Niš

Niš Ниш
City and municipality
City of Niš
Niš photomontage
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): The Emperor's Citysss
Niš
Coordinates:
Country	Serbia
District	Nišava
Municipalities	5
First mention	2nd century AD
Liberation from Ottomans	11 January 1878
Government
• Mayor of Niš	Zoran Perišić (SNS)
• Ruling parties	SNS
Area
• City	597 km2 (231 sq mi)
Elevation	195 m (640 ft)
Population (2011)
• City	183,164
• Density	435.9/km2 (1,129/sq mi)
• Urban	260,237
• Metro	373,404
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	18000
Area code(s)	(+381) 18
Car plates	NI
Website	www.ni.rs

Niš (Serbian Cyrillic: Ниш, pronounced [nîːʃ]) is the city of southern Serbia and the third-largest city in Serbia (after Belgrade and Novi Sad). It is the administrative center of the Nišava District. According to the 2011 census, the city has population of 183,164, while urban area of Niš (with adjacent urban settlement of Niška Banja included) has 187,544 inhabitants, administrative area has population of 260,237.

It is one of the oldest cities in the Balkans and Europe, and has from ancient times been considered a gateway between the East and the West. It was founded by the Scordisci in 279 BC, after an invasion of the Balkans. The city was among several taken in the Roman conquest in 75 BC; the Romans built the Via Militaris in the 1st century, with Naissus being one of its key towns; it is also the birthplace of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor and the founder of Constantinople, and Constantius III and Justin I. It is home to one of the oldest churches in Serbia, dating to the 4th century, located in the suburb of Mediana. The Balkans came under the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. In the 6th century, Slavs started settling the Balkans, while the town was held by the Byzantines until the 9th century, when it came under Bulgar rule. The town switched hands between the two, before being given by the Byzantines to the Serbs in the 12th century. Niš served as Stefan Nemanja's capital. It was conquered by the Ottomans in the 15th century, becoming the seat of a sanjak initially in Rumelia Eyalet (1385-1443, 1448-1846), laterly in Niš Eyalet (1846-1864) and finally in Danube Vilayet (1864-1878). It was liberated by the Serbian Army in 1878 during the Serbian–Ottoman War (1876–78).

Niš is one of the most important industrial centers in Serbia, a center of electronics industry (see Elektronska Industrija Niš), industry of mechanical engineering, textile and tobacco industry. Constantine the Great Airport is its international airport. In 2013 the city was host to the celebration of 1700 years of Constantine's Edict of Milan.

Name

Niš from space.

The town was named after the Nišava River, which flows through the city and which was named Navissos by the Celtic in the 3rd century BC; it was then known as Roman Naissus, Byzantine Nysos and Slavic Niš. Legend has it that Niš was founded by a Prince Nisa, who built it using the nearby Humska Čuka stone. It has been called The Emperor's City. The name is sometimes rendered Nish or Nissa in English.

History

Main article: History of Niš

Frescoes from Tombs of Naissus.

Constantine the Great Roman Emperor from 306 to 337 AD was born in Niš (Naissus).

Archaeological evidence shows neolithic settlements in the city and area dating from 5,000 to 2,000 BCE. A notable archeological site is Humska Čuka. The ethnogenesis of the Thracians started in the Iron Age, and one of their chief towns was Aiadava, the Roman Remesiana; specifically, the Triballi dwelled in this region, mentioned as early as 424 BC. In 279 BC, during the Gallic invasion of the Balkans, the Scordisci tribe defeated the Triballi and settled the lands, at which time the city was known as Navissos. At the time of the conquest of the Balkans by Rome in 168-75 BC, Naissos (Latin: Naissus) was used as a base for operations. Naissus was first mentioned in Roman documents near the beginning of 2nd century CE, and was considered a place worthy of note in the Geography of Ptolemy of Alexandria.

The Romans occupied the town in the period of the "Dardanian War" (75-73 BC), and set up a legionary camp. The city (called refugia and vici in pre-Roman relation), because of its strategic position (the Thracians were based to the south) developed as an important garrison and market town of the province of Moesia Superior. In 272 AD, the future Emperor Constantine the Great was born in Naissus. Constantine created the Dacia Mediterranea province of which Naissus was the capital and also included Remesiana of the Via Militaris and the towns of Pautalia and Germania. He lived at Naissus in short periods from 316-322. In 364 AD, Imperial Villa Mediana, 3 km (2 mi) from Naissus was the site where emperors Valentinian and Valens met and divided the Roman Empire and ruled as co-emperors

Remains of the luxurious residence palace of Mediana, erected by Constantine I near his birth town of Naissus.

It was besieged by the Huns in 441, devastated again in 448, and again in 480, when the partly rebuilt town was demolished by the Barbarians. Byzantine Emperor Justinian I restored the town but it was destroyed by the Avars once again. The Slavs, in their campaign against Byzantium, conquered Niš and settled here in 540. About 987, the town was taken by the Bulgarian Emperor Simeon I. In the 11th century Byzantium took control over Niš and the surrounding area again.

Siege of Niš , Crusaders attacking Niš on 4 July 1096.

During the People's Crusade, on July 3, 1096, Peter the Hermit clashed with Byzantine forces at Niš. Manuel I fortified the town, but his successor, Andronikos I, could not hold it, so Niš was seized by the Hungarian king Béla III. The town was in Greek hands for some time again, then, in 1185, it came under Serbian control. By 1188, Niš became Nemanja's capital. On 27 July 1189, Nemanja received German emperor Frederick Barbarossa and his 100,000 crusaders at Niš. When describing Serbia during the rule of Vukan in 1202, the mentioning of Niš shows its special status. In 1203, Kaloyan of Bulgaria annexed Niš. Stefan Nemanjić later regained the region. The fall of the Serbian state, conquered by Sultan Murad I in 1385, decided the fate of Niš as well. After a 25-day long siege the city fell to the Turks. It was returned to Serbian rule in 1443. Niš succumbed to Ottomans rule again in 1448. and remained thus for the following 241 years. In the period of Ottomans rule, Niš was one of the seats of Turkish military and civil administration. In 1689, Niš was seized by Austrian army during Great Turkish War, but Turks regained it in 1690. In 1737, Niš was seized again, but this time by the Austrian army, in their campaign against the Turks. The Turks retreated and the Austrians reconstructed the Fortress. However, in that same year, the Turks advanced again, and Niš fell to the Turks without resistance.

Serbian Uprising

Battle of Čegar monument.

During the First Serbian Uprising, Serbian revolutionaries attempted to liberate Niš in 1809 when the famous Battle of Čegar took place. After the defeat of the Serbian forces, the Ottoman commander of Niš ordered that the heads of the killed Serbs were to be mounted on a tower to serve as a warning. The tower is known as the Skull Tower (Ćele Kula). In 1821, the Ottomans arrested the Bishop of Nis Milentija and 200 Serbian patriots on charges of preparing an uprising in the Niš area, in support of the Greek War of Independence. On 13 June of that year, Bishop Milentija and other Serbian leaders were hanged in public. In the 19th century the area was one of the centres of Bulgarian National Revival. The French Jérôme-Adolphe Blanqui, when traveling across Balkans in 1841, describes the population of the Sanjak of Niš as Bulgarians. In 1870, Niš was included in the Bulgarian Exarchate. The city was also stipulated the area to be ceded to Bulgaria according to the Constantinople Conference in 1876. Serbian author Milan Savic in his book "History of the Bulgarian people until the end of its state" issued in Novi Sad wrote, that at his time (1878) Nis and environs were Bulgarian populated. Niš was finally liberated during the Serbo-Turkish War. The battle for the liberation of Niš started on 29 December 1877 and the Serbian Army entered in Niš on 11 January 1878 and Niš became a part of the Serbian state.

Independent Serbia

Tram in Niš 1930.

Niš market, postcard.

In the following years, the city saw rapid development. The city library was founded in 1879, and its first clerk was Stevan Sremac. The first hotel, Europe, was built in 1879; shortly after a hospital and the first bank started operating in 1881. In 1878, the first Grammar School (Gimnazija), in 1882 the Teacher Training College, and in 1894, the Girls' College were founded in Niš. In 1895, Niš had one girls' and three boys' primary schools. The City Hall was built from 1882 to 1887. In 1883, Kosta Čendaš established the first printing house. In 1884, the first newspaper in the city Niški Vesnik was started. In 1884, Jovan Apel built a brewery. A railway line to Niš was built in 1884, as well as the city's railway station; on 8 August 1884, the first train arrived from Belgrade. Since 1885, Niš was the last station of the Orient Express, until the railroad was built between Niš and Sofia in 1888. In 1887 Mihailo Dimić founded the "Niš Theatre Sinđelić." In 1897 Mita Ristić founded the textile factory Nitex. In 1905 female painter Nadežda Petrović established the Sićevo art colony. The first film was screened in 1897, and the first permanent movie theater started operating in 1906. Hydroelectric dam in Sićevo Gorge on Nišava was built in 1908; at the time, it was the largest in Serbia. The airfield was built in 1912 on the Trupale field, and the first airplane arrived on 29 December 1912. City Museum was founded in 1913, hosting archaeological, ethnographic and art collections. During the First Balkan War, Niš was the seat of The Main Headquarters of Serbian Army, who led the military operations against the Ottoman Empire. In World War I, Niš was the wartime capital of Serbia, hosting the Government and the National Assembly, until Central Powers conquered Serbia in November 1915, when the city was ceded to Bulgaria. After the breakthrough of the Thessaloniki Front, First Serbian Army commanded by general Petar Bojović liberated Niš on October 12, 1918.

Niš Fortress.

Yugoslavia and World War II

Monument to Alexander I Karađorđević in Niš

Niš main square.

In the first few years after the war, Niš was recovering from the damage. In 1921, Niš became the centre of the Region (oblast), governed by a grand-župan, appointed by royal decree. From 1929 to 1941, Niš was the capital of the Morava Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The tram system in Niš started to run in November 1930. The national airline Aeroput included Niš as a regular destination for the route Belgrade—Niš—Skopje—Thessaloniki on 1930. During the time of German occupation in World War II, the first Nazi concentration camp in Yugoslavia was located in Niš. About 30,000 people passed through this camp, of whom over 10,000 were shot on nearby Bubanj hill. On February 12, 1942, 147 prisoners staged mass escape. In 1944 city was heavily bombed by the Allies. On October 14, 1944, after a long and exhausting battle, the 7th German SS Division 'Prinz Eugen' was defeated and Niš was liberated by Red Army and Partisans. The University of Niš was founded on June 15, 1965. On May 7, 1999, the city was the site of the NATO Cluster bombing of Niš that resulted in many civilian casualties.

The road running from the north down the Morava River valley forks into two major lines at Niš: the southern line, leading to Thessalonica and Athens, and the eastern one leading towards Sofia and Istanbul.

Geography

Location

Suva Planina (Dry Mountain) surrounds the city

Niš is situated at the 43°19' latitude north and 21°54' longitude east, in the Nišava valley, near the spot where it joins the South Morava. The main city square, the city's central part, is at 194 m (636 ft) above sea level. The highest point in the city area is "Sokolov kamen" (Falcon's rock) on the Suva Planina (Dry Mountain) (1,523 m (4,997 ft)) while the lowest spot is at Trupale, near the mouth of the Nišava (173 m (568 ft)). The city covers 596.71 square kilometres (230 sq mi) of five municipalities.

Climate

Average annual temperature in the area of Niš is 11.9 °C (53.4 °F). July is the warmest month of the year, with an average of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). The coldest month is January, averaging at 0.6 °C (33.1 °F). The average of the annual rainfall is 580.3 mm (22.85 in). The average barometer value is 992.74 mb. On average, there are 134 days with rain and snow cover lasts for 41 days.

Climate data for Niš (1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	21.7 (71.1)	23.5 (74.3)	28.6 (83.5)	33.0 (91.4)	34.7 (94.5)	40.3 (104.5)	44.2 (111.6)	42.2 (108)	37.2 (99)	32.6 (90.7)	29.0 (84.2)	22.2 (72)	44.2 (111.6)
Average high °C (°F)	5.0 (41)	7.5 (45.5)	13.0 (55.4)	18.4 (65.1)	23.8 (74.8)	27.1 (80.8)	29.8 (85.6)	30.1 (86.2)	25.0 (77)	19.3 (66.7)	11.9 (53.4)	6.1 (43)	18.1 (64.6)
Daily mean °C (°F)	0.6 (33.1)	2.4 (36.3)	7.0 (44.6)	12.2 (54)	17.1 (62.8)	20.4 (68.7)	22.5 (72.5)	22.3 (72.1)	17.4 (63.3)	12.3 (54.1)	6.4 (43.5)	2.1 (35.8)	11.9 (53.4)
Average low °C (°F)	−2.2 (28)	−1.4 (29.5)	2.3 (36.1)	6.4 (43.5)	11.0 (51.8)	13.8 (56.8)	15.4 (59.7)	15.4 (59.7)	11.5 (52.7)	7.4 (45.3)	2.6 (36.7)	−0.8 (30.6)	6.8 (44.2)
Record low °C (°F)	−23.7 (−10.7)	−19.3 (−2.7)	−13.2 (8.2)	−5.6 (21.9)	−1.0 (30.2)	4.2 (39.6)	4.1 (39.4)	4.6 (40.3)	−2.2 (28)	−6.8 (19.8)	−14.0 (6.8)	−15.8 (3.6)	−23.7 (−10.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	38.8 (1.528)	36.8 (1.449)	42.5 (1.673)	56.6 (2.228)	58.0 (2.283)	57.3 (2.256)	44.0 (1.732)	46.7 (1.839)	48.0 (1.89)	45.5 (1.791)	54.8 (2.157)	51.5 (2.028)	580.3 (22.846)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	13	13	12	13	12	11	9	8	9	9	11	14	134
Average relative humidity (%)	80	74	66	63	65	65	61	61	69	73	77	81	70
Mean monthly sunshine hours	64.5	93.3	147.8	171.5	220.9	251.2	286.7	274.3	201.9	150.5	85.9	49.4	1,997.7
Source: Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia

Government

See also: List of mayors of Niš

Demographics

See also: Demographic history of Niš

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1878	12,801	—
1884	16,178	+26.4%
1890	19,877	+22.9%
1895	21,524	+8.3%
1900	24,573	+14.2%
1905	21,946	−10.7%
1910	24,949	+13.7%
1921	28,625	+14.7%
1931	35,465	+23.9%
1941	44,800	+26.3%
1948	49,332	+10.1%
1953	58,656	+18.9%
1961	81,250	+38.5%
1971	127,654	+57.1%
1981	161,376	+26.4%
1991	173,250	+7.4%
2002	173,724	+0.3%
2011	183,544	+5.7%

Cathedral of Holy Trinity.

The Catholic church of the Sacred Heart.

According to the final results from the 2011 census, the population of urban Niš was 187,544, while its administrative area has a population of 260,237.

There is still much dispute about the true population of the city, since there are tens of thousands of Kosovo Serb refugees who officially don't live in the city, but are living there with their local family members.

Demographics of Niš (2011 Census)
Ethnic group	Municipal	Urban
Serbs	243,381	174,225
Roma	6,996	5,490
Montenegrins	659	579
Bulgarians	927	741
Yugoslavs	202	202
Croats	398	344
Others	7,674	1,963
TOTAL	260,237	183,544

Economy

The city of Niš is the administrative, industrial, commercial, financial and cultural center of the south-eastern part of Republic of Serbia. The position of Niš is strategically important, located at the intersection of European highway and railway networks connecting Europe with Asia. Niš is easily accessible, having an airport – Niš Constantine the Great Airport and being a point of intersection of numerous railroad and highway lines.

Panorama picture of the Square of the King Milan I.

It is in Niš that the trunk road running from the north down the Morava River valley forks into two major lines:

• the south one, leading to Thessalonica and Athens, along the Vardar River valley,
• and the east one, running along the Nisava and the Marica, leading towards Sofia and Istanbul, and further on, towards the Near East.

These roads have been widely known from ancient times, because they represented the beaten tracks along which peoples, goods and armies moved. Known as 'Via Militaris' in Roman and Byzantine periods, or 'Constantinople road' in Middle Ages, these roads still represent major European traffic arteries. Niš thus stands at a point of intersection of the roads connecting Asia Minor to Europe, and the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.

Nis had always been a relatively developed city in the former Yugoslavia. In 1981 its GDP per capita was 110% of the Yugoslav average.

Industry

Niš is one of the most important industrial centers in Serbia, well known for its tobacco, electronics, construction, mechanical-engineering, textile, nonferrous-metal, food-processing and rubber-goods industries.

Court house in Niš

Niš Tobacco Factory was built and opened in 1930 at the present location at Crveni Krst. Its basic production is that of tobacco, cigarettes, filters, the elements of tobacco machinery and equipment, adhesives, etc. In 1995 a scientific-research institute was built. The Institute selects, produces and protects tobacco, and creates and designs new products. During Operation Allied Force the company was destroyed, allowing Philip Morris to purchase it for a low price. In August 2003, The Philip Morris Corporation purchased the Niš Tobacco Factory (DIN) through the privatization process. Philip Morris' total investment of EUR 580 million makes it the single largest foreign investor in Serbia of the Year 2003.

Construction industry

• Gradjevinar, stock company - originated from the construction firm of Niš County called Grapon in 1961. Gradjevinar has built large structural complexes such as shopping centers, apartment buildings, entire campuses and sections of cities in Niš, Belgrade, East Serbia, Russia, Bulgaria, Israel, Jordan and the United Arabic Emirates. The company has built:
  • more than 30,000 apartments, of approximately 180,000 square meters,
  • clinics, health facilities and hospitals, of approximately 80,000 square meters,
  • department stores, malls of approximately 50,000 square meters,
  • hotels, tourist sites, banks, schools, theaters, sports facilities of approximately 50,000 square meters,
  • various warehouses, factories, farms and cold-storage buildings of approximately 150,000 square meters.

Niš Forum shopping centre

Business center Kalča

Nišava river.

Electronics Industry

• Elektronska Industrija Niš - Holding Corporation, stock corporation - originated from the foundation of the Institute for the Production of Radio Sets and Roentgen Machines, "RR Niš", in 1948. The basic production encompasses acoustic equipment, electronic tubes, specific installations, printed plates, electronic machine elements, hydraulics, pneumatics, appliances, air-conditioners, medical equipment, X-ray machines.

Old Fountain

Rubber-goods Industry

• Vulkan, stock company was built and opened in 1937. Its production is large in scope and comprises various rubber-technical articles with numerous applications in mining and the construction industry (transporters and cranes).

Nonferrous-metal industry

• NISSAL - Stock corporation for aluminum produces tools, metal reproductive materials, metal, wooden and other material constructions, and collects and treats industrial refuse.

Machinery industry

• The Pump Factory "Jastrebac" founded in 1910., produces more than 1,000 different types and sizes of mechanical pumps.

University of Niš

• Mašinska Industrija Niš (Machinery Industry of Niš) Holding, stock corporation founded in 1884, produces various machines, various types of equipment: chemical, petrochemical, mining, metallurgy, railway-transport, diesel-locomotive, pump, hydro- and thermonuclear, water and gas treatment. In 1993 MIN was transformed into a holding company of 37 joint-stock units, 24 of which deal with basic production, six with services, and seven with specialized business.

Textile Industry

• Nitex - Niš Textile Industry produces fabrics, knitted material, continuous embroidery, clothes, etc. The company was founded 1897. by Niš capitalist Mita Ristić with his sons (Dušan and Dragoljub). In 2011. Nitex - Niš was sold to the Benetton

Food-processing industry

• Žitopek, stock company for the production and trade of bakery goods was established on March 3, 1947 when 14 bakers formally signed a contract by which they were to join their workshops into "Žitopek".
• The Brewery of Niš, stock company produces beer and non-alcoholic drinks. The brewery was founded 1884. by Jovan Apel.

Culture

See also: Culture of Serbia

National Theatre in Niš.

Theatre

The Film Festival – a Festival of Serbian Actors held since 1966.

Niš is a home of National Theatre in Niš, that was founded as "Sinđelić" Theatre in 1889.

Music

From 1981 Niš is the host of Nišville International Jazz music festival which begins in mid-August and lasts for 4 days.

Galija and Kerber are considered the most notable rock bands to have originated from Niš and most popular young European jazz band EYOT. Other notable Niš rock acts include Daltoni, Dobri Isak, Lutajuća Srca, Mama Rock, Hazari, Novembar, Trivalia and others.

Tourism

Tourist sites

Tinkers Alley , old urban downtown built in the first half of 18th century.

Skull Tower.

Bubanj Memorial Park.

• Čegar – The place where Battle on Čegar Hill took place on May 19, 1809.
• Crveni Krst concentration camp – One of the few preserved Nazi concentration camps in Europe. It is located on '12 February Boulevard'.
• Memorial to Constantine the Great – built in the city centre in 2013, in commemoration to Constantine the Great who was born in the city, on the anniversary of the Edict of Milan.
• Bubanj – Monument to fallen Yugoslav World War II fighters, forming the shape of three clenched fists. The place where 10,000 civilian hostages from Niš and south Serbia were brutally murdered by German Nazis.
• Kalča, City passage and Gorča – Trade centers situated in Milana Obrenovića Street.
• Memorial Chapel in the memory of NATO bombing victims - The chapel was built by local authorities while the monument was built by the State government in 1999. They are situated in Sumatovacka street near Niš Fortress.
• Niš Fortress - The remaining fortification was built by the Turks, and dates from the first decades of the 18th century (1719–1723). It is situated in the city center.
• The fortress-cafes - They are situated near Stambol gate (the main gate of the fortress).
• Mediana - Archeological site, an Imperial villa, from the late Roman period located on the road leading to Sofia near EI Nis.
• Niška Banja (Niš spa) - A very popular spa during the summer season. It is located at 10 km (6 mi) from city center on the road leading to Sofia, in the bottom of Suva Planina Mountain.
• Tinkers Alley - An old urban downtown zone in today's Kopitareva Street, built in the first half of 18th century. It was a street full of tinkers and other craftsmen, but today it is packed with cafes and restaurants.
• Skull Tower (Ćele Kula) - A monument to the Serbian revolutionaries (1804–1813). A tower made out of skulls of Serbian uprisers, killed and decapitated by the Ottomans. It is situated on Zoran Đinđić Boulevard, on the old Constantinople road leading to Sofia.
• Spa of Topilo

Architecture and monuments

Buildings in Niš are constantly being built. Niš is the second largest city after Belgrade for number of high-rises. The Ambassador Hotel is one of the tallest buildings in Niš, but there are also other buildings like TV5 Tower.

Administrative divisions

Niška Banja - Spa, is one of the five urban municipalities of the City. The city of Niš consists of five municipalities. The first four municipalities are located in the urban area of Niš, while Niška Banja is a suburban municipality. Before 2002, the city of Niš had only two municipalities, one of them named "Niš" and another named "Niška Banja". Municipalities of Niš include further neighborhoods:
Medijana	Palilula, Niš	Pantelej	Crveni Krst	Niška Banja
Center	Palilula	Pantelej	Crveni Krst	Niška Banja
Marger	Staro Groblje	Jagodin Mala (partly)	Beograd Mala	nas. Nikola Tesla (broj 6)
Trg Kralja Aleksandra	Crni put	Durlan	Jagodin Mala (partly)	Jelašnica
Kičevo	Bubanj	Komren (partly)	Komren (mostly)	Sićevo
Čair	Ledena Stena	Čalije	Šljaka	Ostrovica
Bulevar Nemanjića	Suvi Do	Somborska	Medosevac	Prva Kutina
Bulevar Djindjica	Apelovac	Vrežina		Radikina Bara
Medijana	Kovanluk			Prosek
Trošarina	Tutunović Podrum			Čukljenik
Duvanište	Kalač Brdo	Kurča Greda		Donja i gornja Studena
Brzi Brod	Gabrovačka reka			Kurča Greda

Sport

Čair Sports Center hosted the group stage of 2012 European Men's Handball Championship.

Čair Stadium under construction.

The city of Niš is home to numerous sport clubs including Železničar Niš, Mašinac, OFK Niš, Jastrebac Proleter, Palilulac, Sinđelić Niš and Radnički Niš.

The biggest stadium in Niš is the Stadion Čair, which is currently undergoing renovations and will have a total seating-capacity of 18,151 when renovations are completed. The stadium is part of the Čair Sports Complex that also includes an indoor swimming pool and an indoor arena. Niš was one of four towns which hosting the 2012 European Men's Handball Championship.

Famous or notable citizens

The people listed below were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with the city of Niš, and its surrounding metropolitan area.

Statue of Stevan Sremac, hunter Kalča and Kalča's dog Čapa.

Nikola Uzunović (1873 – 1954) Prime Minister of Yugoslavia from April 1926 to April 1927.

Ivan Miljković, 2011 European Championship MVP

Nikola Karabatić, French handball player.

• Constantine I, the great, (Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus) – ruled 306 to 337
• Constantius III, (Flavius Constantius) – ruled 421
• Justin I, (Flavius Iustinus) – ruled 518 to 527
• Stevan Sinđelić, war leader (vojvoda), died in 1809 in the Battle of Čegar.
• Stevan Sremac (1855–1906), writer, came to Niš shortly after its liberation from the Turkish rule; wrote about life in old Niš (Ivkova slava, Zona Zamfirova).
• Nikola Uzunović, (b. 1873), prime minister of Kingdom of Yugoslavia from 1926 to 1927.
• Dobrica Milutinović (1880–1956), actor.
• Jovanka Bončić-Katerinić (1887–1966), architect. She graduated on the Darmstadt University of Technology on 18 July 1913 and became the first woman architect with a degree engineer in Germany.
• Dragiša Cvetković (1893–1969), prime minister of Kingdom of Yugoslavia from 1939 to 1941.
• Dušan Radović (1922–1984), journalist and writer.
• Nadja Regin, (b. 1931), actress.
• Dragan Andrejevic , (b. 1949), civil engineer.
• Predrag Antonijević, (b. 1959), film director.
• Branko Miljković (1934–1961), poet.
• Šaban Bajramović (1936–2008), Romani singer and composer.
• Kornelije Kovač (b. 1942), rock musician and composer.
• Tanasije Uzunović (b. 1942), actor.
• Goran Paskaljević (b. 1947), movie director; raised by his grandparents in Niš 1949-1963, after the divorce of his parents.
• Dragan Pantelić (b. 1951), former football goalkeeper, president of Radnički Niš.
• Predrag Miletić (b. 1952), actor.
• Zoran Živković (b. 1954), handball player and coach.
• Aki Rahimovski (b. 1954), rock musician.
• Nenad Milosavljević (b. 1954), rock musician.
• Biljana Krstić (b. 1959), rock and traditional music singer and songwriter.
• Zoran Živković (b. 1960), politician, a former Prime Minister of Serbia.
• Zoran Ćirić (b. 1962), writer.
• Boban Ilić (b. 1963), sculptor
• Aleksandar Šoštar (b. 1964), water polo goalkeeper.
• Dragan Stojković (b. 1965), football player.
• Lidija Mihajlović (b. 1968), shooting champion.
• Kokan Mladenović (b. 1970), theater director.
• Ivan Miljković (b. 1979), volleyball player.
• Nikola Karabatić (b. 1984), handball player.
• Nemanja Radulović (b. 1985), violinist.
• Ilija Fonlamov Francisković (b. 1996), painter born in Niš
• Goran Šepa, rock musician
• Georgios Sinas, Austrian banker of Greek and Vlah roots.

Local media

Online newspaper

• Narodne novine "Народне новине" (Serbian)
• Južne vesti] (Southern news) (Serbian)

Online radio stations

• Internet.Radio.Magazin Super radio (Serbian)

Radio stations

• Baltazar radio (90.5) (renamed to Radio Jat (90.5))
• Banker radio (98.3)
• City radio (99.9)
• Radio Nišava (104.0) (in Romany)
• Radio Belle Amie (95.6)
• Radio Belle Amie Folk Kanal (98.7/100.7)
• Radio Seven (88.8)

TV stations

• Banker TV
• sr
• TV 5 (closed)
• BelleAmie TV
• TV Nais
• RTV Nišava (in Romany)
• Čair (in Romany)
• NTV Media Niš
• Art TV
• Puls TV
• Kopernikus Televizija

Transportation

Railway station in Niš.

Niš Constantine the Great Airport.

Niš Bus Station in the evening.

Niš is strategically located between the Morava river valley in North and the Vardar river valley in the south, on the main route between Greece and Central Europe. In the Niš area, this major transportation and communication route is linked with the natural corridor formed by the Nišava river valley, which runs towards East in the direction of Sofia and Istanbul.

Historically, because of its location, the city had always great importance in the region. The first to take advantage of it was the Roman Empire that built the important road Via Militaris, linking the city with Singidunum (current Belgrade) to the North and Constantinople (current Istanbul) to the South-East.

Nowadays, the city is connected by the highway E75 with Belgrade and Central Europe in north, and Skopje, Thessaloniki and Athens in the south. The road E80 connects Niš with Sofia, Istanbul towards the Middle East, and Pristina, Montenegro and the Adriatic Sea to the West. The road E771 connects the city with Zaječar, Kladovo and Drobeta-Turnu Severin in Romania.

The city is also a major regional railway junction linking Serbia to Sofia and Istambul.

The Niš Constantine the Great airport is the second most important airport in Serbia. The first airfield was built in 1910.

The city public transportation consists nowadays by 13 bus lines. A tram system existed in Niš between 1930 and 1958. Niš Bus Station is the city's largest and main bus station which offers both local urban and intercity transport to international destinations. The largest intercity bus carrier based in the city is Niš-Ekspres, which operates to various cities and villages in Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Serbia

Twin towns — Sister cities

Niš is twinned with the following cities, according to their City Hall website:

Kassandra, Greece Sparta, Greece Glyfada, Greece Maroussi, Greece Alimos, Greece Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Košice, Slovakia Kursk, Russia Saltdal, Norway Bad Homburg, Germany Kraków, Poland

Other forms of cooperation and city friendship

Vienna, Austria Graz, Austria Barcelona, Spain Columbus, Ohio, USA

External links

• Official website
• Regional Chamber of Economy Niš Official Website
• Nis travel guide from Wikivoyage