Gates of Belgrade
This article describes 23 gates of Belgrade.
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Roman gates [edit]
Remains of southeastern gate of the Singidunum's castrum were found when adapting the building of the Belgrade Library, with one of its towers now being in the library depot and the other across the street in the small park with Milan Rakić's bust. The gate was located exactly at the end of Knez Mihailova and entrance of Kalemegdan park, at 44°49′12″N 20°27′12″E / 44.82000°N 20.45333°E. Thus this entrance stayed at the same place for nearly 2,000 years![1]
Northwestern gate of the castrum was located roughly at the same place as today's Defterdar's Gate.[2]
Fortress gates [edit]
Upper city gates [edit]
These are gates in the walls of the Upper City of the Belgrade Fortress. Gates that are connected to each other are not exactly aligned. This was done to prevent use of siege engines on the inner gate, if the outer gate would be breached.
Clock Gate [edit]
Clock Gate is southeastern gate in the innermost city wall, at 44°49′23″N 20°27′2″E / 44.82306°N 20.45056°E, connected via a bridge to the Inner Stambol Gate. The gate got its name as it is located directly under the Clock Tower. It was built in 17th century by Venetian architect Andrea Cornaro, and also sometimes called Cornaro's Gate.
Defterdar's Gate [edit]
Defterdar's Gate is northwestern gate in the innermost city wall, accessible only via a steep stairway. Entrance complex at the gate is partially preserved. The gate is located at 44°49′26″N 20°26′56″E / 44.82389°N 20.44889°E.
Despot's Gate [edit]
Despot's Gate is northeastern gate in the innermost city wall, located right next to the Dizdar's Tower at 44°49′30″N 20°27′2″E / 44.82500°N 20.45056°E. It is connected via a bridge to the Zindan Gate. The gate was built in 1404-1427 and is named after Despot Stefan. The gate and tower are the best preserved medieval part of the fortress.
Inner Stambol Gate [edit]
Inner Stambol Gate is southeastern gate in the second city wall, located at 44°49′21″N 20°27′3″E / 44.82250°N 20.45083°E, connected via a bridge to the Clock Gate, and via a land bridge to the outer ravelin, where the way forks towards Karadjordje's and Outer Stambol Gate. The gate was built around 1750 and is named after Istambul.
Karadjordje's Gate [edit]
Karadjordje'r gate is southern gate of its ravelin, located at 44°49′18″N 20°27′3″E / 44.82167°N 20.45083°E. Built in 18th century, it is named after Karadjordje after he passed through it to conquer the fortress in 1806. To prevent re-use it was built shut in 1813, to be opened only after World War II.
King Gate [edit]
King Gate is southwestern gate in the innermost city wall. The gate is descended to via a short stairway which passes next to the Roman Well. A bridge then connects it with the King Ravelin. The gate was built around 1725 and is located at 44°49′22″N 20°26′52″E / 44.82278°N 20.44778°E.
Leopold's Gate [edit]
Leopold's Gate is the outermost northeastern gate, connected via a bridge to the Zindan Gate. It was built around 1690 and named after Leopold I. Located at 44°49′30″N 20°27′6″E / 44.82500°N 20.45167°E.
Outer Stambol Gate [edit]
Outer Stambol Gate is eastern gate of its ravelin, located at 44°49′20″N 20°27′7″E / 44.82222°N 20.45194°E. Built in 1840-1860, it is named after Istanbul.
Southern Gate [edit]
Southern Gate, also called Baroque Gate, existed right next to the Clock Gate and was built shut when the later was opened. Today it is turned in a museum.
Zindan Gate [edit]
Zindan Gate is middle southeastern gate, between two round towers, located at 44°49′33″N 20°27′5″E / 44.82583°N 20.45139°E. It is connected with bridges to the Despot's Gate on the inside and Leopold's Gate on the outside. The gate was built in mid-15th century. Since 18th century, the Ottoman Empire used towers' basement as dungeon, a zindan, hence the name of the gate.
Lower city gates [edit]
Dark Gate [edit]
Dark Gate is the souther gate of the lower city, located at 44°49′19″N 20°26′49″E / 44.82194°N 20.44694°E. The gate and entire complex surrounding it saw extensive renovation in 2007 and 2008.
Gate of Charles VI [edit]
Gate of Charles VI (also called Gate of Karl VI), located at 44°49′33″N 20°26′57″E / 44.82583°N 20.44917°E, was built in 1736 as triumphal arch of Charles VI. It is one of few baroque buildings in Belgrade.
Port gates [edit]
The Port Gate was main entrance to Belgrade's port. Other gates leading to the river are Water Gate I, at 44°49′28″N 20°26′45″E / 44.82444°N 20.44583°E and Water Gate II, the only one still used today, at 44°49′36″N 20°26′49″E / 44.82667°N 20.44694°E.
Vidin Gate [edit]
Vidin Gate is northeastern gate of the Lower City, located at 44°49′37″N 20°27′6″E / 44.82694°N 20.45167°E. It was built in 18th century.
Outer city gates [edit]
Outer city gates are today destroyed, together with the outer city wall they were in.
Sava Gate [edit]
Sava Gate was the southern city gate. It was through this gate that upriserers entered Belgrade to capture it in the First Serbian Uprising, after it was opened by Uzun Mirko and Ostoja Konda. Today, a plaque that marks its location is at 44°49′6″N 20°26′58″E / 44.81833°N 20.44944°E.
Stambol Gate [edit]
Stambol Gate was the southeastern city gate, located in front of today's National Theatre of Serbia, at 44°48′59″N 20°27′37″E / 44.81639°N 20.46028°E. It was built by Austria in early 18th century. Later, the gate was used for public executions. A symbol of Turkish oppression, it was demolished in March 1868.
Vidin Gate [edit]
Vidin Gate was the eastern city gate, located near today's First Belgrade Gymnasium. Today, a plaque that marks its location is at 44°49′14″N 20°27′55″E / 44.82056°N 20.46528°E.
Modern gates [edit]
Eastern Gate of Belgrade [edit]
Eastern Gate of Belgrade is a complex of three highrise residential buildings easily visible on approach to Belgrade from east on the E75 highway. Located at 44°47′3″N 20°30′44″E / 44.78417°N 20.51222°E.
Western Gate of Belgrade [edit]
Western Gate of belgrade is a highrise at 44°49′13″N 20°24′17″E / 44.82028°N 20.40472°E, easily visible on approach to Belgrade from west on the E70/E75 highway. While the building looks like a gate, having two towers connected at the top, the highway actually passes right of the building.
References [edit]
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