Kalemegdan Fortress

 The true heart of old Belgrade is Kalemegdan Fortress within whose walls the city has resided for many centuries. It began as the Celtic city of Singidunum in the 3rd century B.C. but the fortress, as it stands today, did not begin to take shape until the 2nd century A.D. Over the centuries, it was a constant battle ground, destroyed and rebuilt many times over. Built on the "white ridge" it gives the city, Beo (white) Grad (city) its name. Moreover, the fortress name comes from the Turkish "kale" (city fortress) and "megdan" (field). Within the fortress walls, Turkish rulers handed over the "keys" to the city to Serbian Prince Mihailo in 1867, marking the end of nearly four centuries of Ottoman occupation. Today, it remains one of the most important sites in all of Serbia and is now a beloved park at the heart of the city, overlooking the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. Within its vast grounds are numerous gates, walls, towers, museums, and even a pair of beautiful Orthodox churches.