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Smederevo Fortress
Смедеревска тврђава
Serbia · Podunavlje District · Near Belgrade
Built 1428 · Medieval Serbian
Quick Facts
- Hours
- Open daily. Shorter hours October to April (09:00–17:00).
- Tickets from
- €2
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Best time
- April to October
- Nearest city
- Belgrade
Highlights
- ✦Largest medieval fortress in the Balkans by area
- ✦Last capital of the medieval Serbian Despotate
- ✦25 towers and nearly 2 km of walls enclosing a triangular town fortress
- ✦Directly on the Danube — spectacular riverfront walls
- ✦Built by Despot Đurađ Branković in just three years (1428–1430)
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Skip-the-line tickets & expert guides
Smederevo Fortress is the largest medieval fortress in the Balkans — a massive triangular citadel enclosing 11 hectares directly on the south bank of the Danube, with 25 towers and nearly 2 km of walls. Built with extraordinary speed by Serbian Despot Đurađ Branković between 1428 and 1430 as his new capital after Belgrade was ceded to Hungary, the fortress was the last seat of medieval Serbian statehood before the Ottoman conquest of 1459. Despite an accidental ammunition explosion in World War II that destroyed much of the upper structure, the sheer scale of the surviving walls and towers is overwhelming. The Small Town — the residential inner fortress — is separated from the Large Town by an internal wall, and a summer festival and concert series draws visitors to perform beneath the medieval ramparts.
History
Despot Đurađ Branković built the fortress between 1428 and 1430 as his capital after surrendering Belgrade to Hungarian King Sigismund. It became the capital of the Serbian Despotate and the centre of resistance to Ottoman expansion. After Đurađ's death it fell to the Ottomans in 1459, marking the end of the medieval Serbian state. The Ottomans used it as a garrison for centuries. In 1941 a German ammunition train exploded near the fortress, causing massive damage. Restoration began in the late 20th century.
How to Visit
Smederevo is 45 km south-east of Belgrade, connected by frequent buses and trains from the capital (1 hour). The fortress is on the Danube waterfront, a short walk from the town centre and bus station. The Smederevo wine region — one of Serbia's finest — surrounds the town; combine the fortress with a local winery visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
It was the last capital of the medieval Serbian Despotate before the Ottoman conquest of 1459 — the fortress's fall effectively ended Serbian medieval statehood for four centuries.
Location
Smederevo, 11300 Smederevo, Serbia
Nearby Castles
Tours & Tickets
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Entry from
€2/ adult