Belgrade Fortress
贝尔格莱德要塞 · Belgrade, Serbia
An ancient fortress on the cliff where the Sava meets the Danube; together with the surrounding park it is known as Kalemegdan, the best place to look out over both rivers.
Know before you go
- Making loud noise in the park
- touching exhibits at the Military Museum
- climbing over the railings at the cliff edge
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
The name "White City"
The name Belgrade first appears in a document of AD 878, and in most Slavic languages it means "white town" or "white fortress". One theory holds that the name comes from the exposed white limestone of the ridge on which the city stands; the walls of the Roman camp were also built of white limestone.
Source: Wikipedia: Belgrade Fortress
History
The Victor monument
The Victor monument at the edge of the Upper Town is the work of the Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović; the bronze figure, about 14 metres tall, was unveiled at the fortress in 1928, though it was originally designed for another square in the city. Facing the meeting of the two rivers, it is now one of Belgrade's best-known symbols.
Source: Connolly Cove: Belgrade Fortress
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Belgrade Fortress stands at the northern tip of the Serbian capital's old town, on the cliff where the Sava flows into the Danube. It is divided into the Upper Town and the Lower Town, and within it you will find a Clock Tower from the Ottoman era, the 19th-century Ružica Church, the Military Museum, and the Victor monument by the sculptor Meštrović, erected in 1928. People have been active here since the Neolithic. In the 3rd century BC the Celtic Scordisci founded Singidunum on this spot, and the Romans kept the name and stationed troops here. Byzantine, Serbian, Hungarian, Ottoman and Austrian powers later fought over and rebuilt the fortress in turn; in the early 15th century it became the capital of the Serbian Despot Stefan Lazarević and was strengthened. The Ottomans captured it in 1521, and it long remained a border fortress. Today it is a cultural monument of exceptional importance in Serbia. The name Kalemegdan comes from Turkish: kale means "fortress" and meydan means "field" or "square".
Local customs
- Walk the wall path to see the Sava flow into the Danube
- visit the Clock Tower, the Ružica Church and the outdoor weapons display of the Military Museum
- watch the sun set over the two rivers beside the Victor monument
- stroll Kalemegdan Park and the Lower Town remains.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Making loud noise in the park
- touching exhibits at the Military Museum
- climbing over the railings at the cliff edge
Locals appreciate DO
- Speak softly in the park where locals relax
- keep quiet and dress modestly in churches
- enjoy the views from the paths inside the railings
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- The fortress park is free to enter
- some museums and sights charge admission, with exact prices as published officially. The grounds are large, so allow half a day
- summer afternoons are hot, so please bring water and sun protection.
- The fortress is right next to the city centre: walk north along Knez Mihailova Street and you are there, and city buses also stop near the park. Spring and autumn are best for riverside walks
- in summer the park is shady and liveliest in the evening
- in winter the mist over the two rivers has its own charm.
Photos
Photos
BrankaVV · CC BY-SA 4.0
Zcvetkovic · CC BY-SA 4.0