The earliest records of Vrsac date
from the beginning of the 15 th century when the Serbs under despot Djuradj
Brankovic settled in these regions. Their settlementa were located beneath
the hill Kula, called Podvrsac. This region was the cross-road of many
routes from south - the Vardar-Morava valley to Transilvania and Pont,
and further on to Ukrainian steppes, and from north toward the Mediterranean
south.
In about twenty millennia of living
on this region around the Vrsac mountains, the human settlements changed
subject to a degree of development of the social community and aggressiveness
of new migrations. The settlements were first located nearby water, the
coastlines of former lakes, in younger paleolith and neolit, but already
in the beginning of bronze and iron age they withdrew on more safe places,
the hillsides. A great number of archeological finds in the Vrsac district
(over 130) starting from younger paleolit to the end of migration of the
nations speak about the long continuity of life on these areas.
The Vrsac grape-growing is very
old, some archeological finds evidence a possibility that vineyards existed
here in the time of Roman domination over this part of Banat, at the beginning
of the 2and century A.D. In 1494 the court purchasing officer of the Hungarian
King Ladislav the Second used to pay for a barrel of Vrsac wine 10.5 golden
guldens. In 1875 the Vrsac vine-growing regions had the largest surface
areas under vineyards in one complex, in the whole Europe. That was a record
year because over one million of wine barrels were prodused. Wine was drunk
"bu the hour". For one hour of wine drinking, 10 dinars was paid. In 1804
Vrsac was awerded a Charter with marketing regulations and in 1817 a Privilege
by which it became a free privileged king's town.
In 1858 a railway was built linking
the town the larges European business centers.
The oldest sacral structure is
the Shapel of St. Vross. its contruction started in 1720 and was completed
in 1728. Its former appearance is only partially preserved.
The Baroque Chapel of St. Rok was
constructed in 1739 by the German population of Vrsac as a symbol of gratitude
for cessation of plague.
The third by age among the churches
of Vrsac is the "Ascension" or a "Small Church" built between 1761 and
1766, as the endowment of a merchant. The Church has a wealthy carved iconostasis
painted in 1809.
The Romanian Church of St. Spas
("the Holy Savior") was constructed between 1911 and 1913, and mainly inspired
by the Byzantine sacral architecture.
At the site of today's Serbian
Orthodox Church dedicated to St. Nicholas, there was, until 1783, a smaller
church dedicated to the same saint, but erected in 1728. Today's
Serbian Orthodox Church was consecrated in 1785 by the bishop Vicentije
Popovic. The works in its decoration were completed during the bishop Josif
Jovanovic Sakabenda, in 1805. Many well-know painters worked for the large
church whose works are still accommodated in it - 40 kissing icons by Nikola
Neskovic, iconostasion the paintings by Simeon Jaksic, and two oil paintings
by Paja Jovanovic.
The Bishop's Palace (Vladicanski
dvor) - the residence of the Banat episcopes, was erected by the Bishop
Jovan Djordjevic with his own resources who returned in 1750 the Episcopal
seat from Caransebesh to Vrsac. Building of the palace was carried out
according to the design of an unknown Prussian architect and lasted from
1750 to 1760, though it underwent considerable restorations. In the ground
floor of the eastern angle of the building there is a Chapel dedicated
to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gavrilo, with an iconostasis painted
by Nikola Neskovic, one of the greatest painters of the Serbian Baroque.
In addition to Neskovic's iconostasis, the Palace assommodates an important
gallery of portraits of the Vrsac episcopes and a rich treasury of church
items, icons, priests' garments and valuable manuscript books.
The St. Gerhard Church was built
from 1860 to 1863, resting in details on the medieval Gothic culture. The
building is composed as a three-nave basilica with a stronglu developed
transe-t on the east which gives to foundation the on portals, windows,
rosettes, counterforts and particularly on belfries. Edward Mayer, the
academic sculptor of Budapest has taken part in this restoration, and carved
for the front, by the statue of the Christ, St. Stephan and St. Gerhard,
a deep relief representing the Virgin Mary, blessing St. King Stephan who
is giving her Hungary as a present. The Church interior is richly aquipped
with oaktree furniture, decorated wall and aktar painted compositions,
stained glass windows and sculptures. The altar painting of St. Gerhard
by Peter Johan Geiger, the profesor of the Viena Academy should be also
mentioned.
Out of the former complex of the
interconnected town hall buildings enclosing one of the old city
center blocks, only three buildings were preserved. "Lotic's house" from
the second half of the 18th century, so-called "Andjelkovic house" from
the same period and so-called "Gothic mansion" constructed in 1860.
The old "Apothecary building on
the stairs" was constructed in the second half of the 18th century for
the needs of the Vrsac first apothecary in the classic style. Since 16th
February, 1784, in the same building under the name "With the Savior",
the apothecary had been operating until 1971 when it was converted into
the Museum.
The Vrsac National Museum was founded
in 1882, on the pccasion of a rich discovery of Roman coins. Its foundation
was supported by the private collections, antique lovers ehose collections
formed the basic and essential funds of the Museum. Since 1905 it remained
in the same building where it is today (A. Rankovic No. 19) and since 1903
Ethnologic, Natural and Artistic collections have been formed in addition
to the existing Archeological and Numismatic Collections. Today, the Museum
possesses 250,000 artifacts.
The City Library was founded by
the end of 1886, by the decision of the Magistrate, and was open for public
in 1887. It keeps in its funds very precious and old books.
The first professional theaterwas
founded in 1820 under the name "The regional Sterija Theatar" and since
1945 it has been working continuously.