Bor, Serbia

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Other places Template:AI-generated Template:Infobox settlement

Bor (Template:Lang-sr-Cyrl; Template:Langx) is a city and the administrative center of the Bor District in eastern Serbia. According to the 2022 census, the city administrative area has a population of 40,845 inhabitants.

Bor has one of the largest copper mines in Europe. It has been a mining center since 1904, when a French company began operations there.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With 760 residential buildings, it presents the highest ration of urban area to number of citizens in the country, and is one of top-five cities in Serbia by number of buildings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Name

The name is derived from Template:Langx meaning "pine".

Geography

The town is bordered by the Kriveljska River, and in its vicinity lies a reservoir, Bor Lake.

Climate

Bor has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfb) with warm summers, cold winters and uniformly distributed precipitation throughout the year

Template:Weather box

Flora and fauna

The Lazar's Canyon is home to several rare plants – Crimean pine, relic species of Taxus and Serbian ramonda, and animals like Chamois, Golden eagles, and Peregrine falcons.

History

In 1835, Miloš Obrenović invited J.G. Herder offspring August to the Bor region to carry out geological investigations.

Đorđe Vajfert invested in exploration and sought foreign capital to initiate industrial exploitation. Managing to obtain support for this endeavour, he signed a contract with Mirabaud, and his Compagnie française des mines de Bor was established on 30 September 1903 in Paris.<ref>Knight of Serbia - George I. Weifert, Association of Serbian Banks.</ref>

On 27 March 1941, Nazi Germany invaded Yugoslavia. Führer’s directive No. 25 mentioned that possession of the Bor copper mines were very important, which covered 50 percent of the copper requirement of Nazi Germany's war industry until 1944. Since 1941 to 1944, Hungarian forced laborers of Jewish origin were gradually deported to this area, at least 6,000 Hungarians were used as Kapos. In May 1943, the total number of inmates (excluding Kapos) came to about 23,000 forced laborers from Serbia.<ref>Eleonore Lappin-Eppel, Ungarisch-Jüdische Zwangsarbeiter und Zwangsarbeiterinnen in Österreich 1944/45. Arbeitseinsatz – Todesmärsche – Folgen. LIT, Vienna 2010, Template:ISBN, p. 18.</ref><ref>Johannes Bähr and Ralf Banken, Das Europa des "Dritten Reichs": Recht, Wirtschaft, Besatzung, Klostermann, Frankfurt/Main 2005, Template:ISBN, p. 212.</ref>

On 3 September 1944, a column of about 3,000 Kapos left the camp under supreme command of Horthy task forces and marched over a pontoon bridge between Smederovo and Požarevac to Baja via Pančevo. Hungarian forces were supported by regional paramilitary operation echelon Deutsche Mannschaft including Banater Staatswache unit.

On 16 September, a second column of 3,000 Kapos left the camp under supreme command of SS-Polizei-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment Nr. 18 on the same route to Baja. In Pančevo, supreme command had been taken over by paramilitary operation echelon Deutsche Mannschaft and Volksdeutsche Ordnungspolizei. During both marches, exhausted prisoners were murdered by the roadside.

In Baja arrived, prisoners were either used to build the German South-east wall or transported by train to concentration camps such as Auschwitz.

Some Danube Swabian officials including family members also took the opportunity to escape by train from Baja. During both forced marches, there were several attacks carried out by Yugoslavian Partisans south of Danube river. Meanwhile, some prisoners took the opportunity to flee to the partisans and thus found life-saving protection. Notable Kapos from both death marches were people like Gyula Trebitsch, and Miklós Radnóti.<ref>Tomislav Beker and Biljana Regoje, Pančevački i južnobanatski Jevreji u holokaustu, Šalom Tora, Pančevo 2012, ISBN 978-86-916511-0-7.</ref><ref>Erhard Roy Wiehn, Zwangsarbeit, Todesmarsch, Massenmord. Erinnerungen überlebender ungarischer Zwangsarbeiter des Kupferbergwerks Bor in Jugoslawien 1943-1944. Hartung-Gorre, Konstanz 2007, Template:ISBN.</ref><ref>Theresia Richard, born 1909 in Jabuka, died 1993 in Vienna.</ref><ref>Friedrich Scharinger, born 1903 in Jabuka, died 1971 in Eisenstadt, Member of Staatswache: April 8, 1941-Sept.12 1944.</ref>

In 1947, Bor received urban status from the political authorities. At the time its population was 11,000.

In June 2018, Bor gained the status of a city, along with Prokuplje.<ref name="citystatus">Template:Cite news</ref>

Settlements

Aside from the city proper area, the city includes the following settlements:<ref>[1]Template:Dead link</ref> Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

Demographics

Template:Historical populations

According to the 1910, 1931 and 1971 censuses, the inhabitants of the urban area of Bor numbered 2,613 in 1910, 4,749 in 1931 and 29,118 residents in 1971. According to the 2011 census, the population of Bor numbered 48,615 residents, while the urban area of Bor had 34,160 residents.<ref>RÉSULTATS PRÉLIMINAIRES DU DÉNOMBREMENT DE LA POPULATION ET DES ANIMAUX DE FERME DANS LE ROYAUME DE SERBIE LE 31 DÉCEMBRE 1910, Direction de la Statistique d'État, Belgrade 1911, p.60, PDF on the Website by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, retrieved on 2017-12-21.</ref><ref>Opšta Državna Statistika: Definitivni rezultati popisa stanovništva od 31 marta 1931 godine. Knjiga 2: Prisutno stanovništvo po veroispovesti. Opšta Državna Statistika, Beograd 1938, p. 76. Popis stanovništva i stanova 1971, Knjiga 7: Stanovništvo i domaćinstava u 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971. Savezni zavod za statistiku. Beograd 1975, p. 289.</ref><ref>2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia, Volume 20: Comparative overview of the number of population in 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2002 and 2011, Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade 2014, p. 95, retrieved on 2017-12-21.</ref>

Ethnic groups

With a total of 32 different ethnic groups being represented among the population, Bor is one of the most ethnically mixed cities in Serbia. According to the 2011 census, the settlements in the city of Bor with a Serbian ethnic majority were: Bor, Brestovac, Donja Bela Reka, and Oštrelj. The settlements with an ethnic Vlachs majority were: Bučje, Gornjane, Krivelj, Luka, Metovnica, Tanda, Topla, and Šarbanovac. Ethnically mixed settlements were: Zlot (relative Serb majority) and Slatina (relative Vlachs majority).<ref>https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2023/PdfE/G20234001.pdf</ref>

The ethnic composition of the city:

Ethnic group 2002 census 2011 census 2022 census
Serbs 39,989 35,435 29,322
Vlachs 10,064 6,701 4,483
Roma 1,259 1,758 1,440
Macedonians 540 429 216
Romanians 107 293 356
Albanians 115 113 87
Others 3,743 3,886 4,375
Total 55,817 48,615 40,845

Ethnic groups in Bor include also Bosniaks, Bulgarians, Gorani, Bunjevci, Yugoslavs, Montenegrins, Croatians, Slovenians, Hungarians, ethnic Muslims, Germans, Greeks, Slovaks, Russians, Rusyns, Chinese, Ukrainians, Italians, Turks, Ashkali, Czechs, Poles, Jews, Canadians, and Belarusians.<ref>https://www.bor030.net/grad-bor</ref>

As the official number does not include foreign nationals, who are present in large numbers in Bor and its surroundings (especially the Chinese, who are estimated at 8,000-10,000), as well as workers from other countries (Turkey, India, Indonesia, African countries). Many people who work in Bor also immigrated from other parts of Serbia, but kept their residence in the place they came from, that are also not included in the official number.<ref name="facebook.com">https://www.facebook.com/borinfo1/photos/realan-broj-dosta-ve%C4%87iprema-popisu-stanovni%C5%A1tva-iz-2022-godine-na-teritoriji-gra/1118780273583748/</ref>

Religion

Bor has a diverse religious landscape, with the majority of the population identifying as Orthodox Christian, but also including significant minorities of Muslims, Roman Catholics, Protestants, as well as Jews and other smaller religious groups. Other than Orthodox churches, in Bor there are a Roman Chatolic Church, the Mosque, Adventist Church.

Economy

File:Cold box Bor.jpg
"Cold box" - Messer Tehnogas AD Bor

Copper mining, mainly by the biggest employer Zijin Bor Copper, is the key basis of Bor's economy. On 31 August 2018, a Chinese mining company Zijin Mining took over 63% of the shares of the company RTB Bor, in a $1.26 billion deal with the Government of Serbia.<ref name="zijin">Template:Cite news</ref> A few Canadian companies operated in Bor, like Nevsun Resources, Dundee, Rakita and Avala resources, while the new smelter and sulfuric acid plant for RTB Bor were built by Canada's SNC Lavalin. Many companies from Canada, led to Canadians settling in the city and thus formed a new ethnic group in Bor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It is supposed that there are up to 10000 Chinese workers, as well those from Turkey, India, Indonesia, African countries etc.<ref name="facebook.com"/> Apart from mining, some other companies that operate in Bor are Messer Tehnogas AD, Jinshan Construction, Drillex International, Sayin Construction, CCMC, Wolong ATB FOD, IT Center Bor, Metalka, Keramika Bor, Sandvik, Xella Sverige, Securitas, Epiroc etc. Bor is one of the wealthies cities in Serbia. In 2025, the average gross monthly wage in the city of Bor was US$1750 (€1500, 175687 RSD, 12455 CNY, 73200 Turkish liras) - as of July 2025.<ref>https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2025/HtmlE/G20251263.html</ref>

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2023):<ref name="stats2024">Template:Cite web</ref>

Activity Total
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 76
Mining and quarrying 6,199
Manufacturing 2,558
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 336
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 506
Construction 1,419
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 1,236
Transportation and storage 543
Accommodation and food services 445
Information and communication 143
Financial and insurance activities 126
Real estate activities 31
Professional, scientific and technical activities 601
Administrative and support service activities 284
Public administration and defense; compulsory social security 734
Education 939
Human health and social work activities 1,076
Arts, entertainment and recreation 243
Other service activities 179
Registered individual agricultural workers 52
Total 17,761

Education and science

Today there are five elementary schools in the city and three in the villages nearby:

  1. Elementary school "Dušan Radović" (Bor)
  2. Elementary school "3. Oktobar" (Bor)
  3. Elementary school "Branko Radičević" (Bor)
  4. Elementary school "Sveti Sava" (Bor)
  5. Elementary school "Vuk Karadžić" (Bor)
  6. Elementary school "Petar Radovanović" (Zlot)
  7. Elementary school "Đura Jakšić" (Krivelj)
  8. Elementary school "Stanoje Miljković" (Brestovac)
    1. Elementary music school "Miodrag Vasiljević" (Bor)
    2. Elementary and High School for special education "Vidovdan" (Bor)

Four public and one private High School:

  1. Grammar school "Bora Stanković" (Bor)
  2. Mechanical High School (Bor)
  3. Technical High School (Bor)
  4. Economic High School (Bor)
  5. "Dositej" Academy - School of Medicine (Bor)

Bor has a faculty of University of Belgrade, which is the only faculty that belongs to the University of Belgrade but is outside of the Belgrade. The Technical Faculty of Bor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is a faculty of the University of Belgrade, with a tradition dating back to 1961. The Faculty was accredited as a scientific-research organisation in the area of technical-technological science in 2007. So far, 1,804 students graduated from this faculty, in addition to 18 students that completed specialist studies, 122 master studies, and 70 students that defended doctoral theses.

  1. Technical faculty of Bor, University of Belgrade
  2. Technical and mechanical engineering college Trstenik (department)

Culture and society

File:Wiki.Zaleđe IV Zgrada Doma kulture u Boru 083.jpg
Cultural Center
File:Wiki.Zaleđe IV Buildings in Bor, Serbia 098.jpg
Bor Youth Center

Movies

Many films have been produced in Bor. Because of that, the city has the nickname "Boriwood".<ref name="Bor kao Borivud">Template:Cite book</ref> Serbian and international movies produced in Bor include Tears for Sale, Tilva Roš, White White World, Man Is Not a Bird, Winning of Freedom, On the Road to Katanga, Saga o tri nevina muškarca, Save Our Souls, Volja sinovljeva, and Vivegam.

Sports

File:Basketball game in Bor, Serbia.jpg
Bor Sports center during Bor-Red Star Belgrade, women basketball game in 2016
File:Bor Skate Plaza.jpg
Bor Skate Plaza, is the biggest skate park in the Balkans

Bor Sports Center (Template:Langx) is an indoor sporting arena. The capacity of the arena is 3,000 people in the seating area, and 4,500 in the ground level area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Bor Skate Plaza is the first and the biggest skate park in the Balkans. It is located next to the Karting circuit and Bor Sports Center. It is opened in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Next to the Bor Skate Plaza is the Karting circuit that was built in the same year. Near to them is the stadium "4. kilometer" and Bor Hippodrome.

One of the most famous clubs in the city is FK Bor football club, which spent several seasons in Yugoslavia's top division, the Yugoslav First League, participating in the European Cup Winners Cup in the season of 1968/69, and played in the national Cup Finale in season 1967/1968 against Crvena Zvezda.

FK Bor is currently part of Bor District league, which is the Fifth tier league in Serbia, while another city club, FK Slatina Bor, is in Zone League East, the fourth-level football league in Serbia. In the season 2018–2019, three clubs from Bor will take part in the top level national league competitions. ZKK Bor will play in the First Women's Basketball League of Serbia, ZJRK Bor in Serbian First League of Handball for Women, while American football team Golden Bears Bor is in the top-level American Football League of Serbia.

Under the auspices of the Public Utility "Sportski Centar Bor" is the Bor Airport, with a paved runway, where traditional sport air show "Fly in" used to be held.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bor has hosted 2013 EBSA European Under-21 Snooker Championship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tourism

Template:Travel guide The city of Bor has a number of tourist destinations:

Borsko jezero (Bor Lake) is a tourist attraction for domestic and foreign tourists, and it is less than 20 km away from the city center. It is popular in the summer, when the water temperature reaches 25 °C (77 °F) and it has two beaches. There is a bus line from the city center and back, during the summer.

Crni Vrh is a mountain 30 km from the city center. Highest peak has an elevation of 1,043 m (3,422 ft) above sea level. It has several ski tracks anda ski lift. The main ski track is 1,100 m long and has height span of 260 m. Just 16 km from the city center there is another mountain Stol. Its highest peak has an elevation of 1,156 meters above sea level. Like nearby Veliki Krš and Mali Krš, Stol has a number of pronounced karst formations. It is also a destination for mountaineering. It has a ski lift and ski trails. Mountain Rtanj in Boljevac municipality is 50 km away from Bor.

The Lazareva Pećina, which translates to Lazar's Cave, is the longest explored cave in Serbia.<ref name="LóczyStankoviansky2012">Template:Cite book</ref> It is located 21 km from the city center. According to 2012's Recent Landform Evolution: The Carpatho-Balkan-Dinaric Region, the cave is Template:Convert long.<ref name="LóczyStankoviansky2012"/> The cave is situated near the entrance of the deep canyon carved into the mountains by the river Zlotska.<ref name="Tasić1995">Template:Cite book</ref> Bogovina cave is also near Bor, just about 30 km away.

Lazar's Canyon is located at about 10 kilometers from Bor. This is the deepest and longest canyon in eastern Serbia. Because of its steep rocky cliffs, the canyon has not yet been fully examined. Passing through canyon it is a real adventure, at times quite challenging and arduous. In many places it is necessary to clamber over the rocks.

Brestovac Spa is one of oldest spas in Serbia, located just 8 km from the city center. Health treatment are done with slightly sulphurous and oligomineral water with temperature of 20 to 41 °C. The Spa is for treatment and curing diseases and injuries to the muscles and bones. Especially relevant cured diseases are degenerative rheumatic diseases, rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, swelling and pain. And also chronic joint diseases, muscle disorders lumbago – lower back pain. More gynecological diseases, upper respiratory mucous membrane inflammation, skin conditions, increased diuresis, low level of stomach acid, digestive tract diseases. Furthermore, kidney diseases and nerve diseases. Water is rich with potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, chlorine, iodine, sulfate and also carbonate. Ways of treatment are drinking and bathing.

The Residence of Prince Miloš (Serbian: Конак кнеза Милоша/Konak kneza Miloša) is a royal residence in the Brestovac Spa.

Bor zoo (Serbian: Борски зоолошки врт), is a zoo located in Bor, Serbia. It was founded in 2011, and it is one of four zoos in Serbia and is also considered to be one of the most attractive public zoos in southeastern Europe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The zoo covers an area of 2.5 hectares (6.17 acres) and holds about 140 animals representing more than 70 different wild and exotic species of animals as well as domestic and indigenous ones.

Park Museum is an "open museum" located from the city center, and through the main streets "Mose Pijade" and "Zeleni bulevar" with mining exhibits. It is possible to see them from a vehicle or from a sidewalk.

Paragliding is popular in this part of Serbia, and there are several locations used for this sport near Bor, such as mountains Crni Vrh and Stol.Template:Citation needed

Politics

Template:Main In the municipality of Bor, there were 40,661 eligible citizens that were able to vote in the local election.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":12">Template:Cite web</ref> The local City Election Commission stated that the turnout was 61.2%.<ref name=":12" /> The Serbian Progressive Party won 15 seats, while the coalition led by the People's Party won 6 seats. The Socialist Party of Serbia and Vlach Party "Bridge" both won four seats, while the coalition led by the Party of Freedom and Justice won three seats. The Dveri–POKS coalition, Fighters for Bor, and Loud for the Youth each won one seat.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Election results

Local media

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

Newspapers
  • Timočke "Тимочке"
  • Borski problem (Weekly magazine)
  • Kolektiv "Лист Колектив"
Social media and Internet media

Template:Col-break

Radio stations
TV stations

Template:Col-end

Notable people

File:Vajfert Đorđe.jpg
Đorđe Vajfert

Twin towns and sister cities

Template:See also Bor is twinned with:

See also

Template:Portal bar

References

Template:Reflist

Sources

Template:Commons category

Template:Bor, Serbia Template:Bor District Template:Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Bor,_Serbia&oldid=408506"