Karadjordjevic dynasty vineyards on the Oplenac hill in Serbia Print

This photo was taken during my visit to Topola, a small town in the heart of Serbia in the region Sumadija. It was in autumn one November day in the late afternoon. This is a view of the vineyards of the Karadjordjevic family and the unforgettable Serbian landscape with a valley and mountains in the distance. The town of Topola itself takes an important place in Serbian history in connection with the famous Serbian dynasty Karadjordjevic. On the hill Oplenac, near the town, there are dynasty estates with old buildings that are now cultural landmarks, such as the house of King Peter the First Karadjordjevic, which has been turned into a museum, and the famous Church of St. George where most members of the dynasty are buried. At the foot of the hill, in the town itself, is the house of Karadjordje Petrovic the ancestor of the dynasty who was the leader of Serbia and the leader of the first Serbian rebellion against Turkish oppression. That house, built in the old Serbian style, has also been turned into a museum. All this attracts a number of tourists who come here at any time of the year. Topola and Oplenac surroundings have always been known as a quality vine-growing and wine-producing region. A suitable moderate continental climate with regular temperature fluctuation and specific terrain configuration, mostly exposed to the east and south, influenced the earliest local population to grow the vine. The Ancient Romans named a neighboring village Vincea, after quality wine made of very fragrant and tasty local grapes. The first records on vine-growing in this region date back to 1432 as a travel book written by Bertrand de la Broquière, a Burgundian pilgrim and a clerk in the court of Philip III the Good. Grapes and wine are still a symbol of this region’s villages, therefore it proudly carries the title of the capital of Serbian vines. One November day in Sumadija, Central Serbia. From the Autumn colors collection.