Zaječar

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title: "Zaječar" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["zaječar", "timok-valley", "municipalities-and-cities-of-southern-and-eastern-serbia", "populated-places-in-zaječar-district"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaječar" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameZaječar
native_namesr-Cyrl
native_name_langsr
official_nameCity of Zaječar
settlement_typeCity
image_shieldGrb Zaječara.png
image_skyline{{multiple image
borderinfobox
perrow1/2/2/2/2
total_width260
aligncenter
caption_aligncenter
image1Zgrada Skupštine Opštine Zaječar.jpg
caption1Zaječar City Hall
image2Зграда Музеја у Зајечару 01.jpg
caption2
image3Felix Romuliana 5.jpg
caption3Archaeological site Gamzigrad
image4Црква у Зајечару, храм Пресвете Богородице 01.jpg
caption4Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos
image5Зграда Историјског архива у Зајечару 02.jpg
caption5Historical Archive "Timočka krajina" of Zaječar
image6Wiki.Biseri III OŠ Ljuba Nešić Zaječar 734.jpg
caption6Ljuba Nešić elementary school
image7Zaječar spomenik.jpg
caption7Zaječar Central Park
image_mapMunicipalities of Serbia Zaječar.png
map_captionLocation of the city of Zaječar within Serbia
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameSerbia
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1Southern and Eastern Serbia
subdivision_type2District
subdivision_name2Zaječar
parts_typeSettlements
parts_stylepara
p141
leader_titleMayor
leader_partySNS
leader_nameBoško Ničić
area_blank1_titleUrban
area_blank1_km297
area_blank2_titleAdministrative
area_blank2_km21069
area_footnotes
elevation_m134
population_footnotes
population_as_of2022 census
population_blank1_titleUrban
population_blank132448
population_density_blank1_km2auto
population_blank2_titleAdministrative
population_blank248621
timezoneCET
utc_offset+1
timezone_DSTCEST
utc_offset_DST+2
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_code19000
area_code_typeArea code
area_code+381(0)19
blank_nameCar plates
blank_infoZA
website
blank_name_sec1Official languages
blank_info_sec1Serbian
::

| name = Zaječar | native_name = sr-Cyrl | native_name_lang = sr | official_name = City of Zaječar | other_name = | settlement_type = City | image_shield = Grb Zaječara.png | image_flag = | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | perrow = 1/2/2/2/2 | total_width = 260 | align = center | caption_align = center | image1 = Zgrada Skupštine Opštine Zaječar.jpg | caption1 = Zaječar City Hall | image2 = Зграда Музеја у Зајечару 01.jpg | caption2 = | image3 = Felix Romuliana 5.jpg | caption3 = Archaeological site Gamzigrad | image4 = Црква у Зајечару, храм Пресвете Богородице 01.jpg | caption4 = Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos | image5 = Зграда Историјског архива у Зајечару 02.jpg | caption5 = Historical Archive "Timočka krajina" of Zaječar | image6 = Wiki.Biseri III OŠ Ljuba Nešić Zaječar 734.jpg | caption6 = Ljuba Nešić elementary school | image7 = Zaječar spomenik.jpg | caption7 = Zaječar Central Park | image_caption = | image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Zaječar.png | map_caption = Location of the city of Zaječar within Serbia | mapsize = | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Serbia | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Southern and Eastern Serbia | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Zaječar | parts_type = Settlements | parts_style = para | p1 = 41 | leader_title = Mayor | leader_party = SNS | leader_name = Boško Ničić | area_blank1_title = Urban | area_blank1_km2 = 97 | area_blank2_title = Administrative | area_blank2_km2 = 1069 | area_footnotes = | elevation_m = 134 | population_footnotes = | population_as_of = 2022 census | population_blank1_title = Urban | population_blank1 = 32448 | population_density_blank1_km2 = auto | population_blank2_title = Administrative | population_blank2 = 48621 | timezone = CET | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = CEST | utc_offset_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 19000 | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = +381(0)19 | blank_name = Car plates | blank_info = ZA | website = | blank_name_sec1 = Official languages | blank_info_sec1 = Serbian Zaječar (Зајечар, ; or Zăiceari) is a city and the administrative center of the Zaječar District in eastern Serbia. According to the 2022 census, the city administrative area had a population of 48,621 inhabitants. Zaječar is widely known for its rock music festival Gitarijada and for the ZALET festival dedicated to contemporary art. Roman Emperor Galerius was born in Gamzigrad, near Zaječar, where he built the city of Felix Romuliana.

Name

In Serbian, the city is known as Zaječar (Зајечар); in Romanian as Zaicear, Zăiicer (archaic name), Zăiceri, Zăicear or Zăiceari; in Macedonian as Заечар and in Bulgarian as Зайчар (Zaychar).

The origin of the name is from the Torlak dialect name for "hare" = zajec / зајец (in all other Serbian dialects it is zec / зец, while in Bulgarian it is заек / zaek"). It means "the man who breeds and keeps hares".

Folk etymology in Romanian, gives "Zăiicer" as meaning "the Gods are asking (for sacrifice)".

Early renderings of the city in English used Saitchar.

History

Ancient

Three Roman Emperors were born in the area of the modern city of Zaječar: Galerius (r. 293–311), Maximinus (r. 305–312) and Licinius (r. 308–324). ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Romuliana.jpg" caption="Felix Romuliana, now [[Gamzigrad"] ::

The Late Roman fortified palace compound and memorial complex of Gamzigrad-Romuliana at the outskirts of Zaječar was commissioned by Emperor Caius Valerius Galerius Maximianus, in the late 3rd and early 4th century. It was known as Felix Romuliana, named after the Emperor's mother Romula. The site consists of fortifications, the palace in the north-western part of the complex, basilicas, temples, hot baths, memorial complex, and a tetrapylon. The site offers a unique testimony of the Roman building tradition marked by the ideology of the period of the Second Tetrarchy. The group of buildings is also unique in its intertwining of ceremonial and memorial functions. The relation between two spatial ensembles in this site is stressed by the tetrapylon which is placed on the crossroads between the worldly fortification and palace on the one side and the other-worldly mausoleums and consecration monuments on the other.

Middle Ages

Slavs entered the region during the 7th century, and the tribe living in the area was called Timočani. During the Middle Ages, the area of Zaječar was contested between Bulgaria, Hungary and Serbia. During periods in the 9th-11th centuries and the 13th century the territory of modern-day Zaječar was a part of the Bulgarian Empire. It finally fell under Ottoman rule during the first half of the 15th century. The oldest preserved rendering of Zaječar listed in an Ottoman defter dates from 1466. At the time, there were only eight extended families (zadrugas) living there.

Modern

In the First Serb Uprising, Hajduk Veljko Petrović liberated the area from Ottoman rule in 1806. The Ottomans retook the area in 1813 but finally ceded it to Serbia in 1833.

The population of the city and of the area to the south of it was partly Bulgarian, as the Serbian ethnographer Milan Đ. Milićević recognized. The city actively participated in the Serbo-Turkish War of 1876–1878. In 1883, it was partially engulfed in the famous Timok Uprising, a reaction against a governmental order to confiscate peasants' firearms and against a law replacing the militia with a standing army.

Bulgaria occupied Zaječar from 1915 to 1918, during the First World War. From 1929 to 1941, the city was part of the Morava Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The German army occupied Zaječar on 14 April 1941, during the Second World War; it was administered as part of the Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia from 22 April 1941. Zaječar was liberated on 7–8 October 1944 in a joint operation by Yugoslav Partisans and the Red Army.

Geography

Climate

Zaječar has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfa), that's very close to a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfa). |location = Zaječar (1991–2020, extremes 1961–2020) |width = auto |collapsed = y |metric first = y |single line = y |Jan record high C = 23.0 |Feb record high C = 25.1 |Mar record high C = 28.5 |Apr record high C = 34.2 |May record high C = 35.7 |Jun record high C = 40.4 |Jul record high C = 44.7 |Aug record high C = 41.7 |Sep record high C = 38.4 |Oct record high C = 32.3 |Nov record high C = 28.4 |Dec record high C = 24.6 |year record high C = 44.7 |Jan high C = 4.9 |Feb high C = 7.7 |Mar high C = 13.0 |Apr high C = 18.7 |May high C = 23.7 |Jun high C = 27.8 |Jul high C = 30.2 |Aug high C = 30.3 |Sep high C = 24.6 |Oct high C = 17.9 |Nov high C = 10.6 |Dec high C = 5.6 |year high C = 17.9 |Jan mean C = -0.1 |Feb mean C = 1.8 |Mar mean C = 6.4 |Apr mean C = 11.8 |May mean C = 16.8 |Jun mean C = 20.9 |Jul mean C = 22.8 |Aug mean C = 22.1 |Sep mean C = 16.7 |Oct mean C = 10.9 |Nov mean C = 5.6 |Dec mean C = 0.9 |year mean C = 11.4 |Jan low C = -4.1 |Feb low C = -2.9 |Mar low C = 0.4 |Apr low C = 4.8 |May low C = 9.6 |Jun low C = 13.2 |Jul low C = 14.6 |Aug low C = 14.2 |Sep low C = 10.1 |Oct low C = 5.7 |Nov low C = 1.7 |Dec low C = -2.9 |year low C = 5.4 |Jan record low C = -29.0 |Feb record low C = -25.6 |Mar record low C = -17.5 |Apr record low C = -6.5 |May record low C = -1.5 |Jun record low C = 1.8 |Jul record low C = 5.0 |Aug record low C = 4.3 |Sep record low C = -5.0 |Oct record low C = -8.8 |Nov record low C = -17.4 |Dec record low C = -22.2 |year record low C = -29.0 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 43.6 |Feb precipitation mm = 40.4 |Mar precipitation mm = 44.9 |Apr precipitation mm = 49.9 |May precipitation mm = 61.0 |Jun precipitation mm = 60.3 |Jul precipitation mm = 61.8 |Aug precipitation mm = 46.8 |Sep precipitation mm = 45.9 |Oct precipitation mm = 53.5 |Nov precipitation mm = 47.6 |Dec precipitation mm = 54.7 |year precipitation mm = 610.4 |Jan humidity = 79.6 |Feb humidity = 75.3 |Mar humidity = 69.6 |Apr humidity = 68.2 |May humidity = 69.9 |Jun humidity = 68.0 |Jul humidity = 64.4 |Aug humidity = 65.8 |Sep humidity = 71.1 |Oct humidity = 78.0 |Nov humidity = 81.3 |Dec humidity = 81.6 |year humidity = 72.7 |unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm |Jan precipitation days = 11.2 |Feb precipitation days = 9.9 |Mar precipitation days = 11.1 |Apr precipitation days = 11.5 |May precipitation days = 12.6 |Jun precipitation days = 9.9 |Jul precipitation days = 8.3 |Aug precipitation days = 6.7 |Sep precipitation days = 8.7 |Oct precipitation days = 9.6 |Nov precipitation days = 10.7 |Dec precipitation days = 11.2 |year precipitation days = 121.4 |Jan snow days = 7.3 |Feb snow days = 5.6 |Mar snow days = 3.7 |Apr snow days = 0.3 |May snow days = 0.0 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Sep snow days = 0.0 |Oct snow days = 0.2 |Nov snow days = 2.2 |Dec snow days = 5.3 |year snow days = 24.6 |Jan sun = 70.3 |Feb sun = 90.8 |Mar sun = 133.3 |Apr sun = 167.4 |May sun = 219.2 |Jun sun = 250.0 |Jul sun = 286.3 |Aug sun = 262.4 |Sep sun = 176.6 |Oct sun = 121.3 |Nov sun = 64.5 |Dec sun = 57.5 |year sun = 1899.6 |source 1 = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia{{cite web | url = https://www.hidmet.gov.rs/ciril/meteorologija/stanica_sr_zajecar.php | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220421012959/https://www.hidmet.gov.rs/ciril/meteorologija/stanica_sr_zajecar.php | archive-date = 21 April 2022 | title= Monthly and annual means, maximum and minimum values of meteorological elements for the period 1991–2020 | language = sr | publisher = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia | access-date = 20 April 2022}}{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210520231218/http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/eng/meteorologija/stanica_sr.php?moss_id=13392 | archive-date = 20 May 2021 | url = http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/eng/meteorologija/stanica_sr.php?moss_id=13392 | title= Monthly and annual means, maximum and minimum values of meteorological elements for the period 1981-2010 | language = sr | publisher = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia | access-date = February 25, 2017}} |date=November 2015

Settlements

Aside from the urban area of Zaječar, the city administrative area includes the following settlements:

Demographics

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Zajecar_Spomenik.jpg" caption="Park and monument"] ::

|type = |percentages = pagr |1948|62887 |1953|64907 |1961|68616 |1971|73147 |1981|76681 |1991|72763 |2002|65969 |2011|59461 |2022|47991 | source =

According to the 2022 census, the City of Zaječar has a population of 47,991 inhabitants, while the urban area has 32,448 inhabitants. The city has an urban area of over 97 km2.

Ethnic groups

The ethnic composition of the city: ::data[format=table]

Ethnic groupPopulation%
Serbs41,97886.26%
Vlachs1,4764.80%
Romani6371.27%
Romanians1920.34%
Bulgarians1320.30%
Macedonians910.25%
Montenegrins440.16%
Yugoslavs1330.15%
Croats490.12%
Albanians270.07%
Muslims220.05%
Gorani260.05%
Slovenians100.04%
Others3,1166.14%
Total47,991
::

Economy

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2022): ::data[format=table]

ActivityTotal
Agriculture, forestry and fishing217
Mining and quarrying440
Manufacturing1,732
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply222
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities231
Construction441
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles2,122
Transportation and storage643
Accommodation and food services442
Information and communication160
Financial and insurance activities201
Real estate activities13
Professional, scientific and technical activities377
Administrative and support service activities263
Public administration and defense; compulsory social security1,126
Education963
Human health and social work activities1,350
Arts, entertainment and recreation197
Other service activities246
Individual agricultural workers411
Total11,798
::

Society and culture

Sport

Zaječar hosted 2006 Serbian triathlon championship. The city has two sport-recreation centers, "Popova plaža" and "SRC Kraljevica" home of ŽRK Zaječar, while a third, "Kotlujevac", is under reconstruction.

Theatre

Zaječar is home to the "Zoran Radmilović" theatre built 2 February 1947 under the name of the "Oblasno narodno pozorište". The first play ever performed in the new theatre was "Žita cvetaju". The theatre was renamed during its 45th (1992) anniversary as "Zoran Radmilović" to celebrate a famous and beloved actor who was born there. Every year, this theatre is home to the "Dani Zorana Radmilovića" art festival.

ZA*73T

The Festival of Contemporary Art ZALET (stylised as ZA*73T) organizes manifestations, such as exhibitions, concerts, literary evenings and experimental theater.

Gitarijada

Gitarijada (Serbian Cyrillic: Гитаријада, trans. Guitar fest) is a musical festival held during the summer in order to promote demo bands. Held since 1969, Gitarijada is one of the longest-lasting festivals in Serbia and in South Eastern Europe. The festival started its life in Zaječar during 1970. Some of notable bands from Serbia such as Bjesovi & Galija were winners in the Gitarijada competition during the '80s and '90s. The programme of the Gitarijada festival has several parts. Demo battles as a main item, with performances of artists and art exhibitions involving themes like rock, blues, metal and similar ones.

Many local bands from Zaječar have participated in past events:

Zlatni Prsti, Visoko Mišljenje, Zoster, Crna Ruža, Civili, Blood Eruption, Priručnik Janga Trovača, Hate-tech, Brain Damage, Plood , Mind Reflection, VIS Novi Dan, Huti Ota Tre...

Education

Elementary schools

  • OŠ "Desanka Maksimović"
  • OŠ "Ljuba Nešić"
  • OŠ "Djura Jakšić"
  • OŠ "Ljubica Radosavljević Nada"
  • OŠ "Hajduk Veljko"
  • OŠ "Vladislav Petković Dis"
  • OŠ "Vuk Karadžić"
  • OŠ "Jeremija Ilić Jegor"
  • OŠ "Dositej Obradović"
  • OŠ "15.maj"
  • OŠ "Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj"

High schools

  • Gymnasium (since 1836)
  • Medical Assistant/Nurse high school
  • Technical high school
  • Business Assistant and Accountancy high school
  • Machine technician high school
  • Secondary Music School

University education

The city is the seat of the Megatrend University Faculty of Management; Business School of Management.

Twin cities

Zaječar is twinned with:

Notable people

The people listed below were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with the city of Zaječar area.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Romuliana_Galerius_head_(cropped).jpg" caption="Narodni muzej Zaječar}} in Zaječar"] ::

References

;References

;Sources

References

  1. {{Serbian municipalities 2006
  2. {{Serbian census 2022
  3. "Статут Града Зајечара". City of Zaječar.
  4. urednik. (2023-09-18). "FELIX ROMULIANA – GAMZIGRAD".
  5. "Euratlas Periodis Web - Map of Europe in Year 900".
  6. (29 December 1991). "The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century". University of Michigan Press.
  7. ''The Late Medieval Balkans'', p. 48
  8. ''The Late Medieval Balkans'', p. 54
  9. "Istorija".
  10. "2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia". Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia.
  11. "ETHNICITY Data by municipalities and cities". Statistical Office of Serbia.
  12. "MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2023.". [[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]].
  13. "Zajecar - Arhiva". Zoran Radmilovic.

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zaječartimok-valleymunicipalities-and-cities-of-southern-and-eastern-serbiapopulated-places-in-zaječar-district