Sjenica ( sr-cyr, Сјеница, ) is a town and municipality located in the

Zlatibor District The Zlatibor District ( sr, / , ) is one of eight administrative districts of Šumadija and Western Serbia. It is located in the western, mountainous part of Serbia. The district was named after the mountain region of Zlatibor. According to t ...

of southwestern Serbia. The population of the town, according to 2011 census, is 14,060 inhabitants, while the municipality has 26,392. Sjenica is situated in the

Pešter plateau The Pešter Plateau ( sr, Пештерска висораван, Pešterska visoravan; sq, Rrafshnalta e Peshterit), or simply Pešter ( sr-Cyrl, Пештер, ; sq, Peshter), is a karst plateau in southwestern Serbia, in the Raška (or Sandža ...

, and is surrounded by the mountains of Jadovnik, Ozren, Giljeva and Javor.

History

It is an old town, first mentioned in 1253 AD as a place where many merchants rested and paid taxes while on their way to

Dubrovnik Dubrovnik (), historically known as Ragusa (; see notes on naming), is a city on the Adriatic Sea in the region of Dalmatia, in the southeastern semi-exclave of Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterran ...

. ''Voivode'' Stefan Vasoje, the son of King

Stefan Konstantin Stefan Konstantin ( sr-cyr, Стефан Константин; c. 1283–1322) was the King of Serbia from 29 October 1321 to the spring of 1322. The younger son of King Stefan Milutin (1282-1321), he initially held the appanage of Zeta (with Z ...

(r. 1321–1322), received Sjenica as an appanage by Emperor

Stefan Dušan Stefan Uroš IV Dušan ( sr-Cyrl, Стефан Урош IV Душан, ), known as Dušan the Mighty ( sr, / ; circa 1308 – 20 December 1355), was the King of Serbia from 8 September 1331 and Tsar (or Emperor) and autocrat of the Serbs, Gre ...

(r. 1331–1355). During the reign of the Ottoman Empire, Sjenica was used as a fortified site. On a nearby hill the Ottomans built a fortress, which was later demolished. Next to the fortress was a merchants' quarter and few wooden residential homes. In the 19th century, Sjenica was considered a high priority because of its political, military and strategic significance, thus many military campaigns were led during the

First Serbian Uprising The First Serbian Uprising ( sr, Prvi srpski ustanak, italics=yes, sr-Cyrl, Први српски устанак; tr, Birinci Sırp Ayaklanması) was an uprising of Serbs in the Sanjak of Smederevo against the Ottoman Empire from 14 February 18 ...

. Soon after, a new turmoil came to the region with a resistance movement against

Sultan Mahmud II Mahmud II ( ota, محمود ثانى, Maḥmûd-u s̠ânî, tr, II. Mahmud; 20 July 1785 – 1 July 1839) was the 30th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1808 until his death in 1839. His reign is recognized for the extensive administrative, ...

's reforms. During the Ottoman-Albanian hostilities of 1901 the town was partly burnt by Albanian bands. In the 1908-12 Ottoman parliament, the elected representative of Sjenica was Hasan Muhidin Bey (Hasan Muhedini), a local prominent Albanian. At the time of the

First Balkan War The First Balkan War ( sr, Први балкански рат, ''Prvi balkanski rat''; bg, Балканска война; el, Αʹ Βαλκανικός πόλεμος; tr, Birinci Balkan Savaşı) lasted from October 1912 to May 1913 and invo ...

, General

Živković Živković (sometimes transliterated Zivkovic, sr-Cyrl, Живковић, ) is a Croatian and Serbian surname derived from a masculine given name Živko. It is the most common surname in the Šibenik-Knin County in Croatia, and among the most fr ...

ordered the slaughter of 950 Albanian and Turkish notables at Sjenica after ten thousand Albanians delayed the advance of Serbian troops. In 1917 when the area was under Austrian control a conference was held, in which the representatives drafted and signed a resolution for the union of the area with Bosnia or the establishment of an autonomous region. From 1929 to 1941, Sjenica was part of the

Zeta Banovina The Zeta Banovina ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Zetska banovina, Зетска бановина), was a province ( banovina) of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1929 and 1941. This province consisted of all of present-day Montenegro as well as ...

of the

Kingdom of Yugoslavia The Kingdom of Yugoslavia ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Kraljevina Jugoslavija, Краљевина Југославија; sl, Kraljevina Jugoslavija) was a state in Southeast Europe, Southeast and Central Europe that existed from 1918 unt ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

the SS Polizei-Selbstschutz-Regiment Sandschak under Karl von Krempler was stationed here consisted of local Muslim population, during a period when many Serbs lost their lives. In 1943 Sjenica was the battleground of intense fighting between Partisans and the German army.

Settlements

Aside from the town of Sjenica, the municipality includes the following settlements: * Aliveroviće * Bagačiće * Bare * Bačija * Bioc * Blato *

Boguti Boguti is a village in the Municipalities of Serbia, municipality of Sjenica, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 72 people.Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i Stanova 2002. Knjiga 1: Nacionalna ili etnička pripa ...

* Božov Potok *

Boljare Boljare is a village in the municipality of Vlasotince, Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pan ...

* Borišiće * Boroviće * Breza * Brnjica * Buđevo *

Vapa VAMP-Associated Protein A ( or Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein-Associated Protein A) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''VAPA'' gene. Together with VAPB and VAPC it forms the VAP protein family. They are integral endoplasmic retic ...

* Veskoviće * Visočka * Višnjeva * Višnjice *

Vrapci Vrapci is a village in the municipality of Sjenica, Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannoni ...

* Vrbnica * Vrsjenice *

Goluban Goluban is a village in the Municipalities of Serbia, municipality of Sjenica, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 42 people.Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i Stanova 2002. Knjiga 1: Nacionalna ili etnička prip ...

* Gornje Lopiže * Goševo * Grabovica * Gradac * Grgaje * Doliće * Donje Goračiće * Donje Lopiže * Dragojloviće * Draževiće * Družiniće * Dubnica * Duga Poljana *

Dujke Dujke is a village in the municipality of Sjenica, Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonia ...

* Dunišiće * Žabren * Žitniće * Zabrđe * Zaječiće * Zahumsko * Jevik * Jezero * Kalipolje * Kamešnica * Kanjevina *

Karajukića Bunari Karajukića Bunari ( sr-cyr, Карајукића Бунари) is a village located in the municipality of Sjenica Sjenica ( sr-cyr, Сјеница, ) is a town and municipality located in the Zlatibor District of southwestern Serbia. The popul ...

* Kijevci * Kladnica *

Kneževac Κneževac (Serbian Cyrillic: Кнежевац) is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Rakovica. Location Κneževac is located in the central part of the municipality. It developed as a villag ...

* Koznik * Kokošiće * Krajinoviće * Krivaja * Krnja Jela * Krstac * Krće * Lijeva Reka * Ljutaje * Mašoviće * Medare * Međugor * Milići * Papiće * Petrovo Polje * Plana * Poda * Ponorac *

Pralja Pralja is a village in the municipality of Sjenica, Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannoni ...

* Raždaginja * Rasno * Raspoganče * Rastenoviće * Raškoviće * Skradnik * Strajiniće *

Stup Stup is a village in the municipality of Sjenica, Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian ...

* Sugubine * Sušica * Trešnjevica * Trijebine *

Tuzinje Tuzinje is a village in the municipality of Sjenica, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 204 people. History Like Ugao and other villages in Pešter, Tuzinje is mainly inhabited by brotherhoods descended from th ...

* Tutiće *

Uvac The Uvac ( sr-cyrl, Увац) is an international trans-boundary river, rising under Golija mountain and Pešter plateau, then flowing through southwestern Serbia and cross into eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina where, after 115 km, it finally ...

Ugao Ugao ( sr-cyr, Угао, sq, Uglla/Ugëll) is a village located in the municipality of Sjenica, southwestern Serbia. According to the 2011 census, the village has a population of 545 inhabitants. Ugao is one of three Albanian villages ( Borošt ...

* Ursule * Ušak * Fijulj * Caričina * Cetanoviće * Crvsko * Crčevo * Čedovo * Čipalje * Čitluk *

Šare Šare is a village in the municipality of Sjenica, Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia ( Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Panno ...

* Štavalj * Šušure

Demographics

According to the last official census of 2011, the Municipality of Sjenica has a population of 26,392 inhabitants. The population density on the territory of the municipality is 24.9 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Ethnic groups

In 1991, the population of the municipality of Sjenica was 76.1%

ethnic Muslims Muslims ( Serbo-Croatian Latin and sl, Muslimani, Serbo-Croatian Cyrillic and mk, Муслимани) is a designation for a Serbo-Croatian speaking Muslims, inhabiting mostly the territory of the former Yugoslav republics. The term, adopted ...

, 22.6%

Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian ancestry, culture, history and language. The majority of Serbs live in their na ...

and

Montenegrins Montenegrins ( cnr, Црногорци, Crnogorci, or ; lit. "Black Mountain People") are a South Slavic ethnic group that share a common Montenegrin culture, history, and language, identified with the country of Montenegro. Genetics Accordin ...

, and 1.3% others. In the 1991 census, most of those who declared themselves as

, some declared themselves as

Bosniaks The Bosniaks ( bs, Bošnjaci, Cyrillic: Бошњаци, ; , ) are a South Slavic ethnic group native to the Southeast European historical region of Bosnia, which is today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who share a common Bosnian ancestry ...

in the next census of 2002, while others still declared themselves as a Muslims by ethnicity. Most of the population in Sjenica are

Muslims Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abraha ...

by the ethnicity (78.55%), followed by

(19.95%) and

Romani Romani may refer to: Ethnicities * Romani people, an ethnic group of Northern Indian origin, living dispersed in Europe, the Americas and Asia ** Romani genocide, under Nazi rule * Romani language, any of several Indo-Aryan languages of the Roma ...

(0.35%). Ethnic composition of the municipality (2011 census):

Economy

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):

Geography and climate

Sjenica is located at an altitude of 1,026 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest towns in Serbia and the Balkans. Temperatures fall below freezing on average 134 days per year, with the first freeze in late September and the last in early May. According to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification, it has a

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freezing ...

(Dfb) with freezing and not so humid winters, and with warm and humid summers, but with cold nights.

Gallery

File:Специјални резерват природе Увац 005.jpg, ''

Special Nature Reserve'' File:Uvac canyon 3.jpg, ''Uvac Special Nature Reserve'' File:Uvac canyon 2.jpg, ''Uvac Special Nature Reserve'' File:Sjenica Mosque.JPG, ''Mosque "Sultanija Valida" Sjenica'' File:ManastirKumanica.jpg, ''Monestery Kumanica'' File:Crkva U Sjenici.jpg, ''Church in Sjenica'' File:Pester Plateau, Serbia - 5024.jpg, ''Town neighborhood'' File:Kladnica.jpg, '' Kladnica village panorama'' File:Veskoviće.jpg, '' Veskoviće village panorama'' File:Ступ, Штаваљ, Сјеница, Србија.jpg, ''

village panorama'' File:Кнежевац, Сјеница.jpg, ''

village panorama'' File:Село Читлук.jpg, '' Čitluk village panorama'' File:Црвско.jpg, ''Cvrsko village panorama'' File:Sjenicko jezero 2.jpg, ''Sjenica Lake''

Twin cities

Nakskov Nakskov is a town in south Denmark. It is situated in Lolland municipality in Region Sjælland on the western coast of the island of Lolland. The town has a population of 12,495 (1 January 2022). To the west is Nakskov Fjord, an inlet from the La ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

Kartal Kartal is a district of Istanbul, Turkey, located on the Asian side of the city, on the coast of the Marmara Sea between Maltepe and Pendik. Despite being far from the city centre, Kartal is heavily populated (total population of 541,209) (2008 ...

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

References

External links

Sjenica official website

municipalities website
{{Authority control Populated places in Zlatibor District Sandžak Municipalities and cities of Šumadija and Western Serbia