Ruma: City History and Borkovac

Ruma combines a city history that is easy to follow with the nearby Borkovac recreation area, where trails and activities by the water offer a different focus. The development of a new urban settlement at the site of present-day Ruma began in 1746. Ruma was granted the status of a free market town as early as 1747, and the first fair was held that same year. The first Serbian reading room and festivals of music and theatre add further cultural periods and forms to the picture. When planning your holiday, you can therefore combine historical and cultural themes in Ruma with outdoor activities in the surrounding area.

City History in Three Stages

In 1746, the development of a new urban settlement began at the site of present-day Ruma, with broad streets laid out at right angles. This street plan is a distinctive feature of the town’s early development. On 20 July 1747, an imperial charter issued by Empress Maria Theresa granted Ruma the status of a free market town. The first fair was held on 10 October of the same year. The charter and the first fair therefore took place close together in time. Together with the start of development in 1746, they give us three specific historical milestones: the founding of the settlement, its status as a free market town and the first fair. If you are interested in Ruma’s history, you can view these dates as a brief chronology. They link urban development with a historical status and an early market event.

Culture from Reading Room to Festivals

Another historical milestone dates to the 19th century: Ruma’s first Serbian reading room opened in 1861. This extends the historical timeline beyond the town’s development in the 1740s to a specific institution dedicated to reading. Music and theatre also feature among the festivals mentioned. The Kulturni centar Ruma organises the Festival of Vojvodina Music Societies (Festival muzičkih društava Vojvodine) and the Festival of Serbian Tambura Orchestras (Festival tamburaških orkestara Srbije). It also organises the Trema Theatre Festival in ongoing collaboration with the Ruma City Theatre. Music societies, tambura orchestras and theatre thus represent different cultural highlights. If one of these festivals is a deciding factor for your trip, check the event dates in advance and plan accordingly.

Borkovac: Trails and a Lake Nearby

The Borkovac recreation area near Ruma is about two kilometres from the town centre. It has purpose-built fitness trails and walking paths lined with trees. In addition to fishing, Lake Borkovac is suitable for kayaking. The options offer different experiences: the fitness trails are for exercise, the tree-lined paths for walks and the lake for water activities. This lets you choose what makes Borkovac especially appealing for your stay. Its approximate distance from the centre can help you factor this nearby recreation area into your plans while keeping Ruma’s history and cultural attractions in view.

Choose Your Holiday Apartment Around the Experiences

When looking for a holiday apartment in Ruma, it helps to start by deciding which experiences you want to shape your stay. Would you particularly like to explore the town’s history, or are you interested in one of the festivals? Or would you rather give walking paths, fitness trails and Lake Borkovac a bigger place in your plans? If you are travelling as a family with varied interests, you can treat these as different priorities instead of assuming everyone wants the same kind of day. Borkovac is about two kilometres from the centre of Ruma; bear this distance in mind if you would like to combine the area around the town centre with the recreation area.

Discover more destinations: Vrdnik, Sremska Mitrovica, Nikinci, Ležimir, Stara Pazova, Šimanovci, Jarak, Kupinovo.

View the wider travel overview: Srem District.