Apatin (, , ) is a town and municipality located in the West Bačka District of the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. As of 2022 census, the population of the town is 14,613, while the municipality has 23,155 inhabitants.

Name

In Serbian, the town is known as Apatin (Апатин), while the same name is also used in Romanian, Croatian (Šokac), and Hungarian. In German it was called Abthausen. According to some claims, the name Apatin is derived from the old form Opaty, by which the town was first mentioned in the 11th century.

Geography

The Municipality of Apatin is located on the left bank of the Danube river between the municipalities of Sombor (to the northeast) and Odžaci (to the southeast).

Apatin is situated in the north-western part of the spacious plain in Bačka, on the left side of the Danube. It is in the autonomous province of Vojvodina.

History

The favourable geographic position, proximity to the Danube, and natural wealth of this area (fruitful ground, woods next to the river, abundance of fish in swampy regions and backwaters, and game in woods) attracted people through all ages and inspired them to settle here. Because of these reasons, even in pre-historic times, cultures such as the Sarmatians, the Celts, the Goths and many others were replacing each other within this region, one by one.

In the first century, during the Roman conquest, the settlement was turned into a military trench with fortifications, and played an important role in the defense of the Pannonia province. Subsequently, the area came under control of the Huns, Gepids and Avars. In the sixth century the Slavs settled, and in the ninth century, the area was included into the Bulgarian Empire. Bulgarian duke Salan who had residence in Titel ruled over region of Bačka. In the tenth century the Hungarians came to Central Europe, thereby establishing a state, which was populated by both, Hungarians and Slavs.

The first mentioning of Apatin in any written script was in the year 1011, by the Abbey of Kalocsa Bishopric. According to other source, Apatin was firstly mentioned in 1407. During this time, settlement was part of the Bodrogiensis County within the medieval Kingdom of Hungary.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the area became feudalistic, and in exchange for lands, the vassals would need to complete military service to the lord of the property. Many fishermen, hunters, and millers then began to settle down in this area.

In 1417, Apatin is mentioned as a property of Stefan Lazarević, who was crowned as the Despot of Serbia in 1402. In 1526-1527 it belonged to the short-lived Serb state of Emperor Jovan Nenad, and soon after (in 1541) this area became part of the Ottoman Empire. During the Ottoman administration Apatin was part of the Sanjak of Segedin and was mainly populated by ethnic Serbs.

In the end of the 17th century it became part of the Habsburg monarchy. Many of the refugees during the massive migration of Serbs led by Arsenije Čarnojević in 1690, came to Apatin, Sombor and Prigrevica, thus the Serb population in this area increased. After prison camps were dissolved (in 1948), most of the remaining German population left Yugoslavia in subsequent decades, mainly because of economic reasons. After the war, Apatin was populated by (mainly Serb) settlers from other parts of Yugoslavia, largely from Lika. Population censuses conducted after World War II recorded Serbs as the largest ethnic group in the town.

Between 1992 and 2003, Apatin was part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, between 2003 and 2006 part of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, and since 2006 it is part of an independent Serbia.

Inhabited places

right|thumb|250px|Map of Apatin municipality

Apatin municipality includes the city of Apatin and the following villages:

  • Kupusina
  • Prigrevica
  • Svilojevo
  • Sonta

Demographics

According to the last official census done in 2011, the municipality of Apatin has 28,929 inhabitants.

Ethnic groups in the municipality

As many as 24 ethnic groups live in the Apatin municipality, including:

  • Serbs = 18,164 (62.79%)
  • Hungarians = 3,102 (10.72%)
  • Croats = 3,015 (10.42%)
  • Romanians = 1,148 (3.97%)
  • Romani = 654 (2.26%)
  • Others (including Montenegrins, Macedonians, Bosniaks, Germans, Slovaks, etc.).

Settlements by ethnic majority

Settlements with a Serb ethnic majority are Apatin and Prigrevica. The settlement with a Croat/Šokac ethnic majority is Sonta. Settlements with Hungarian ethnic majority are Kupusina and Svilojevo.

Ethnic groups in the town

  • Serbs = 13,990 (72.41%)
  • Romanians = 967 (5.01%)
  • Hungarians = 848 (4.39%)
  • Croats = 658 (3.41%)
  • Yugoslavs = 612 (3.17%)
  • Roma = 369 (1.91%)
  • Germans = 142 (0.74%)
  • Montenegrins = 100 (0.52%)
  • Others.

Spa

Near the city of Apatin lies the Junaković spa. It is a modern and well-equipped rehabilitation and recreation centre with sports fields, outdoor pools, indoor therapy, and saunas.

Buildings

Major buildings in Apatin include the new Orthodox Christian cathedral, the Catholic church of The Assumption of Mary (built in the 18th century), the Apatin city hall, and the Speiser mausoleum.

Economy

As of September 2017, Apatin has one of 14 free economic zones established in Serbia. It covers 160 hectares of ground next to river Danube, and forms so called "Free Port Apatin" ().

The largest companies in Apatin today are the Apatin Brewery, "Jedinstvo" (agricultural company) and "Apatin Shipyard" (formerly known as Boris Kidrič Shipyard).

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"

|-

! Activity

! Total

|-

|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|559

|-

|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|1

|-

|Manufacturing||align="right"|1,613

|-

|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|19

|-

|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|60

|-

|Construction||align="right"|177

|-

|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|799

|-

|Transportation and storage||align="right"|338

|-

|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|227

|-

|Information and communication||align="right"|22

|-

|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|75

|-

|Real estate activities||align="right"|11

|-

|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|169

|-

|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|223

|-

|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|321

|-

|Education||align="right"|416

|-

|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|396

|-

|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|63

|-

|Other service activities||align="right"|101

|-

|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|220

|- class="sortbottom"

|Total||align="right"|5,812

|}

Tourist attraction

Apatin has popular tourist location, and because of its proximity to the Danube river and the forests, it is gathering place for fishermen and hunters. There is also an annual gathering called ' (Apatin Fishermen Nights), which has taken place for the last forty some years. ' usually starts on July 1, and lasts five or seven days.

Sport

Apatin has a rich history in sports. Željko Rebrača is by far the most famous athlete from this area, but in the past, Apatin has had athletes represent Yugoslavia (and now Serbia) on the international stage. Today, some of the well known professional sports clubs are:

  • OFK Mladost - member of the Serbia First League Soccer Association. competing in the 4th tier
  • RK Apatin - member of the Serbia Second League Handball Association

Notable natives and residents

  • Paul Abraham, composer of Jewish-Hungarian descent
  • Frank Dancevic, Serbian-Canadian tennis player whose father hails from Apatin
  • Nenad Medić, poker player
  • Gyula Pártos, Hungarian architect
  • Lajos Szűcs, Hungarian footballer
  • Željko Rebrača, basketball player
  • Ervin Šinko, writer of Croatian–Hungarian descent

<gallery>

<!-- Deleted image removed: File:Pivara2.jpg|Apatin Brewery -->

<!-- Deleted image removed: File:Spa2.jpg|Panoramic view of the Spa Junaković -->

<!-- Deleted image removed: File:Spa3.jpg|Interior of the Spa Junaković -->

<!-- Deleted image removed: File:Spa1.jpg|Outdoor Pools of the Spa Junaković -->

File:Kotlic.jpg|Apatin's fishermen nights (main event pictured, fish soup contest)

<!-- Deleted image removed: File:Opst.jpg|Apatin Town Hall -->

File:Put ka Kupisinskoj cardi.jpg|Apatin

File:Skretanje za Kuusinsku cardu.jpg|Apatin

File:Spust do Kupusinske carde.jpg|Apatin

File:Apatin.jpg|Apatin

File:Zapoceti hotel u parku Apatina.jpg|Apatin

File:Labudovi pored pristana Apatin.jpg|Apatin, Danube

File:Spomenik Nikoli Tesli.jpg|Apatin

File:Pijaca Apatin.jpg|Apatin

File:Park Apatin.jpg|Apatin

File:Centar Apatin.jpg|Apatin česma

File:Spomenik na groblju u Apatinu.jpg|Apatin

File:Rode na spomeniku na groblju u Apatinu.jpg|Apatin

</gallery>

See also

  • List of places in Serbia
  • Municipalities of Serbia
  • West Bačka District

References

Further reading

  • Rajić, Rade, and Dragan Radonić. Apatin i despot Stefan Lazarević. Opštinski kulturni centar, 2002.
  • Apatin vesti
  • www.soapatin.org
  • Apatin Forum
  • Castle Fernbach, Apatin