After lunch, we were taken to one of the most famous sights of the city, the Fortress complex known as Kalemegdan (Kale=a Turkish word meaning "fortress" and "megdan"=battlefield) in the old town. As the city had been razed to the ground 44 times because of various wars, the abstract "horrors of war" suddenly took on a "concrete" form for me when I visited it.
Flowers at the entrance of a park before we reach our destination
It's a big park, full of tall trees, a most pleasant walk
A tree sprouting new branches
Flowers in the garden
It's one of the favourite parks for the locals
A bust of a one of the famous national literary figures: Kocta C Tavwahobnk 1(854-1902)
Another one called C Tebah CT. Mokpahbau (1856-1914. According to the local guide, they are all literary figures.
This is the famous Clock Tower of the fortress complex , built the 1st and 18th century and
bears witness of the different conquering cultures; Roman, Byzantine,
Austrian-Ottoman, and Serbians.
a closer look of the Clock Tower, where we were supposed to meet after our free time.
The clock tower from another angle.
This is a small museum found close to the entrance to the Fortress
A natural crystal exhibition?
This
the entrance to the Fortress which were successively built over,
rebuilt on old foundations from 1st Century to the 18th Century and
bears witness of the different conquering cultures and man's capacity for greed, glory and gore: Roman, Byzantine,
Austrian, Ottoman Turkish and Serbia . Wars, wars, wars and wars. They never seem to end.
The Fortress grounds are now used as a museum of the weapons of human destruction: tanks, canons etc.
One of the big canons. How many died from it?
A huge canon for firing mortars?
The other side of the Fortress is also used for displays various canons used
How much metal went into the production of this canon?
Various tanks on display
This is part of the Fortress walls, in solid bricks of stone. In the background one see the River Danube
This is where the River Sava joins the River Danube. It explains why the Fortress was built there in the first place.
It
can be seen that the Fortress was built on top of a hill overlooking
the Danube River, a little distance from the river banks.
Belgrade is a city with many races: the Slavs from the north are much taller, the local Serbians are much smaller.
One
of the watch towers at the side of the Fortress Wall. Behind it, one
sees the partly obscured roof of a church. It seems that church and
state can rarely be separated especially in times of war.
On the opposite side of the river, one sees an old-fashioned 19thC propeller river boat for tourist
This is the location where the Sava joins the Danube. On the left of the photo is the new town of Belgrade
Close to the edge of the Fortress and overlooking the rivers and the
city of Belgrade is a huge pillar: a naked man with sword on one hand
and an eagle in the other, erected in in 1928: the Messenger of Victory Monument. Quite a few interesting thing to see, for
instance the old gates, the Clock Tower, the Despot Stefan Tower (from
1405, now an observation tower), the tomb of Damad-Ali Pash (an Ottoman
Turkish general and Grand Vizier), and the Messenger of Victory Monument
(from 1928).
A view of the front of the Messenger of Victory: he doesn't look very pleased!
At
one end of the Fortress, is military museum recording the history of
various WWII battles etc and weapons and military accessories used.
it's external walls do not appear to be well preserved. Displayed
outside are various canons, old and new, all built for one exclusive
purpose: destruction of life and property.
A camouflaged armed carrier
19th century canons
a closer look at some of them: fine copper barrel
Another monument to celebrate the help of French soldiers in helping to liberate Belgrade at WWI
One sees the words "A la France" one of the sides of the pedestal. Noting the female form, I asked the local guide if the French sent their women. He laughed.
Souvenirs for sale at the side of one of the paths leading to the little garden
All kinds of stuffs are for sale, wine bottle, gloves, china model of one of the local churhces, old cars etc.
Military caps, medals,
Children's shoes, socks and gloves
Wine bottles, glasses, statues in stone, clay figurines etc.
Wine bottles in glass and wood!
Caps military and sports and non-sport
Helmets, military knives
Motor cycle spectacles, whiskey flasks
wine barrel and bottles
carved wine barrels and jugs
We were next taken for a quick coach tour of the city. One can see that the door to the building are solid and strong: the wisdom of being in a war-torn nation?
One of the buildings we passed through in the streets, quite old and not in very good condition
The University of Belgrade
The National Library of Belgrade
The party headquarters of the biggest political party in the country
The new military headquarters?
A building bombed by NATO forces in 1999, then the military headquarters
Part of the building
Another view of the bombed building
A more distant view of the bombed building
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Interior
The local version of the so-called "Arch of Triumph" of Paris
A monument to one of the earliest Prince Mihailo Obrenović (1823-1868, Prince of Serbia). The son of Prince Miloš and Princess Ljubica, he first came into power following the death of his elder brother Milan (1839). The sultan confirmed him to be an elected, but not a hereditary prince. Toma Vučić initiated an uprising in August 1842 and forced him into exile, bringing Alexander Karageorgevich to the throne. He spent six years outside the country and during this time assisted many Serbs working in literature (Vuk Karadžić, Đura Daničić, Branko Radičević and others). When Miloš returned to Serbia in 1858 Mihailo accompanied him and took over high command over the army. Regained the throne once more after the death of Prince Miloš in 1860. He established a national army with approximately 50,000 soldiers in 1861, aiming to finally rid Serbia of the Turks. Expecting war with Turkey he made alliances and agreements with other Balkan states – Montenegro, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. Having finalized the preparations for war, he was assassinated during a walk in Košutnjak in 1868.
There are churches everywhere
Another building in German style we passed by
This is the Cathedral of St. Sava, the largest Orthodox Church in Servia, built from 1935 on in several phases from donations and is not yet finished with marble at the Slavija Square.
Another view of the Cathedral
Another view of the church
Beside the Cathedral is another small church, one of the oldest in Serbia, dedicated to St. Sophia. I went inside and took a peep.
Part of the murals on the roof
Another part of the roof
The mural looks quite new
Another mural
A worship was in progress. There are no seats: all faithful attend service standing . The Byzantium chants were heavenly.
The murals are very beautiful: simple and non-perspectival
A mosaic above one of the entrances
a local saint: Tpovaomb Cbonmb?
He looks quite impressive
After dinner, I decided to take a look in the area around our hotel. This is probably one of the founders of the Belgrade University, a short distance from our hotel
One of the buildings close by
After dinner, I decided to take a look in the area around our hotel. This is probably one of the founders of the Belgrade University, a short distance from our hotel
One of the buildings close by
This is the National Assembly Building by night.
A city train with 2 cars
A news stand
The Engineering Faculty Building of Belgrade University
This is the municipal museum
The St Mark's Church
Children having fun for a photoat upon a statue in a park close to our hotel.
(To be Cont'd)
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