Description of the attraction
Kalemegdan is an ancient citadel in the historical center of Belgrade. In addition, Kalemegdan is also called the park next to the fortress, which is considered one of the oldest in Europe and the largest in Belgrade. Another common name for the Kalemegdan fortress is Belgrade.
The name of the sight comes from Turkish words, however, there are different versions of the interpretation of the meaning of "Kalemegdan" - according to one version, the word can be translated as "castle square", according to the other - as "fortress" and "battle".
The fortress has been known since Roman times, it survived a series of destruction by the Huns and Goths, but was rebuilt in the first half of the 6th century under Justinian the Great, the emperor of Byzantium. In the XI century, this fortress passed to Hungary, and Serbia got it a little later as a gift that the Hungarian monarch Bela made to his daughter-in-law, Princess Elena. From the 20s of the XVI century to the second half of the XIX century, Kalemegdan belonged to the Turks. The historical landmark also suffered damage during the two world wars of the twentieth century, was destroyed, but it was carefully restored.
Today, the fortress and the park around it, which is divided into Small and Big Kalemegdan, are one of the main attractions of Belgrade, a favorite place for recreation and walks of citizens and guests of the capital. At the top of the fortress there is an observation deck, from which one can see the confluence of the Danube and the Sava River, a panorama of the quarters and streets of New Belgrade. The military museum is located in the fortress, and some of its exhibits are exhibited in the open air. The Belgrade Zoo, the Observatory and the Gallery of the Natural History Museum are located next to the fortress. On the territory of the fortress, a monument to the victorious soldier was also erected in 1928 by the sculptor Ivan Meštrovich.
