Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2019/City&Venue
Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2019
Belgrade, Serbia, 11–13 October
Broaden Your Capacity!
Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe and the only one built on the confluence of two rivers. The capital of Serbia is known as the city that never sleeps. Below you can find some information about the city and its top attractions, about the venue as well as about the hotel and its neighbourhood.
Information about travelling to Belgrade and its public transportation system can be found here.
The city of Belgrade
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Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and the crossroads of the Pannonian Plain and the Balkans. The urban area of the City of Belgrade has a population of 1.23 million, while nearly 1.7 million people live within its administrative limits. The official name of Belgrade is: Beograd (Бeоград), from Beo that in Serbian means white and Grad means city. The Belgrade territory cover an area of 322.268 ha (inner-city area covers 35.996 ha), and it is administratively divided into 17 municipalities. Belgrade has the status of a separate territorial unit in Serbia, having its own autonomous city government.
The oldest archaeological artefacts from Belgrade area date back to the fifth millenium B.C. The members of a Celtic tribe founded Singidunum in the III century B.C., while the first record of the name Belgrade dates back to 878 A.D. During its long and tumultuous history, Belgrade has been conquered by 40 armies, and 38 times it has been raised up from the ashes.
Geography and Climate
editBelgrade's surroundings consist of two different natural systems: On the north, the Pannonian depression, covered with wheat and corn, and Šumadija, with orchards and vineyards, south of the rivers Sava and Danube. The highest relief forms in Šumadija hillside are Kosmaj (628 m) and Avala (511 m). The Danube flows through 60 km of Belgrade area, from Stari Banovci to Grocka, while the Sava covers 30 km from Obrenovac to its intake. The length of river banks of Belgrade is 200 km. There are 16 river islands in that area, and the best known of them are Ada Ciganlija, Veliko ratno ostrvo and Gročanska ada.
Belgrade has a moderate continental climate, with four seasons. The average annual air temperature is 11.70C. The characteristic of Belgrade climate is also Košava - the southeast-east wind, which brings clear and dry weather. It mostly blows in autumn and winter, in 2-3 days intervals. The average annual rainfall on Belgrade and its surroundings is 669,5 mm. The rainiest months are May and June. Mean atmospheric pressure in Belgrade is 1,001 millibars and mean relative humidity is 69.5%.
Culture and Art
editBelgrade is the capital of Serbian culture, education and science. It is home to the highest concentration of nationally important science and art institutions: the Serbian Academy of Science and Art, founded in 1886 as the Serbian Royal Academy; the National Library of Serbia, founded in 1832; the National Museum, founded in 1841 and the National Theatre, founded in 1869. The city is also home to Belgrade University, founded in 1869 as the High School, as well as the Arts University.
The City of Belgrade is the founder of 30 cultural institutions (12 theatres, 8 institutions for protection of cultural values, 4 libraries, 6 cultural centers and galleries) and 11 cultural events (FEST, BITEF, BEMUS, BELEF, International Competition of Music Youth, Festival of Documentary and Short film, October Salon, Joy of Europe, Belgrade Book Fair, Sopot Film Festival, Belgrade Jazz Festival), and also the supporter of 69 events in the field of culture performed in Belgrade.[1]
The Most Popular Attractions in Belgrade
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- Belgrade Fortress
- Skadarlija
- Ada Ciganlija
- Temple of Saint Sava
- Knez Mihailova Street
- St. Mark's Church
- Nikola Tesla Museum
- Gardoš Tower
- Museum of Yugoslavia and the House of Flowers
- Avala Tower
- Republic Square including the National Museum and the National Theatre.
- House of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia
- Nikola Pašić Square
- Zamunski Kej
- Princess Ljubica's Residence
- St. Michael's Cathedral
- ? (bistro)
- Great War Island
Venue
editAccommodation, venue and catering will be provided at the four-star Hotel M. Hotel M is the first officially licensed convention hotel in Belgrade. It is located in a peaceful part of Belgrade, surrounded by greenery of the Banjica park. It is 25 minutes from the airport by taxi. Also, it is 15 minutes from the city center by car and 20 minutes by the city transport (bus lines 33, 47 and 48 and tram lines 9 and 10). The meeting will be held in the congress halls Atrium, Forum and Belgrade. Halls Atrium (with capacity of 180 seats) and Forum (with capacity of 90 seats) are interconnected with the Foyer and Ambient Room. They are suitable for people with physical disabilities. Congress hall Belgrade has a capacity of 100 people. All halls have basic technical equipment (projectors, laptops, flipchart, sound system). The hotel will provide a special high-speed internet connection for CEEM participants.
Accommodation
editThe participants will be hosted in comfortable twin rooms. Few single rooms are reserved for participants who have difficulties in sharing rooms with other people. Scholarship grant includes four nights. Breakfast is included in the accommodation costs.
Catering
editCatering during the conference days includes lunch, dinner (except for Saturday when we’ll have dinner in the city center) and two coffee breaks. Lunch is on the buffet system. Hotel restaurant confirmed that the menu can contain options for vegetarians, vegans and people allergic to gluten and lactose.
Social Event
editOn Saturday evening, a city tour will be organized for the guests of the conference. They will have the opportunity to see the beauty and history of Belgrade with the help of a tourist guide. After the tour, the dinner is planned in a restaurant located in Skadarlija. Skadarlija is the main bohemian quarter and the second most visited tourist attraction in Belgrade famous for its archaic urban organization and architecture. The transport will be organized by rented bus.