Belgrade - City Ambients

Kalemegdan

The hill above the confluence of the Sava and the Danube, the Turks called Ficirbajir (Hill for contemplation). Kalemegdan is a Turkish name, which means a fortress (town) field, an actual area between the fortress and Belgrade.
The town of Belgrade was surrendered to the Serbs in 1867. Following the edict issued by the Turkish sultan, the town keys were handed over to Prince Mihailo in Kalemegdan. At the end of the 19th century, this area become a big park with a promenade. Numerous remains recount the turbulent history of Belgrade.

Kosancicev venac

This area is situated in the northwestern part of old Belgrade, on a hill towards the river Sava. A medieval Serbian settlement was founded here, with a church and cementery. At the beginning of the 19th century, this area, which was initially the core of the town, began to expand. Today, this part of the town preserves the spirit of old Belgrade with its buildings and details.

Knez Mihajlova Street

The pedestrian zone and culture are under protection as one of the oldest and most valuable city ambients. Numerous monuments, remarkable buildings and private houses were built around 1870. It is considered that even during the Roman period this was the centre of Singidunum settlement. During the period of Turkish rule, winding streets with gardens, fountains and mosques intersected the area.

Republic Square

The area covering the present Republic Square was uninhabited until 1835, spreading behind Stambol Gate. After the Gate had been demolished, the construction material was used for building a number of houses in the square, right in front of the theatre, a moument to Prince Mihailo Obrenovic was built in 1882.

Studentski Square

Turkish tombstones used to cover the area of the present-day square. In the 2nd half of the 19th century, the gorund was levelled and turned into the Grand Marketplace. The edifice of Kapetan Mišina Building, with its bright facade and reddish ornaments on the window and doors, overlooks the square. When Belgrade came under Serbian rule, the market area was levelled and turned into a park.

Dorcol

Dorcol is a Turkish word, which meand a crossroad. This area, known as the Danube Town, was demolished and burnt down in every single war. The oldest house dates from 1724, and is situated at 10, Cara Dušana Street. The most significant 19th century buildings are Museum of Dositej and Vuk House of Sveti Sava, as well as the building of Pedagogical Academy.

Skadarlija

This old bohemian quarter, with numerous restaurants, used to be gathering point of the most famous people of Belgrade cultural life. It was formed in the first half of the 19th century, while the name of Skadarska Street dates from 1872, when the houses were assigned numbers. Among the residents of Skadarlija were famous writers, actors, painters and jurnalists.

Botanical Garden – Jevremovac

Josif Pancic, in 1874 initiated the founding of Royal Botanical Garden. Initially, it was situated in Dorcol, on the Danube bank, but was moved to the present location in 1889. It was named Jevrem s Garden, after the area it occupies. Jevremovac used to be owned by Jevrem Obrenovic, king Milan s Grandfather. Today, the Botanical Garden grows over 2,000 local, European and exotic examples of trees, bushes and other plants.

Terazije

Today s city centre used to be a marshland and a desert plain away from the town trenches. Terazije was named after the towns that were used by to distribute water – the Turks called it ‚‚terazije‚‚ (scales for water). The building of Terazije begins in 1860, when in 1860, when Terazije Fountain, built in the memory of Prince Miloš Obrenovic replaced the water towers.

Zeleni Venac

The area of Zeleni Venac (Green Girdle) used t be a deep marsh, with an inn on its bank. The inn had a girdle sign made of green tin, and the whole are was named after it. After the marsh had been dried in 1840s, a small square was built then a park, and finally a market place, which exists today.

Kneza Miloša Street

One of the longest and most beautiful city streets. Until 1872 it used to be called Topcider road, for it represented the main communication between the town and Topcider area. Today it houses numerous institutions and embassies.

Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard

In mid 18th century a long road to Istanbul lived where this Boulevard is today. Bit by nit, the road become Sokace kod Zlatnog Topa (Golden Cannons Street), then Markova Street. Soon after this, it was named Fišeklija (Cartridge Belt), after the wooden shops where gunpowder was slod in cartridges. At the World War II, it was called Bulevar Oslobodjenja (Liberation Boulevard), and Bulevar Revolucije (Revolution Boulevard). It retook the name of Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard in the early 21st century.

Tašmajdan

For centuries it had ben used as quarry. Early inhabitans of Belgrade, digging caves deep into Tašmajdanski rock, created catacombs and stone halls with symmetrically aranged corridors. This area was used as a cemetery, from Roman necropolis to a Turkish cemetery at the end of 19th century. Present Tašmajdan Park was planted with trees and designed as in the early years, after World War II.

Dimitrije Tucovic Square – Slavija

This square was originally called Simic s Estate, for the property belonged to Stojan Simic, president of the ministary council. This area was formerly a favourite site for duck and game hunting, until 1870s when it become inhabited. Soon after that, the square was named Englezovac, after Francis Mackenzie, a Scot who bought this property from Simic. Right until the end of World War II this square was called Slavija.

Topcider

Topcider is a Turkish word, adopted from the Persian language, which means cannon valley. Here is where the Turks cast the cannons used to attack Belgrade in 1521. Princ Miloš Obrenovic started designing Topcider, by building his residence in 1831, the church in 1834, then a restaurant, army barracks and the park. The area surrounding the residence was planted by plane trees, which still exist.

Hippodrome

The first horse races in Belgrade took place in 1822, in the area behind Saint Marko Church. At the beginning of the 20th century, the horse track was moved to Banjica. Prior to the Valkan wars, it was moved to the field at Careva Cuprija (The Emperor s Bridge), where it remained.

Vinca

Vinca is a mining Neolithic settlement discovered in 1905, close to the confluence of the Bolecica and the Danube. It represents the oldest discovered culture in this part of the world, developing simultaneously with the Mediterranean cultures. Among the material items discovered, were tools made of stone and bones. Along with them were ceramic items carved with authentic mysterious symbols, dating from the same period as the Cretan alphabet, 10 millennia ago.

Zemun

Neolithic people founded a settlement here, using a conveniet location of the Danube and the Sava riverbanks. In the 3rd century B.C: this area was inhabited by the Celtic tribe of Scordisci and given the name of Taurunum. The Slavs introduced the toponym of Zemun, for there were numerous dugouts (zemunice), occupied by the first inhabitants of this settlement. The history of Zemun as a modern town starts in 1717, when it become a part of the Habsburg Monarchy.