Palic Lake

Palic, a settlement situated by the lake of Palic, stretches along northern Yugoslav-Hungarian border ten kilometres away from Subotica. In the middle of 19th century, a spa with picnic resort was established on the north bank of the lake due to curative quality of its waters and mud. In 1840 planting of a parkland began in the south part of the presently existing park, modelled upon English greeneries. The very first facilities were constructed in 1845 within the park (restaurant, stables, bath) in addition to hot and cold baths built in 1852. Organized parcelling of the grounds aimed for villas and vineyards commenced in 1853 to the west of the park, based on the plan by the city architect Janos Szkultety, as well as new construction works (The Park hotel, restaurant Mala gostionica, Administration building). Railway tracks built-up added to a quicker development of the spa.

Palic saw its flourish at the end of 19th century, when a number of glamorous villas were erected within the park apart from public spa facilities in the Grand park. Since 1880 sport games have been organized in the area to the west of the park where adequate sport grounds were built up (fifteen different facilities had been constructed by the year of 1894). The former sport complex is nowadays promenade with villas Bogoljvar (The Owl-city), Luisa and Little Vermes villa with the Ice-house and Fisherman's Cottage.

At the end of the 19th century several edifices composed in an academic manner were erected bearing stylistic elements of classicism (Pharmacy, Library, Music pavilion). Villa Conen was designed by architect Raichle Ferenc (1869-1960) in 1900. The Jezero hotel was built in 1909-1911, modelled upon the Park hotel. Single-storey type villas built at the turn of the century in romantic style with strong elements of folklore were colloquially named Swiss cottages. Intricate facades were furnished with diverse forms and materials - luxuriously carved wooden elements, application of multicoloured glazed Zsolnay tiles.

At the turn of the century, facilities for relaxation and leisure represent synthesis of modern functional approach to architecture and application of new materials. Essential trait of present outlook of the complex was given by two Budapest architects, Jakab Dezso (1864-1932) and Komor Marcell (1868-1944) by urban planning regulation based on Jugendstil principles and building a number of facilities in the period between 1910-1912. Their projects made a starting point for construction of Hydro-tower and restaurant Velika tarasa, performed in a form of Hungarian Jugendstil based on traditional wooden architecture of Transilvania (Ladies Bath). They have also produced designs of memorial well, placed in the central axis of the alley by the lake bank in 1912.
In the early 1980s conservation-restoration works commenced on certain facilities within the complex under protection - Jezero hotel, villa Luisa, villa Conan, Fisherman's Cottage and villa Hartman.

The Palic Lake park of nature, of 113 ha surface area, is situated 7 km to the south-east of the city of Subotica. Since it is at the lowest level, prior to urbanization, the water of the Kelebijsko Jezero (Kelebia Lake) and all the surface waters joined the Palic Lake through Josi Bara (Josi Pond), Mlaka and shallow Aleksandrova~ki Rit (Aleksandrovac Wetland). With urbanization the inflow started of non-purified communal and industrial waste waters. The first decisive steps towards sanation of the Palic Lake were performed in summer of 1968. On the basis of regulations and bye-laws of that time, as well as of multiannual studies, a Programme of Purification and Sanation of the Palic Lake was made, intended to return to it the epithet of “the blue eye of the plains”. Within the frames of sanation the equipment was constructed for purification of the waste waters, and the lake was divided into four sectors.

Nowadays, Palic is modern little town, with 8000 inhabitants. It offers various pleasures to the visitors, which are coming every year in greater number. Palic is ideal place for young people, as well as for older tourists. Definitively, all visitors will find something for themselfves. You can choose some of hotels, national or fish restaurants, sport entertainment, ZOO, summer theatre festival, cinema, preserved parks, horse-farm, and lot of other interesting places...

The Palic Lake is considered a protected area and a Park of Nature. The entire coast of the Lake is well arranged and it is some 17 km long. The coast is very attractive for its walking paths, bicycle riding or coach driving paths. The lake is abundant with fishes and this gives to the fishing lovers' ample opportunities for an active holiday.

The mineral water springs have a temperature of 25° Celsius, and the mud of the lake is rich in important mineral substances with curative characteristics. It contains lithium and rubidium which are beneficial in treating rheumatism and nerve diseases.

Palic is situated 181 km north of Belgrade, and can be reached by the international E75, taking the Sever (North) exit to Palic. Palic is 20 km from the Tompa and 22 km from the Horgos crossings on the border with Hungary.

Palic is best-known tourist resorts in Serbia. It is a beautiful and stylish summer resort with rich offerings, which include a baroque park and monuments of the Secession architecture. It is a champion of comfort. Only one kilometer in diameter, the Palic core is filled with hotels, restaurants, beaches, tennis courts, a casino and a zoo.
Palic Lake offers ideal conditions for water sports such as: sailing,.. During summer you can swim on Men's or Women's strand, or you can fish by the lake. Those who do not like water can rent a bicycle and ride through the Great Park, visit ZOO or play tennis on the tennis courts.

Tennis Club Palic 1878
Really excellent tennis courts in a deep shadow of Palic Park. Tennis Club Palic is the oldest tennis club in the Balkans and tradition of playing this sport is very old. This nice place, also, offering great choice of Italian dishes and different kinds of salad, everything with the view to tennis courts and evergreen music in the night.