After a long walk from our Airbnb, we began our final approach through the well manicured, gently rising park to Kalemegdan Fortress. Sitting atop the ridge at the confluence of the Danube and the Sava river, the fortress has stood as the center of Belgrade since it was constructed by Justinian I in 535.

Kalemegdan Fortress – Belgrade, Serbia

The city had existed though since the 3rd century BCE as Singidunum. The fortress has remained an important icon to the history of Belgrade, standing strong through the mainly invasions and occupations of Serbia.

Finding the Kalemagdan

Passing through the flowered gardens, vendors with trinkets and statues and busts of famous figures, the crisp wind of fall swept through the descending leaves and welcomed us into the massive stone entry. We were brought into an interior space filled with relics from the World Wars, most notably artillery, as well as recreational spaces. We proceeded on though, as were making our way to the upper part of the fortress.

This was not our first time at Kalemagdan Fortress. Due to its location and size, it’s quite easy to make several visits. We previously had ventured along the western side of the fortress, looking down upon the Sava and it’s moored bar/barges. The gardens that surround the fortress offer a great place to relax. It also offers wonderful panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

First Visit

Our first foray into Kalemagdan was from this western side, and presented slight difficulty as there was some construction going on. However, a quick climb put us right at the top and inner field within the fortress. We took a few photos, but as we’d already had a full day, we did not do a full exploration of the grounds.

A Closer Look

However, this time, we took a more thorough look around, and already knew what to expect and where to look. We were in search of the Ruzica church which we knew lay at the northeastern edge of the fort.

We made our way out through the various bridges and fortifications of the massive fortress. Eventually, we came out at one of the entrances facing the Danube. Jutting from the base of the walls was the Ruzica church. The church is small but has a character to it. The chandeliers are made of the used bullet casings and swords from soldiers during the first World War.

Kalemegdan Ruins

Setting out from Ruzica, we could see the sun was beginning to set on the Danube. We made our way down the hill towards a small ruin. What it was, we don’t know, but the crumbling stone walls indicate it was of some importance to the massive fortifications above.

Before night fell, we proceeded out of the fortress compound on the north where a large manicured field lies.

Other Activities

The region around and within the fortress houses a lot to do. There is:

The Belgrade Zoo – small but open year round caring for tigers, hippos, and reptiles all call this zoo home. 500 Dinar per person.
Fortress Exhibition
Gallery of Natural History –
Monument of Gratitude to France – you can do this in passing, but it is a reserved area of the garden in front of the fortress with a large statue.