Gibraltar on the Danube: All the secrets of the Petrovaradin Fortress

The pride of the "Serbian Athens," Novi Sad

The Petrovaradin Fortress is to Novi Sad what the Kalemegdan Fortress is to Belgrade. One of the symbols of the city, which proudly guards it even after so many centuries.

Recommended

A settlement near the fortress

Previously a fortified town near the Danube River, Petrovaradin is today located in the inner city area of ​​Novi Sad, the "Serbian Athens." Slightly less than 15,000 inhabitants live in this suburb.

In addition to the alluvial plain of the Danube River and a plateau, Petrovaradin also includes a part of Mt. Fruska Gora.

Along the Danube River, Bukovicki and Rokov Streams flow through this area of the city of Novi Sad, and there are also several marshes and ponds.

The total area of ​​the urban settlement is 545 square kilometers.

During the 18th century, the HQ of the Petrovaradin Regiment, an Austrian military unit in which mostly ethnic Serbs served, was located at the site of today's Petrovaradin. Shortly afterwards, it became the HQ of the general command for the border between Srem and Slavonia.

The Petrovaradin Fortress

At the end of the 17th century, the construction of today's fortification began on the remains of a fortress dating back to the Middle Ages. The construction lasted until 1780, and Austria was responsible for that.

The "Gibraltar on the Danube" moniker can often be heard to describe it, since it really does dominate the whole area. Otherwise, available data shows that a settlement existed in the area of ​​today's Petrovaradin Fortress 4,500 years BC.

Members of different tribes and cultures lived here. Apart from the Romans, there were also the Huns, as well as other peoples, but still the fortress became extremely important during the period of the Turkish rule.

The construction of the Petrovaradin fortress as we see it today began in the first half of the 18th century, according to a design by Luigi Ferdinand Marsigli.

Due to the circumstances at the time, the construction of the fortress took longer, so a gunpowder depot, new barracks and stables were built only between 1753 and 1766.

When the works were finally completed in 1790, the Petrovaradin Fortress was characterized as having most modern arms arsenal of all the fortresses in the entire Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

Since 1948, this symbol of Novi Sad has been under the protection of the Republic of Serbia.

Although today the Petrovaradin Fortress can be visited without any obstacles, this only became possible in 1948.

Today, the fortress is one of the most important attractions in Novi Sad. It offers a phenomenal view of the entire city and is definitely a place in Novi Sad that you should visit.

Churches in the area of ​​Petrovaradin

Out of a total of nine churches, which are located in this area, four are Catholic.

In addition to an Orthodox church dedicated to St. Petka, there are also those dedicated to St. Varnava and St. Ilija, as well as the Holy Apostle Thomas and the one dedicated to the the Most Holy Mother of God.

Of the Catholic places of worship, Petrovaradin has the Church of St. Rocco and Calvary, the Church of Our Lady of Snows at Tekije, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, as well as the Monastery of St. Jurja.

Regardless of whether you decide to walk the streets of Petrovaradin, enjoy the view of the city, or visit the sights in that part of Novi Sad, it must be said that this is an ideal short vacation destination, at least when it comes to residents of the Serbian capital.

(Aleksandra Blazevic/Telegraf.rs)