Belgrade Fortress (Belgrade) was founded in the first century AD. It is with her that the story of the Serbian capital begins. Over the centuries, many rulers owned the fortress, and each of them left its mark here.
Belgrade fortress
In the Serbian capital of Belgrade, at the place where the Sava River flows into the Danube, a defensive fortress is located. It is located on the Shumadiy ridge 125.5 meters above sea level. In ancient times, the Belgrade fortress was of crucial strategic importance, being at the intersection of the routes that connected Constantinople with the interior of the European continent.
Defensive walls began to be built back in the 1st century AD. The whole territory is divided into Lower and Upper Town, Kalemegdan Park is located nearby.
Fortress history
Celtic tribes, settling in these territories, built the city of Singidunum, two kilometers from the fortress. In the first century AD, the Romans occupied it. On the site of the fortress (in the Upper Town) they built a kastrum 560 meters high. Over time, residential buildings and neighborhoods began to be built around the Roman military camp, turning it into a settlement.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city departs from Byzantium, in 535 the emperor Justinian built a rampart around it . In the VIII century, Serbs come here. The limestone ramparts inspired them to call the settlement the White City.
In the IX-X centuries, the Belgrade fortress belonged to the Bulgarians, then Byzantium in the X-XII centuries, in the XIV it became Hungarian. Under a despot (a title granted by the Byzantine emperor) Stefan Lazarevich, the fortified city was actively developing. The palace in the Upper Town was rebuilt into a fortified castle, there appeared new towers, double walls and ditches around, a drawbridge.
In the XV century, Belgrade was captured by the Turks. The hill on which the fortress stands was called the Hill of Thoughts, and the territory adjacent to it Kalemegdan. A reminder of Turkish rule in these lands is the fountain of Mehmed Pasha Skolovich and the tomb of Damad Ali Pasha. For a long time, the fortress passed to the Austrians, then back to the Turks. And each time it was slightly rebuilt or supplemented.
In 1807, the Belgrade fortress passed to the Serbian rebels. She suffered greatly during the war years, many parts were destroyed. In 1946, the state took the historical building under its protection.
Upper and Lower City
External Istanbul Gate is the main. They lead straight to the Upper City. In total there are 13 gates, each with a name: Vidin, Stefan Lazarevich, Dark, Prison, etc. Near the Senate you can see an old nuclear cannon.
Most of the surviving structures in the defensive walls date back to the 18th century, for example, bastions in the western part of the fortress. The Church of Ruzitsa is considered the oldest in Belgrade. It was built in the XIII century, but it was destroyed during the battles, so the structure that we can see now is a building rebuilt in the XIX century. In the past, the church served as a powder depot for some time.
The clock tower, like other Austrian fortifications, is made in the Baroque style. It was built in the 19th century. Earlier towers have survived: Nebojš, Jakšić, Despot, Mlynaritsa. In the Upper Town are the ruins of a Roman castrum, the palace of a despot. In the Lower are the ruins of the Metropolitan Palace and the powder vault.
In the inner territory of the fortress is the Military Museum, National Observatory, Museum of Natural History. The grave of heroes and a bronze monument to the Winner, the bunker of Joseph Broz Tito, Artillery Square with exhibits of military equipment testify to the communist and military past of the facility.
Kalemegdan park
It used to be a field at the foot of the fortress, now it is one of the most beautiful parks in the city. It was laid at the end of the XIX century. Kalemegdan has a lot of greenery; more than 3,000 trees were planted here. In the park there is a music pavilion, a large staircase, an art gallery.
There are many monuments and statues. You can see the sculpture of the genius of death, a tired fighter, partisan with a child. Many monuments are dedicated to famous personalities who played an important role in the history of the city and country. Among them are a monument to Mark Milyanov, Branko Radichevich, writer Ivan Goran Kovacic.
On the territory of Kalemegdan there is a large zoo, occupying about 7 hectares. Its inhabitants are elephant, lions, tigers, jaguars, giraffe and the world's oldest alligator. The main highlight of the zoo is albinos. Where else can you see the white lion, kangaroo and wolf?
Belgrade Fortress: how to get there
The fortress is located in the city center, opposite the Ratna Island in Belgrade. Not far from the fortress is the Bayrakli Mosque and the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael.
A huge territory is occupied by the entire historical and architectural complex "Belgrade Fortress". The address of his directory is assigned to Terzia Street 3. The complex itself is located a little further. It is bounded by the streets of Paris, Tadeusz Koshchushka and the voivode of Boyevich boulevard.
Many Tuists are interested in the Belgrade fortress. How to get here? The stronghold itself can be reached through the Kalemegdan park. Buses No. 26, 24, 79 and trams No. 2, 5, 11, 10, 13 regularly go to him. You need to get off at the Kalemegdan 2 stop.
The complex is open to visitors daily. In the summer, he works from 11 to 19 hours, in winter - from 10 to 17 hours.
Entrance to the territory is free, and you will have to pay for entrance to certain rooms. The rates are as follows:
- Clock Tower - 80 dinars.
- Roman well - 120 dinars.
- Nebois Tower - 200 dinars.