Kamenovo is Serbia's sweetest village: A monument to the bee raised in the honey kingdom

The tradition of beekeeping in Kamenovo dates back to the 14th century, and this skill was passed on to the locals by monks from the monastery where Father Tadej Vitovnicki rests

Kamenovo, a village with a long tradition of beekeeping, is located in the eastern part of Serbia, near Petrovac na Mlavi.

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The skill of beekeeping was brought to Kamenovo by monks from the Vitovnica monastery, so it is believed that the population of this picturesque village has been beekeeping since the 14th century.

The Branicevo record, which dates back to 1467, mentions that villagers of Kamenovo were paying Turkish occupiers extortion taxes in honey.

Both in the former Yugoslavia and in present-day Serbia, Kamenovo holds the record for the number of beehives relative to the number of inhabitants; statistics show that there are 2.3 beehives per each inhabitant, while some households have more than 500 beehives.

In addition to meadow, acacia, sunflower and forest honey, residents of Kamenovo sell other bee products.

They also organize an event called "Days of Mlava-Homolje Beekeepers" that gathers visitors from all over Serbia and the region.

In honor of the hard working insect that is the backbone of Kamenovo's economy, the locals erected a unique monument dedicated to the bee.

Photo: Ivan Strahinic

(Ona.rs)