Topola

Topola, nestled in the heart of Šumadija, is a royal city established by the Serbian hero Đorđe Petrović, known as Karadjordje (Black Hand), in the late 18th century. It served as the hub of the 1804 rebellion against the Ottomans. The city was overtaken and destroyed by the Ottomans in 1814, but it was rebuilt following the liberation of Serbia in the mid-19th century under the leadership of Karadjordje’s son, King Alexander Karađorđević.

Topola is home to a church featuring a crypt that serves as a royal mausoleum called Oplenac, dedicated to the Karađorđević dynasty. This mausoleum was built by Alexander’s son, Petar Karađorđević, the last king of Serbia.

The church in Topola is one of the most striking in Serbia, with its impressive white marble facade. The walls feature stunning mosaic reconstructions of the most significant Serbian medieval artworks, composed of more than a million pieces. The crypt, adorned with a gleaming marble floor, serves as the final resting place for members of the Karađorđević family. It houses the remains of six generations of Serbian leaders: Đorđe Petrović Karadjordje, the leader of the First Serbian Uprising; Alexander Karađorđević, who was Prince of Serbia from 1842 to 1858; Peter Karađorđević, who reigned as King from 1903 to 1921; Alexander I Karađorđević, who was King of Yugoslavia from 1921 to 1934; and Peter II Karađorđević, the last King of Yugoslavia from 1934 to 1945. Their close family members are also interred alongside them.

One of the church’s treasures is a unique mother-of-pearl icon depicting the Last Supper, crafted in Bethlehem in 1924. This icon, based on Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, was brought to the site by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. At the base of the hill on which the church stands, other significant sites include the royal villas of the Karađorđević family and the Royal Winery. Beyond these, parts of the restored old city surround the complex.

Approximately 15 km south of Topola lies the 15th-century Voljavča Monastery, where Karadjordje set up his provisional government during the First Serbian Uprising. Nearby, several other monasteries, including the 15th-century Nikolje Monastery, can be found. To the west of the monastery, the Rudnik mountain range, reaching over 1,100 meters, is characterized by its conical volcanic peaks. Historically, this area was a hub for mining silver, gold, copper, and iron, dating back as early as 7,000 years ago. It held considerable importance to the Serbian Empire in the Middle Ages, and today, zinc and tin are extracted from these mountains.