Latest Features from the Balkans
Belgrade’s Urban Legends Remain Unforgettable
The ‘man of steel’, the dancing traffic policeman and the Belgrade Phantom are all figures who became local celebrities with their quirky stunts.
Kosovo Partisans Set to Lose Their Memorial
As Kosovo dismantles its remaining Yugoslav-era heritage, the memorial to WW2 fighters is to make way for a complex dedicated to independence leader Ibrahim Rugova.
Wetland Wonderlands Offer Safaris with a Difference
What’s that rustling in the reeds - an otter or a heron? Banat’s wetland reserves - home to countless mammals, birds and fish - are luring growing numbers of visitors.
Serbs Find Their Feet in Divided Mostar
A trickle of Serbs has made its way back to divided Mostar - prompting some to wonder whether they might play a role in helping to reunite it.
Montenegro’s Last Sworn Virgin Has No Regrets
Stana Cerovic took an oath of virginity, swapped skirts for trousers and ‘became a man’ decades ago – a decision she has never looked back on.
Fojnica - Where Body and Soul Coincide
A shrine to Muslims and Catholics, Fojnica is also famed for its homemade spirits as well as its spiritual life. What a pity so few tourists are there to try the combination.
Remembering Djindjic With Love But No Optimism
Ten years after the assassination of reformist Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, his opponents are in power and a march in his memory was overshadowed by political gloom.
Crisis-Hit Greece Cuts Lifeline to Minority in Albania
Athens’ decision to scrap pensions for the Greek minority in Albania has left the community worried about its future wellbeing.
Montenegro’s Container Camp Refugees Survive Winter Freeze
In the Balkans’ biggest refugee camp, Roma who fled the Kosovo war have spent months without electricity in metal containers after the huts they used to live in burned down.
Half a Century of Watching the Movies
At 73, Belgrade’s oldest cinema operator is celebrating 50 years of work - and is as devoted to his job now as he was on day one.
Kosovo Serbs Bring Southern Flavour to Belgrade
Kosovo Serb refugees are bringing the flavours of their old home to the Serbian capital.
Slovenia’s Alpine Pearl Wraps up Winter Season
The last winter tourists are still enjoying the natural beauty, architectural heritage, sports facilities and cultural charms of one of the oldest Slovenian tourist resorts, Lake Bled.
Albania Struggles to Protect its Vandalized Heritage
While authorities promise action following the shocking destruction of an ancient fresco by blundering thieves, activists and experts remain skeptical of their pledges.
Kosovo’s War Veterans Plead Poverty and Neglect
Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas believed they were fighting for freedom, but 14 years after the war with Serbian forces, some of Pristina’s ‘heroes’ are struggling for survival.
Lovers Spoiled for Choice on St Valentine’s Day
As February 14 approaches, there is no shortage of options in the Balkans for those wanting to seal their love for all eternity.
