Serbia 02.08.2014 - 14.08.2014

Arrival
13:00 Meeting with those arriving with the early flights from Zurich. Later those arriving with other flights will join us for a first small sightseeing tour through Belgrade.

History
In the morning a first workshop on Serbian history will be held either on a boat tour on Sava river or on Avala mountain. In the afternoon we will visit the city and its sights. We will visit the museum on the fortress Kalemegdan and we will refine our knowledge about Serbian history.

Kosovo and European Union membership
We will meet officials involved in the current policies concerning Kosovo, the recognition of its independence and the negotiations on EU membership. The evening we will spend at the city-beach of Belgrade, Ada Ciganlija.

Corruption/History
In the morning we will have a meeting concerning the ongoing problem with corruption in Serbia. In the afternoon we will make a bike tour to Novi Beograd and Zemun and learn about the special history of this part of Belgrade.

Vojvodina - Hungarian minority
With the train we will travel to Novi Sad, the capital of Vojvodina, the northern part of Serbia. There we will meet with members of the Hungarian minority, visit the Vojvodina museum and the famous fortress Petrovaradin.

Natural heritage
After a bus ride to Zlatibor we will explore the natural heritage of the region and visit the historical city of Užice.

Mokra Gora
With the historical railway Šarganska osmica we will take a ride from Šargan-Vitasi to Mokra Gora, where will learn about the unique fauna and flora of the region.

Cultural heritage
We will visit the museum in the village of Guča and enjoy the evening at the famous traditional trumpet festival.

Travel to Niš
After a visit of the Ovcar Kablar Canyon, we will arrive in Niš.

History
This day will be dedicated to the troubled past of Niš, beginning with its importance during the Roman Empire, the struggle under the Ottoman empire as well as the latest wars which almost destroyed all of the economic strength of the region. We will visit the famous skull tower and the former concentration camp Crveni Krst.

Community Life
Bela Palanka is a town and municipality located in the Pirot-District of south-east Serbia. We will have a meeting with the local authorities but also get in contact with local population.

Review of the study trip
We will travel back to Belgrade and collect feedbacks of the participants. In the evening we will visit the famous Belgrade Beer festival and party until the morning.

Departure
Say goodbye