Categories: Recreational Routes

Niš

Nishville Jazz Festival
The Nishville Jazz Festival is one of the most famous and most visited international music festival of this type in Southeast Europe. The main program is organized as an open space event at the Plateau of the Niš Fortress, with two main stages - Earth and Sky stage. Performances on these stages take place alternately, which is a unique concept in the world.
The accompanying program is organized at over 20 additional smaller stages and is mostly free for visitors. Some of the most famous stages are the Midnight Jazz Dance Stage where jazz-soul-funk music starts at midnight and lasts until the early morning hours. The Open Stage is intended for a slightly more modern approach to music, while on the Air Stage you can hear the sounds of progressive music.
Numerous programs are organized outside the walls of the Fortress, and the most important stage is the River Stage, which is located on the Amphitheater - on the promenade by Nišava river, next to the monument to Šaban Bajramović, where special program "Friends of Šaban" is traditionally organized. Numerous musicians who knew or collaborated with Šaban performed on this stage, as well as a significant number of foreign performers who performed his songs.
Nishville gathers over 1000 musicians from different parts of the world, who perform in about 300 programs at over 20 stages, for almost 200,000 people. Some of the greatest contemporary jazz names and bands performed at the festival: Solomon Burke, Tom Harrell, All Di Meola, Monty Alexander, Brian Blade, Richard Galliano, Benny Golson, Randy Brecker, Miroslav Vitous, John Patitucci, Candy Dulfer, Roy Hargrove, Sly & Robbie, Mingus Dinasty, The Cookers, Tania Maria, Billy Cobham, Rosenberg Trio, The Original Blues Brothers Band and many others.
During the Festival, each year the Nishville Musical Workshop is organized for most of the instruments used in jazz - piano, guitar, bass, drums, brass and string instruments, vocals. These workshops also feature lectures on improvisation, composition, arranging. Every year, a large number of young people get a unique opportunity to learn and play with some of the most famous jazz performers facilitating the workshops.
Over the years Nishville has grown into a major cultural festival.  Nowadays, in addition to numerous music concerts, it also features jazz theater, film evenings, drive in cinema, comics and popular culture festival "Striporama", JazzBooks' session - a stage for books and writers, the Oldtimer Fest, etc.
Since 2010, by the decision of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, Nishville has been declared a manifestation of national importance. This festival is the winner of numerous domestic and international awards and recognitions. In 2016, the British newspaper The Guardian included it in the 10 best jazz festivals in the world. It is definitely worth visiting the city during August, when Nishville Jazz Festival usually takes place.

Niš Film Festival of Actors' Achievements
The Festival of Acting Achievements in Domestic Feature Films is a festival of exceptional importance, while it is also one of the oldest film festivals in the region. In the last weeks of August, Niš is ruled by actors, which is symbolically marked with the ceremony of handing over of the key of the city tothe President of the Film Festival Jury (always an actress), who receives the keys and announces: "Fellow actors and actresses, the Fortress is ours".
The festival itself celebrates the actors and actresses and their work. The film is seen as the highest artistic achievement, which would not exist without the actors who play their roles. That is why this festival is not just a competition but a genuine recognition by the citizens of Niš to the actors and actresses for their art.
The official awards still exist, and in addition to the recognition for the best male and female role, there are also the awards "Empress Theodora", "Emperor Constantine", "Grand Prix of the Scull Tower" and "Naissa". The awards are given by a jury composed of already awarded fellow actors and actresses. Film festival, an open-air festival on the Summer Stage of the Fortress of Niš, every year gathers close to 4,000 spectators.

SPORT AND RECREATION 

Niška Banja – the Niš Spa
Visiting Niška Banja, only ten kilometers away from the city centre, means enjoyment in tranquility and relaxation at five springs of healing hot water and natural mineral mud. This is one of the most visited spas in Serbia. Numerous nature lovers, both young and elderly, can enjoy sightseeing, walking, hiking or sport free climbing along the slopes of the gorges of Jelašnica and Sićevo. Apart from many different historic buildings and wellness centres, Niska Banja is known also for a song with same name that has become  an ultimate party song, and as such most Serbs today like to dance freestyle to the music. The song "Niška Banja" became popular all over the world, with its simplicity, cheerful and pleasant tones attracting many people from America to Japan, including the Japanese band Pyramidos which performed it in a unique way. 

Rafting 
The fans of adrenaline sports in Niš, can join the rafting tours along the Nišava river. Rafting through the most beautiful parts of the Sićevo gorge starts from the village Dolac and leads to the village of Ostrovica. The length of the trail is 7 km, and the descent lasts about 3 hours, which depends on the height of the water level, the speed of the river and the intensity of rowing. The second trail is the descent on Nišava river that starts from the bridge between Niška Banja and the village of Prosek and leads to the Vrežinski basin in Niš. The length of the trail is 8.5 km, and the program lasts from 2 to 3 hours. The regatta passes by the settlements Geneva and Brzi Brod and the archeological site of Mediana.

Paragliding
If you prefer exciting views from high in the air, you can opt for a paragliding tandem flight. From the Kornik (550 m above sea level) and Višegrad (1020 m above sea level) airfields, a large number of enthusiasts have lived out their long-held dream.  The Nišava valley is an ideal terrain for paragliding, especially because of the favorable winds and good climatic conditions. World and European paragliding competitions have been held on the fields around Niš for several years in a row, which is a recommendation on itself for the fans of this kind of recreational activities.

Sports Center Čair
Within the complex of the Sports Center Čair, conveniently located in the city, one will be able to find outdoor and indoor swimming pools, an aqua park, a bowling alley, a city stadium, a table tennis hall, a martial arts hall, several halls for different indoor sports, as well as a fitness center.
During the summer season, the outdoor pool complex at Čair is one of the most visited places, by the locals and tourists alike. It consists of an Olympic and children's pool and accompanying facilities, while in winter time this Sport Centre hosts a popular ice skating ring.