Iriški Venac is where the old road from Novi Sad to Irig and Ruma crosses the crest of Fruška Gora, at about 450 metres. It is the hub of the Fruška Gora National Park, declared in 1960 — the oldest national park in Serbia — which protects roughly 266 km² of the range.
The mountain is a low, narrow ridge some 80 km long, an island in the vanished Pannonian Sea. More than 90% of the park is forest: oak, hornbeam, beech and, above all, linden — Fruška Gora has one of the largest concentrations of lime trees in Europe, which is why its honey is famous. Over 1,400 plant species grow here, including some thirty orchids, and the skies belong to the rare eastern imperial eagle.
Top things to do: Iriški Venac & the Ridge
The Freedom Monument
At the pass stands Sloboda (1951) by the sculptor Sreten Stojanović, a tall obelisk with bronze figures commemorating the Partisans of Srem, for whom the forests were a wartime stronghold. Meadows, picnic benches and a few cafés surround it.
See the TV tower
The concrete tower nearby, about 170 metres tall, was bombed during the NATO air campaign of 1999 and still stands damaged, visible from half of Vojvodina. It is closed to visitors but is a sobering landmark.
Walk to Crveni Čot
The highest point of the range, Crveni Čot (539 m), is an easy forest walk west along the ridge path. Do not expect a panorama — the summit is wooded — but the trail is the backbone of the mountain’s hiking network.
Follow the ridge path
The marked Fruška Gora transversal runs the length of the range. East of the pass it leads to the Zmajevac picnic ground and viewpoint, then on towards Stražilovo; west it continues to Letenka and Andrevlje. Trails are waymarked with the red-and-white circle used across Serbia.
Picnic like a local
On warm weekends half of Novi Sad comes up to grill. Zmajevac, Brankovac and Popovica have meadows, springs and shelters. Fires are allowed only in marked places.
How to get to Iriški Venac & the Ridge
- By car: 20 km from Novi Sad on road 21 (about 30 minutes), 7 km above Irig. There is free parking at the monument. A road tunnel under the mountain is under construction and will eventually take through traffic off the pass.
- By bus: Novi Sad–Irig–Ruma buses stop at Iriški Venac; note the time of the last bus back.
- By bike: the climb from Sremska Kamenica is the classic training ride for Novi Sad’s cyclists — about 12 km of steady ascent.
Insider tips
- Check yourself for ticks after walking in spring and early summer, and use repellent.
- Mobile coverage is good on the ridge but patchy in valleys; download an offline map.
- Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms; in winter the pass can be icy.
- The national park’s visitor centre and information boards are near the pass; opening times vary by season.
Best tours & tickets: Iriški Venac & the Ridge
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Iriški Venac & the Ridge:
Private day tour from €182 per group Belgrade: Fruška Gora Monasteries & Iriški Venac Private Day Tour
A private scenic day across the mountain with your own driver-host — monasteries, the ridge road and viewpoints, at whatever pace suits you. New on GetYourGuide and priced per group, so it works out well for three or four people.
- Private car and driver-host from Belgrade
- Historic monasteries at your own pace
- Viewpoints on the ridge at Iriški Venac
Day trip from €95 From Belgrade: Novi Sad & Fruška Gora + Wine Tasting
The day trip that actually goes up into the hills rather than skirting them: the national park, a monastery stop, the baroque streets of Sremski Karlovci and a proper tasting, before Novi Sad. Slightly longer, and reviewers say it is worth the extra hour.
- Drive through Fruška Gora National Park
- Sremski Karlovci and a tasting of local wines
- Novi Sad and Petrovaradin Fortress
