Belgrade fortress
Heart of Belgrade
Belgrade fortress is historical heart of Belgrade, a place that represent in the best way its history. Everybody calls it Kalemegdan Fortress because of Kalemegdan Park. On Roman fortifications, erected here in the form of the Roman castrum (II century), were built a Byzantian castel (VI and XII centuries), medieval fortified capital of Serbian state (XIII and XV centuries and in the end Austrian and Turkish military fortress (XVII and XVIII centuries). Belgrade Fortress represented one of the strongest bastions in Europe. It was built according to plans of an Austrian general of Swiss origin Nikola Doksat Demorez.
Kalemegdan Park
Name Kalemegdan refers only to a plato around the Fortress which became a park in late 19th century. Its purpose was to watch the enemy whilst the fortress was the main military stronghold of Belgrade. Its name consists of two Turkish words "kale" - field and "megdan" - battle. The Turks used to call Kalemegdan Ficir-bajir which means "Hill for meditation".
Nowadays, the Fortress is a museum of Belgrade past making with Kalemegdan Park a unique cultural and historical complex. The people from Belgrade love to walk around the Park with beautiful views of Belgrade and the Danube. There are many monuments on Kalemegdan, a military and a natural museum, churches, a zoo, sports areas and restaurants always open for visitors. There are also an art pavillion "Cvijete Zuzoric", a music pavillion and big staircase.
One can approach Kalemegdan Park from Knez Mihailova street (entrance Great Kalemegdan) and from Uzun Mirkova street (entrance Small Kalemegdan).
