Čubura

Čubura (Serbian Cyrillic: Чубура, Serbo-Croatian pronunciation: [t͡ʃǔbura]) is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Located in Belgrade's municipality of Vračar, it is a synonym of the city's bohemian life.

Location

Čubura is about one kilometer away from Terazije, downtown Belgrade. It stretches along the crossroad of the streets of Makenzijeva-Cara Nikolaja II and Maksima Gorkog. It borders the neighborhoods of Vračar and Gradić Pejton on the west, Kalenić on the north, Crveni Krst on the east and Neimar on the south.

History

Čubura originated as a village around the pond and the banks of the stream of Čuburski potok. The stream is non-existing today as it has been completely conducted underground and runs through the Belgrade's sewage system (which is a case with many streams and creeks in the urban parts of Belgrade). Its valley was used for construction of the Južni Bulevar (South Boulevard) street, which today marks the southern border of the modern neighborhood of Čubura.

Spring of the stream was also in this area and after a short flow. the water was collected in a small cylindrical trough (Serbian: stublina, Turkish: çubura) and this is how the village and the future neighborhood got its name. The romanticized version claims that the name comes from čubar, Serbian name for the purple summer savory flower which allegedly was abundant around the former stream ^[1].

Characteristics

The population of Čubura was 13,498 in 2002. The neighborhood is characterized by narrow streets and thanks to many kafanas in the area, it became known as one of the centers of the city bohemians. Unlike Skadarlija which is considered to be a fancy and fashionable place, Čubura used to be a gathering place of common people. Decades old neglect of the neighborhood by the city governments also added to this feel. However, with changes in recent years, kafanas are being closed one by one and the 'spirit of Čubura' is slowly disappearing. According to the city government's plans published in early 2007, a residential section along the even side of the Maksima Gorkog street is designated for demolition for the future expansion of the street.

Čuburski Park

Small park (Čuburski park) is located in the neighborhood, bounded by the streets of Maksima Gorkog, Makenzijeva, Čuburska and Orlovića Pavla. It covers an area of 11 hectares and is mostly occupied by the children playgrounds (three of them) and seasonal amusement park. In November 2007 a major reconstruction of the park began which includes replacement of the complete humus layer and all of the old and sick trees, placing a sewage system beneath the park to prevent creation of ponds in the park during rains so as the re-arrangement of the pathways bordering the park. Reconstruction was finished in April 2008.^[2][3]

References

1. ^ "Чубура од љубичастих цветова". Politikin Zabavnik 2852 (Politika): p. 62. 2006-10-06. 
2. ^ Politika, November 3, 2007, p.24
3. ^ Politika, April 25, 2008, p.25

2. Beograd - plan grada; M@gic M@p, 2006; ISBN 86-83501-53-1