Čačak (Serbian Cyrillic: Чачак, pronounced [tʃǎːtʃak]) is a city and the administrative center of the Moravica District in central Serbia.

[4] Located for the most part in western Morava Valley, the city of Čačak forms a link between the undulating hills of Šumadija in the north and the hilly and mountainous areas of the inner Dinaric Alps in the south.

The word and its variants completely disappeared from Serbian language today, but some other toponymy of the same origin were preserved, like in the name of the Čakor [sr] mountain.

[10] Princely tombs of an Illyrian type (Glasinac culture) were found in two mounds of Atenica with Ionian glass, glass-paste, an amber bead depicting a swan, and an Attic plaque of a wild boar, all dating to the late 6th century BC.

The presence of burnt layers on the sight could be evidence that the settlement was destroyed in the conflict that characterized the region following the barbarian invasions of the late Roman Empire.

From 1168 to 1189, after incorporation into the First Bulgarian Empire and then various Serbian states, Stefan Nemanja's brother Stracimir Zavidović controlled the West Morava region, including the city, then known as Gradac.

Most of Čačak's Serb residents at the time of reconquest had deserted the town, migrating north safety in the Habsburg Empire.

In the 1837–1941 period Čačak gradually modernized, with its town center modeled in a Vienna Secession style popular at the time and standing to this day.

During World War II, Čačak was part of the short-lived Republic of Užice, which, while the first liberated territory in Europe, was cut off by German forces shortly after it was founded.

It has since evolved into a large town and a regional center, later being given the official status of a city within today's Republic of Serbia.

[17] The city's religious structure is predominantly Serbian Orthodox (110,281), with minorities including atheists (577), Catholics (168), Muslims (73), Protestants (21) and others.

By the 1950s most of them had emigrated as the new Communist authorities, in the massive process of nationalization after World War II, confiscated Armenian businesses.

The current artwork production in the city can be followed through the auspices of groups and associations, private galleries, colonies and numerous enthusiasts.

[25][26][27] Čačak is also home to events such as "Pitijada", "Kupusijada", "Fijakerijada" and other festivals that celebrate old traditions belonging to Serbs.

There are 12 monasteries and churches in the gorge: Thermal and mineral springs with medicinal properties provide the basis for the development of recreational tourism.

There are also picnic sites: Gradina and the "Battle and victory" park (also called "Spomen" (remembrance) park) on the Jelica mountain, the Memorial complex on Ljubić hill, Grujine fields, rafts on West Morava river in Beljina, Parmenac, Međuvršje and Ovčar Banja, and picnic sites on the tiny rivers called Dičina, Kamenica, Čemernica and Banja.

Various cultures have developed on this land, leaving lasting influences on the city’s urban structure and enriching it with archaeological artifacts.

[31] Čačak’s urban structure reveals an unplanned, organically developed layout, shaped by both natural conditions and human influences over time.

Findings from medieval and ancient periods do not define the city’s structure, but they suggest the approximate extent of its early expansions.

The first phase occurred under the rule of Prince Miloš Obrenović, when the city core developed around the church, with a square on the southeastern corner of a triangular block.

The first industrial buildings emerged, and older public structures built in traditional styles were replaced with more durable, eclectic architecture.

This period saw a rise in shops and artisan workshops in the center, with residential buildings surrounded by courtyards and gardens on the outskirts.

It exemplifies a conservative approach to urban development, aiming to respect the existing layout while facilitating the city’s orderly growth.

[33] Early 20th-century postcards depict Čačak as an open, sprawling silhouette within a scenic basin, harmonizing its irregular forms with road directions and strips of varied greenery.

[34] In conclusion, the streets of Čačak in the first half of the 20th century possessed a valuable ambiance, with potential for future transformations that would continue to shape the Serbian urban landscape.

Čačak also has the prestigious and country's unique Fruit Research Institute located in city center zone.

[38] The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2022):[39]  Due to its geographical position, Čačak is the main road transportation center in Western Serbia.