constantine the Great/Roman emperor (museum and excavation site); The Fortress- beautiful and best preserved Turkish object on the Central Balkan (1723); Cegar- the monument & fighting place (1809) immortalized by the heroic death of Duke Stevan Sindjelic and his 3000 combatants in the struggle against 10000 Turks; Scull Tower - the unique monument in the world built by the Turks after the battle on Cegar, made of skulls of Serbian heroes; The Monument to the Liberators of NiS etc.

Culture,Recreation,sport,Nightlife etc

Nis has theatres,cinemas,museums,art galleries,exhibitions,concert halls,libraries, cultural & artistic events,churches,sport clubs,recreation center etc.In the open space within the Fortress, in the summer stage- a stone theatre of impressive acoustics- there are held the Choral Festival,The Acting Festival and the Summer Music Festival Nisomnia.Other prominent events are: Nis Classical Music Festival, Nisville Jazz Festival, The festival Of Popular Urban Songs and Romances...Of course restaurants, cafes,pubs,nightclubs,where you can eat international & national food (you can try old, nearly forgotten meals like Serbian beans, cheese-pie,kneepad,Serbian grill...) drink our national drinks and listen to live music.

University of Nis

It is found in 1965.It consist of several faculties: Electro tehnical, Law,Economic,Natural Science,Medical, Stomatology,Architectonical,Faculty of Physical education with more than 15000 students.

The Medical Faculty was found in 1960. Today it consists of 27 clinics & institutes. About 2500 students study at the Medical school, 1900 domestic and 600 foreign.

Connections:

1.By AIR there are direct flights to Belgrade from many European cities. Also you have airport in Nis but with only a few flights. When you come to city (Belgrade) Better solution for you is to take bus to Nis instead train.(230km, Highway/3h).

We have a great pleasure to welcome You to Serbia and your traineeship. We'll try to help You as much as possible, so days of your staying here could become unforgettable. This newsletter made by our YuMSIC -Nis stuff, is to give you a short presentation of our summer reception programme.