Located around 100 km south of Belgrade, Kragujevac lies in the centre of Šumadija and the Morava (Pomoravlje) region. It is Serbia’s fourth biggest city. A sure sign that you have arrived in the former capital of Serbia is a newly built cross, which carries an icon of Saint George slaying the dragon.

With the fall of Serbia’s medieval state under Ottoman rule, this “market town” was affirmed as an extremely important settlement. The name Kragujevdža or Karagovindža was first noted in 1476 in Turkish records that are today kept in the government archives in Istanbul. It is believed that the name of the settlement originates from the kraguj bird, which resembles an eagle. These birds of prey have sharpened senses and can be trained for us in hunting.