Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade is the capital of the country and located on the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. It has a long and tumultuous history and has seen many changes of power. Its population is 90% Orthodox Christian. The city's name means White City and was founded by Celts, awarded city status by the Romans and settled by Serbians from the 600.s onwards.

It has seen 140 wars and has been under the control of Roman, Goth, Hun, Frankish, Bulgarian, Hungarian and Serbian rulers. In 1521, Belgrade was captured by the Ottoman Empire but changed hands several times coming under Austrian control until its first taste of independence when Serbia became a sovereign state in 1841 although part of Belgrade remained part of the Austro-Hungarian empire until 1918. It was independent for a while but became part of Yugoslavia under Tito until it regained its independence in 2006.

Bulbar Revolucije, Boulevard of the Revolution, at 7.5 kilometres long  is the longest street in the capital although it has had many names over time but got its current name curtesy of the communists after the end of the Second World War.

The entrance to the fortress.

Through the gate and a view of the look out tower.

Some of the 18th century brick work overlooking the noat.

A detail of the fortress.

The inner gate.

The inside of another inner gate.

The gate below the look out tower.

The fortress also has a military museum with some exhibits displayed in the moat...

...artillery and tanks...

...and smaller artillery items on top of the walls.

Behind the inner wall is a large area laid to grass.

Looking along the top of the wall.

The view from the walls of the Sava river to the left and its confluence with the Danube in the centre of the photo.

A view across the Sava and part of Belgrade but the island over the river to the right is a nature reserve.

A statue to commemorate the French who helped the Serbians during the First World War.

The Orthodox church in Belgrade.

The main entrance.

The huge space inside.

A detail of the roof.

A view of the choir balcony above the entrance.

                                                       

Another orthodox church...

...and its inside decoration.

A restored art nouveau building...

...and another example.