Regional heritage and natural landmarks highlighted in Serbia and Croatia

Various cultural and natural heritage sites in Serbia and Croatia are highlighting unique regional identities. In Vršac, Serbia, the City Museum has opened an exhibition titled ‘Ornament naš nasušni – o komunikaciji i značenju’. The exhibit explores how traditional ornaments serve as a visual language and a testament to the multi-ethnic identity of the Banat region, bridging historical ethnographic collections with contemporary artistic practices.

In Subotica, Serbia, the Museum of Crowns preserves a century-old history of the Dužijanca tradition. The collection features straw crowns, some dating back to 1932, which were originally crafted by Đula Prčić. These artifacts, once kept in private homes, now serve as an archive of local Bunjevac Croatian traditions.

In Croatia, Vransko jezero, the largest cryptodepression in the country, remains a significant natural resource on the island of Cres. The lake is a vital source of fresh water, maintained by a delicate hydrological balance that prevents saltwater intrusion. Local legends suggest that bells can be heard from the lake's depths during storms, a phenomenon attributed to folklore regarding sunken structures.