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![[Flag]](../images/r/rs-aleks.gif)
image by Ivan Sache, 8 May 2022
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The Municipality of Aleksandrovac uses a vertical flag/banner in red/wine
color with a white version of the municipal emblem. Two photos are provided
(photo 1, photo 2).
Aleksandrovac has 12 local communities, but none of them
have any kind of symbols.
Valentin Poposki, 20
February 2022
The municipality of Aleksandrovac (26,522 inhabitants in 2011, 6,476 in the
town of Aleksandrovac; 38,500 ha) is located 40 km south-west of Kruševac.
Aleksandrovac was originally known as Kožetin; the name change was decided
on 19 June 1882 by King Milan I (1854-1901, r. 1882-1889) upon request of the
town's inhabitants.
Kožetin was the site of a Celtic temple established on a
hill, subsequently replaced by a church. The place was first mentioned in the
founding charter of the Studenica monastery granted in 1196 by Grand Prince
Stefan Nemanja (1113-1199, r. 1166-1196).
https://www.aleksandrovac.rs
Municipal website
The emblem recalls that Aleksandrovac is the center of
one of Serbia's main wine-growing regions, Župa of Aleksandrovac.
The word
"Župa", of Slavic origin, refers to an administrative region, a shire, a group
of villages ruled by a "Župan". Gradually, the meaning of the term has evolved,
so nowadays this term in the Serbian language denotes any region with mild
micro-climate, an area protected from winter frost, cold winds and snowy
clouds.The most famous Serbian "župa" is Župa of Aleksandrovac, widely known
as"“Župa", a historic wine region that has the continuity of Serbia’s
wine-making tradition for centuries.
The moderating factors affecting the
local climate are the mountains surrounding the area, including Kopaonik (2017
m), Željin (1785 m) and Jastrebac (1130 m), which affect air currents as well as
diurnal temperature variations. The area around the rivers affects the
microclimate and airflow, and consequently improves the process of
photosynthesis, pollination and fertilization.
Material evidence
indicates that wine seemed an important element of daily life in Župa even in
the Roman times. However, the first written records about Župa and its vineyards
date from 12th century. Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja, the founder of medieval
Serbian state, donated several villages in Župa (Kožetin, Popovac, Raklja,
Velika Kruševica) and their wine cellars to Studenica monastery. All these
villages were obligated to supply the monastery with wine when needed. All this
was stated in the Studenica Charter (1196).
In 19th century, the village of
Kožetin became the town of Aleksandrovac, which quickly earned its reputation as
one of the main hubs for supplying wine across the Balkans. There were
specialized shops in Belgrade and other cities for sale of Župa wines.
Phylloxera arrived in Župa in 1882 and it devastated local vineyards within a
period of four years. Fortunately, Serbia set up state-owned vine nursery in
Aleksandrovac in 1891, which helped recovery of Župa vineyards on resistant
stock.
At the beginning of 20th century, a few wine-making families from Župa
owned cellars whose capacity exceeded a million liters. Wine and grapes were the
primary source of income for many families in Župa. However, wars in the 20th
century brought further development of wine-making in Župa to a halt. After the
Second World War, the local cooperative was nationalized; the law prohibited
wine-makers to produce wine for commercial purpose. Instead, they could only
grow and sell their grapes to large industrial wineries which dictated the
purchase price.
At the beginning of the 21st century, a group of pioneer
winemakers appeared with the strong intent to utilize their hard work and
efforts in the vineyards and cellars to restore the former glory of Župa. Awards
for Župa wines won at international competitions confirm that invested efforts
weren’t wasted.
Župa still guards unique temporary wine-makers’ lodges
grouped together to form "poljana". They used to be constructed by owners of
vineyards from villages scattered across Upper Župa hills so that they could
reside close to vineyards in the months when there is extensive work in the
vineyards instead of commuting on a daily basis. Poljana first appeared in the
Middle Ages, although vast majority of present-day poljana lodges originate from
end-19th century or the beginning of 20th century. Architecturally, these are
winegrowers’ lodges grouped closely together, divided by narrow lanes and a
small central square. Wine cellars are made of mud, stone, unbaked bricks, or on
rare occasion made of wood. Poljana lodges surround from all sides the town of
Aleksandrovac. Twenty-four poljana lodges have been preserved till present day.
The most famous ones are poljana of Lukarevina, Kruševica (whose origins are
associated with Prince Lazar, 14th century), Ježevica and Botunje.
http://www.vinopedia.rs/en/post/tri-morave
Vinopedia, 23 January 2019
Ivan Sache, 8 May 2022
![[Flag]](../images/r/rs-aleks)1.gif)
![[Flag]](../images/r/rs-aleks)2.gif)
images by Valentin Poposki, 20
February 2022
Both yellow and white versions of the municipal emblem are found.
Valentin Poposki, 20 February 2022
