Kalemegdan Park, Belgrade

Recognizing the exquisite value of the salient ridge of Belgrade, the first Serbian urbanist Emilijan Joksimović proposed the idea that the City Field, Kalemegdan, be turned into a “wondrous park”. The first planting of Kalemegdan was undertaken between 1869 and 1875 and the main Sava Alley was planted in 1886. The monuments erected during the past hundred and fifteen years provide the Kalemegdan Park with a particular value.

The name Kalmegdan comes from the Turkish ‘kale’ field and ‘megdan’ battle – for here is the site of the former fortresses that were built, destroyed and rebuilt atop the hill above the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. The present form of the fortress dates to the early 18th century during an Austrian occupation. When the Turks finally left the fort for good in 1867, Prince Mihailo Obrenoviċ created the project which has become today’s park.

Serving as an oasis of green above the frenetic city, people walk the leafy paths using the park as an extended living room. The trees, grass and flowers serving as a gentler cover to the more militial past. You find history in the park, as well as the zoo and magnificent views out over the Sava and Danube and beyond to the vast plains of the Vojovdina.