bg Novi Sad

Matica Srpska Building

- Matice Srpske 1 -
The two-story orphanage building, which later changed its function into an educational and cultural building, was built in 1912. The building was constructed with the money of the Serbian benefactor and landowner, , according to the project that was created by the Serbian architect . It was built for the orphanage that went by the name Marija Trandafil Institution for Serbian Orthodox Orphans in Novi Sad, which stayed in the building until 1928. In 1928, the orphanage building was transformed into a building that housed the Matica Srpska institution, which is the oldest Serbian literary, cultural, and scientific institution. The institution was founded in 1826 in , and the intention of the founders, led by , was to spread literature and literacy among the Serbs, that is, to publish Serbian manuscripts and disseminate them. The institution was moved in 1864 to Novi Sad, which became known as Serbian , as the most educated and wisest people gathered around Matica Srpska. The Matica Srpska Building, which is also housed in the building, is the oldest Serbian national library and the first Serbian public and scientific library, founded in 1826.
Part of an old postcard shows the western side of the building
The most distinctive features of the building, which is built in the styles of Neo-Classical and Eclectic, are the majestic dome crowned with a , and the semi-octagonal supported by two . Around the dome, which contains various , you can see four piers connected by a balustrade that contains . The building contains several , which, like the roof , are embellished with . A segmental pediment is placed above the pairs of windows, which are supported by four corbels and placed in the protruded parts of the facade. The main entrance door, which is flanked by two round-shaped that are crowned with a Tuscan , you can see an containing the stating МАТИЦА СРПСКА (Matica Srpska), as well as another segmental pediment crowned with a cross.
The corner of the building visible in an old postcard