Belgrade Fortress: A Walk Through the Gates of History
The Belgrade Fortress is a unique monument of cultural and historical heritage—not only of Serbia, but of Europe as a whole. For centuries, the elevated land at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers held immense strategic value. Controlling it meant having an advantage over both northern and southern fronts. It's no surprise Belgrade was often referred to as both the “Gateway to the Balkans” and the “Gateway to Central Europe.”
Meticulous historians have counted 115 wars fought over Belgrade, and the fortress itself has been destroyed and rebuilt at least 44 times. This was a civilizational crossroads: while medieval Europeans called Belgrade the "Bulwark of Christianity" (Antemurale Christianitatis), the conquering Ottomans gave it an equally fitting name—“House of War” (Dar al-Jihad). Many civilizations have left their mark here: Celts, Romans, Ostrogoths, Serbs, Bulgarians, Byzantine Greeks, Hungarians, Ottomans, and Austrians. Even the Turks, who ruled Belgrade for nearly 300 years, recognized the transience of power, calling the fortress hill “Hill of Contemplation” (Fikir Bayir).
During this tour, you will uncover fascinating stories connected to the history, geography, and architecture of both Great and Little Kalemegdan (the area between the fortress and the urban quarters), as well as the Upper and Lower Towns of the Belgrade Fortress.
Some of the highlights include:
How Sami the chimpanzee repeatedly escaped from the Belgrade Zoo and once led mass public gatherings;
Where the ancient Singidunum—Belgrade's Celtic forerunner—was located;
How a famous Belgrade fountain first sank into the sea, only to mysteriously “resurface” in Zagreb;
What kind of bird is perched on the hand of the iconic “Victor” statue overlooking the city;
Where you can touch the original walls of a Roman military camp (castrum);
Why Frederick I Barbarossa, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, came to Belgrade;
Which parts of the city were once connected by an underground network built by Romans, Ottomans, and Austrians;
Why the chandelier in the Church of Ruzica is made of bullet casings and sabers;
What dark history surrounds the Nebojša Tower;
And what legacy was left by Andrea Cornaro, the chief architect of the Belgrade Fortress—and a double agent for both Austria and the Ottomans.
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