OLD PARK – Novi Kneževac

In the far north of Banat, on the left bank of the Tisa river stretches Novi Kneževac park. Together with the palaces of noble families who lived there it makes the unique harmony of nature and architectural heritage of this region. According to the legislation of the Republic of Serbia (The Law on Environmental Protection), the park is a natural monument and is named Old park in Novi Kneževac. It is categorized as a natural resource of III (the third) category. The system of protection of II (the second) and III (the third) level has been established.

The total area of ​​the Old Park in Novi Knezevac is 9 ha 91 and 32 square meters. At 80% of total area II (the second) degree of protection level is established and at 20% III (the third) degree of protection level is established.

Park in Novi Kneževac was placed for the first time under the state protection as a natural monument of landscape architecture by the Regulation of the Municipality of Novi Kneževac no. 633-2 / 75 as of 15 September 1975. Objects found in the park are under the state protection and are the monuments of culture. Castle Servijski-Šulpe (today Courthouse building) is protected in 1952 at the proposal of the Provincial Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments in Novi Sad as the cultural wealth fare of the great significance. The castle of Count Arthur Maldeghem (present library building), built in 1910, is protected in 2001 by the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. The creation of the park may be attached to the end of the eighteenth century. Taking into account the fact that the park was created to function as the object, it was constructing parallel with the construction of the castle of Marko Servijski (1793 – 1804).The park was further expanded and developed by further construction of the Fajlič and Italian families castles during the nineteenth century and the Maldeghem family in the early twentieth century as well. The nobility of Novi Kneževac lived in stately homes and castles built on the banks of the Tisza river in a shady park, full of exotic trees and flowers, behind high walls, in a closed circuit luxuries. There are just a few villages in Vojvodina in the past to encounter so many noble families as in Novi Kneževac. As the most responsible person for the appearance of the park is Emil Italian (February 20, 1859 – December 4, 1911). As the great adventurer, world traveler, avid hunter, he brought plants from all over the world that are planted in the park and he himself took care of them. We can also emphasize Katarina Milanković-Paćanski “de Visak” who used to live in the castle Servijski. She worked on the renovation of the castle, both the interior and exterior. She hired top gardeners who did all their best to arrange the park modeled on the Viennese castles. Processed in eclectic ie. mixed style combining elements of the landscape (English) and geometry (French) style and presents the most important green area in Novi Kneževac. Because of the wealth of trees and shrubs, cultural and historical significance, age, conservation, landscape attractiveness and the other values the ​​ park is under protection. The concept of Novi Kneževac is such that King Peter I Karadjordjevic Street , which part is closed to traffic and has the function of walkways, exits to the north – eastern part of the park. The west side of the park lies on the bank of the river Tisa offering beautiful vistas. On the sidewalk of the inhabited part of Novi Kneževac a quay built along the river Tisza which also has the function of walkways, exits to the north-west side of the park. The locals and tourists enjoy their time in this park. The Old park in Novi Kneževac is formed on the slightly rolling terrain with relatively small differences in height. On the morphological relief formation the major influence has the Tisa river. With its influence the alluvial plain, river terrace and other typical forms of fluvial relief are made. Novi Kneževac is located in a temperate climatic zone with strongly expressed continental features. On the surface on which the Old park in Novi Kneževac as the type of substrate mod is developed. The value of the park is that it is characterized by a great diversity of trees and shrubs (dendro = tree, flora = plant species of some areas). In addition to the indigenous and non-native species there are also exotic ones. The representation of trees and shrubs can be seen in the form of the tree avenues, high trees, group of trees as well as freely configured species for the purpose of parterre arrangement.

According to the dendro flora park analysis in 2008, 1,137 species of woody plants were recorded. In the park hardwood prevail , which has 46 genotypes of 899 individuals, over conifers which has only 10 genotypes of 238 individuals. Shrubby forms in the park almost do non-existent if t yew and boxwood are excluded which are outgrown the dimensions of bushy shape a long time ago.