BRANKA RADIČEVIĆA SQUARE – Sremski Karlovci

The historic town center of Sremski Karlovci, surrounding Branka Radičevića Square, is an exceptionally valuable cultural and historical urban ensemble, which developed during the 18th and 19th centuries and the beginning of the 20th century. At its center stands a Baroque fountain made of red marble. The “Four Lions” fountain is a Baroque fountain dating from 1779, built as the culmination of the first municipal water supply system, which began to be constructed following the great plague epidemic of 1795. The square is also home to the Patriarchal Palace, the most monumental building in the town, constructed between 1892 and 1894. Next to the palace stands the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral Church, built in 1762, with two bell towers. Its Baroque iconostasis, of exceptional artistic value, was painted by Teodor Kračun and Jakov Orfelin. The Roman Catholic Church, built in 1768, is also located nearby. The square is also home to the Karlovci Grammar School, an endowment of the Anđelić brothers and a rare example of Hungarian Art Nouveau incorporating motifs inspired by Serbian mediaeval architecture. It was built according to the design of the Budapest architect Gyula Pártos in 1890 and 1891. The Magistrate building, the most significant secular structure, was built in the Neoclassical style in 1805. Also, representative is the Palace of the Church and National Funds, dating from the beginning of the 20th century, built in the Neoclassical style and designed by the architect Vladimir Nikolić. Several other historic houses, one of which is a pharmacy dating from 1890, complete the ensemble of this square, which is of exceptional importance to Serbian culture.