Private tour of Belgrade Fortress

If you like history, make sure to take a private tour of Belgrade Fortress. The city’s no. 1 landmark is the place where you can knock on a 2,000-years-old Roman wall where it all started.

The story then takes us along the Middle Ages, when Belgrade was ruled by the Byzantines and Hungarians, to 15th century when a Serbian prince made it the capital of Serbia and brought it three decades of unprecedented prosperity.

The new turning point happened in 16th century when the Ottomans conquered Belgrade. You’ll feel the drama of 300 years long face-off between them and the Habsburgs at Belgrade Fortress. Belgrade was the most important fortress between Vienna and Istanbul, so it has seen many battles and changed hands between these two superpowers of their time.

Next, you’ll learn about the rise of Serbia and Yugoslavia after the fall of the empires in The Great War and about a unique position of Yugoslavia in the Cold War.

All this history will make you understand why Belgrade is a city like no other, perched on the border between the Balkans and Central Europe. The border that is best seen when looking from Belgrade Fortress.

When you look from Belgrade Fortress, along the rivers Sava and Danube, the panoramic views unfold no less than four Belgrades! The city has seen several incarnations and the latest is emerging right before your eyes.

The 21st century Belgrade is growing on the Sava waterfront, dividing opinions and classes, exactly across New Belgrade, once the capital of egalitarian socialist Yugoslavia.

Another contrast to spot is between the Old Belgrade above the bank of the Sava, on the Balkan ground, long time the Ottoman territory, and its counterpart Zemun, on the Danube, the legacy of Habsburg Monarchy, on the Central European ground.

To balance its epic history, Belgrade Fortress offers greenery, sculptures and beautiful vistas. You’ll see Sava is green and the Danube is indeed blue as Strauss had it!

The private guided tour of Belgrade Fortress will complement the scenery with stories of meaning. Some stories include surprising episodes and references from cultures and epochs you wouldn’t expect to find in Belgrade!

Your guides will be Belgrade-born historian or art historian. The historian Igor did his internship at Belgrade Fortress and is fond of telling a story how his grandparents had their first date in one if its underground chambers. The art historian Ksenija has been fascinated with the views from the Fortress and its monuments by a great Yugoslav sculptor Ivan Meštrović, ever since she played in the park of the Fortress as a child.

When is the best time to tour Belgrade Fortress, according to Igor and Ksenija? In the morning or around the sunset, when the panoramic views give most.