Palić Lake

Palić is a shallow lake near the Hungarian border, about 3.8 square kilometres and two metres deep on average, formed some ten thousand years ago rather than left by the Pannonian Sea, and developed as a spa from the nineteenth century, and its great period was around 1912, when a group of Hungarian architects built an ensemble of art-nouveau structures at the entrance: the Water Tower, the Grand Terrace, the Women's Lido and the Music Pavilion, all in the ornamental Secession style of the region and all still standing. A park runs along the shore with paths, a small zoo, and restaurants; the lake itself is shallow, warm and has had recurring water-quality problems that have periodically closed swimming. The town of Subotica nearby carries the same architectural style at greater scale. Palić hosts an established film festival each summer.

Highlights

• The 1912 ensemble - Water Tower, Grand Terrace and Music Pavilion.
• The shore park - promenades and gardens along the lake.
• The lake itself - shallow water used for boating and, when open, swimming.
• Secession detail - ornamental brick, tile and ironwork throughout.

When to go

May to September for the park and the lake; the film festival is in July. Winter is bleak and most facilities close. Swimming depends on water quality, which varies by year and should be checked locally.

Good to know

The lake is shallow, weedy and has had algae and water-quality issues that close bathing in some seasons. Several historic buildings can only be seen from outside. The zoo is small and old-fashioned. The resort feels faded outside the summer weeks.

Nearby

Subotica lies west; the Hungarian border is just north.

Key facts