The Kalemegdan is the center of Belgrade. The fortress is located on the hill above the confluent of the Sava into the Danube, making the strategic position of the city. The Celts made the first fortifications, later enlarged by the Romans and destroyed by the Huns. Byzanz renewed them, then came Bulgarians, Hungarians and finally the Serb despot Stefan in 1404 - 1427. The fortress was occupied by the Turks in 1521. 1717 - 1739 the fortress was Austrian and one of the strongest in Europe. Then it became Turkish again, was reoccupied by the Austrians and became Turkish again after the peace treaty. 1806 the Serbs occupied the fortress in the first Serbian uprising.

 

View across the Sava

 

This military building in Balkan style was built in the 19th century.	In the trenches are the gun collections located. In front an Austrian Skoda howitzer of World War One.

 

The clock gate and the clock tower - memory of the Austrian occupation in the 18th century.	The Pobednik (Messenger of Victory) the remember 1918. He should have been placed in the center of the city, but a nude male was not accepted at this time. Now, he is raised up and shows the visitors his bare rear part...

 

Nebojša tower below the fortress on the danube	Today, Kalemegdan is a large park to stroll, discuss, meet and sometimes dance the traditional Kola dance.

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Upd. on 02. sept. 2007