Spot where Prince Mihailo was assassinated is neglected and forgotten: There's not even a signpost

If you wanted to see the place where Knez (Prince) Mihailo Obrenovic, an enlightened absolutist and visionary who wanted to secure Serbia's independence through diplomatic channels, was assassinated in 1868, you would be disappointed.

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Quite possiblly you might even get lost, since there are no signposts anywhere. The memorial is reached by going from the Kosuta restaurant in Belgrade's Kosutnjak towards the Hajduk's Fountain, and then turning left on foot towards a clearing.

After walking for a few minutes, you should see the site on the right side of the road, about 20 meters up the hill, in the woods.

Historian Dejan Ristic/Photo: Telegraf

A stone fence is cracked and overgrown with shrubbery and moss. Until recently, there was a wrought iron fence at the site of the assassination, but that's now gone. This historic site has not even been declared a cultural monument. It stands today as it was built after Mihailo's death.

Like many revolutionary Serbian rulers, the prince was killed publicly and brutally while taking a walk in Kosutnjak on a fine day.

Historian Dejan Ristic told us about this memorial and what actually happened that day, and you can find out more in the video at the top of the page.

(Dusan Veselinovic/Pop&Kultura/Telegraf.rs)