Vranje

VRANJE, A CITY WITH A SOUL

The City of Vranje is an administrative, economic, health, educational and cultural centre of Pčinja district in the south of Serbia, Europe. According to the 2022 census results, 74.381 inhabitants live within the city’s territory.

Vranje, located on Corridor 10, is a well-known industrial town, with a great tradition in wood processing, textile, shoes manufacturing, metal, tobacco and food industry. Many foreign investors are already doing business in Vranje, especially in Free zone area.

The City of Vranje is just 347 km away from Belgrade – the capital of Serbia and 300 km away from the second-largest city in Greece – Thessaloniki.

The first written evidence about Vranje dates from 1093. Located on the “cross road of space and time”, Vranje was under influences of many civilizations. Almost 1000 years of history and tradition shaped the city`s cultural and social environment, with a special emphasis on richness of heritage and peaceful coexistence of different ethnic communities.  The City of Vranje is a birthplace of a famous Serbian writer Borisav Bora Stanković.

Vranje, as the center of the southernmost part of the Republic of Serbia, is famous for many things. However, the citizens of Vranje are known for their desire to honor the tradition and spirit of old Vranje, mostly by nurturing the legacy of urban songs and trumpet music.

Specific music expression reflects deep sensitivity, feelings and temperament of people living in this area. Urban song from Vranje (“Vranjska gradska pesma”) is on the list of immaterial cultural heritage of the Republic of Serbia. With the intention of more intensive promotion of musical heritage in the country and abroad, the City of Vranje, starting from 2019, organizes traditional two-day Festival “Urban songs from Vranje”.

Apart from its urban songs, Vranje is famous for its trumpet music and trumpet players. With the intention of safeguarding and more intensive promotion of trumpet music heritage, the City of Vranje organize traditional cultural-touristic manifestation “Days of Vranje” where among other activities, trumpet players and orchestras have a remarkable part. Manifestation takes place in the City Park, which has a music pavilion in its composition. For the people of Vranje, it is an “identity card”, and for tourists, it is the enjoyment of Vranje melodies and food.

The City of Vranje also cherishes the value and importance of classical music. Traditional manifestation “May the month of music” has become a relevant international event.

Music is not just a part of the heritage, it is an important tourist offer component, it connects people, promotes best values.

In Vranje, the theatre “Bora Stankovic” is one of the oldest theatres in Serbia, where many events are hosted. Vranje is a host to an important documentary film festival “Document”, while a School of animated film “SAF” is widely known throughout Europe and other world countries and it has been awarded many times. 

Preservation and valorization of the great cultural heritage is an important local government development policy component. Development vision is based on integration processes and modernization. Vranje is an open, modern city, with numerous domestic and foreign tourists and the city that has established long-term cooperation with local communities within Serbia and abroad.

One of the most beautiful sayings dedicated to Vranje is stated by Ćamil Sijarić, a writer and a student of Gymnasium “Bora Stankovic” Vranje:

“Anyone who comes to Vranje, must keep his soul from melting, for the city contains something not for the eyes to see, nor for the hand to grab, nor for the mind – but only for the heart and soul, which need to be guarded in this place.”