MONUMENT TO JOŽEF KIŠ – Vrbas

This monument to József Kiš, the designer of the Great Bačka Canal, occupies a prominent place among the landmarks of Vrbas. It is located on an elevated area above the dam near Šlajz. Kiš wished to be buried here, even though he was not a citizen of Vrbas, because he had an emotional connection to the site, as the first trial works for the canal started here.

József Kiš gained extensive experience in canal construction in England. Upon his return, he came to Bačka and worked in the service of the Royal Court Chamber. He noticed the potential of Crna Bara, a natural watercourse from Vrbas to the Tisa near Bečej, which could be transformed into a navigable canal with relatively little work. It remained to dig a new canal from the Danube near Bezdan to Vrbas to connect these two major waterways in all of Hungary.

Kiš initially faced difficulties convincing the government, but on March 27, 1793, the chamber approved the works, which began on May 6 of the same year. Despite numerous challenges, the canal was completed in 1802. Later, additional canal systems were constructed to drain the marshes, significantly lowering the groundwater level and reclaiming tens of thousands of hectares of fertile land.

In memory of József Kiš, the following inscription appears on his tombstone, translated into Serbian as:

“Here eternally rests the noble Hungarian József Kiš, builder of the Franjo Canal; let this marble proclaim his immortality, may he rest in peace. Born in 1748. Died in Sombor on the 3rd day of March, Anno Domini 1813.”