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Tower Nebojsa at Belgrade Fortress

Tower Nebojsa at Belgrade Fortress

In the lower part of Belgrade’s Fortress near the docks of Danube there is the famous Tower Nebojsa. This monument from the middle ages that defied conquerors for centuries, is nowadays transformed into a cultural monument and a museum. This tower was once a part of the walls of the fortress and was one of the most important constructions of the defensive strategy of the city.

Built in 1640, Tower Nebojsa represents one of the better preserved buildings within the Belgrade’s Fortress from the Middle Ages. It belongs to the group of the first artillery towers built in numerous fortified cities around Europe. When it was constructed it represented a great architectural achievement.
In its foundation, the tower is of octagonal shape, it is 22 meters high and has 4 levels with cannon openings, from which it was possible to engage enemies both on the rivers and the firm land. Over the history, the Tower Nebojsa was often a target of enemy fire, which is why it was destroyed and rebuilt on several occasions.
In the 18thcentury, the tower was transformed into a dungeon by the Turks. One of its most famous prisoners was a Greek writer and revolutionist Rigas Feraios who was executed here in 1798. During the First and the Second Serbian uprising, numerous Serbian soldiers were imprisoned in this tower. Among these prisoners was even Jevrem Obrenovic, the brother of prince Milos Obrenovic, who later became the first mayor of the liberated Belgrade.

As a result of collaboration between Serbian and Greek authorities, the tower Nebojsa was transformed into a museum and a cultural center. Several rooms were added to the tower which are being used as exhibition space for the history of the Nebojsa tower and its role in the defensive strategy of the fortress during both the Turkish and Austrian rule. The ground floor of the tower tells stories from the period when the tower was used as a dungeon and it is transformed into a memorial to all of the victims. On the first floor of the tower there is an exhibition dedicated to Rigas Feraios, one of a very important Greek writers whose work and ideas were important to the countries of the Balkan Peninsula on their way to independence from the Turkey occupation. On the second floor there is an exhibition dedicated to the First Serbian Uprising and the formation of the modern Serbian State. On the last floor of the tower there is an exhibition dedicated to the life in Belgrade after the Second Serbian Uprising and the transformation of the city from an oriental to a European city.

Ticket prices for Tower Nebojsa at Belgrade’s Fortress
Regular ticket price is: 200 RSD.
Reduced ticket price (students and senior citizens) is: 100 RSD.
We advise you to check ticket prices before visiting – check the official website of Belgrade’s Fortress.

Working hours of the Tower Nebojsa at Belgrade’s Fortress
During the summer period from June to September working hours are: 11:00 – 19:00h.
During winter period from October to May the working hours are: 10:00 – 18:00h.
We advise you to check the working hours before visiting – check the official website of Nebojsa Tower at Belgrade’s Fortress.


Interesting facts

  • The tower got its name as the negation of the verb to be afraid (bojati se- ne bojati se), with the aim to communicate that the tower is not afraid of any enemy and that it is invincible. It is recorded that in the past the tower was also called the White Tower and the Timisoara Tower.
  • Rigas Feraios, together with a few of his collaborators, was strangled in the tower and their bodies were thrown in the river Danube. His last words were: “I have sown a rich seed; the hour is coming when my country will reap its glorious fruits.”
  • During the Turkish siege of the city in 1521, the Turks only managed to enter the city after they had burned down Nebojsa Tower. Cannons of the tower managed to successfully repel all of the Turkish previous assaults on the fortress.

The author of the article

N. Anđelić
BSc in demography
For any information regarding organized tourist tours of Belgrade do not hesitate to contact me.

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