Interesting facts about Belgrade

belgrade

Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia.

The city is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers in north central Serbia, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkan Peninsula.

As of June 2018, the population of Belgrade is about 1.4 million people.

The city of Belgrade covers a total area of 360 square kilometers (139 square miles).

belgrade coat of arms

Belgrade lies 117 meters (383 feet) above sea level.

One of Europe’s oldest cities, with a history of 7000 years, Belgrade’s wider city area was the birthplace of the largest prehistoric culture of Europe, the Vinča culture.

The foundation of the city itself dates back to Celtic and later, Roman periods, followed by the settlement of Slavs around the seventh century.

The city grew up around an ancient fortress on the Kalemegdan headland that was encompassed on three sides by the Sava and the Danube.

belgrade-2

As a strategic location, the city was battled over in 115 wars and razed 44 times.

Since ancient times it has been an important focal point for commercial traffic, an intersection of the roads of Eastern and Western Europe.

Today it is the central economic hub of Serbia, and the capital of culture, education and science.

Kalemegdan is a crown jewel of Belgrade. It’s a beautiful green area and a fortress with an impressive view over New Belgrade and the Sava and Danube confluence. Its name is formed from the two Turkish words: “Kale” (meaning “fortress”) and archaic word of Turkish origin “megdan” (meaning “battlefield”). It is the most visited tourist attraction in Belgrade. Since the admission is free, it is estimated that the total number of visitors (foreign, domestic, citizens of Belgrade) is over 2 million yearly.

kalemegdan

Pobednik is a monument in the Upper Town of the Belgrade Fortress, built to commemorate Serbia’s victory over Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empire during the Balkan Wars and the First World War. Erected in 1928, and standing at 14 metres (46 ft) high, it is one of the most famous works of Ivan Meštrović. It is also one of the most visited tourist attractions in Belgrade and the city’s most recognizable landmark.

pobednik

Grandiose coffee houses and smoky dives all find rightful place along Knez Mihailova, a lively pedestrian boulevard flanked by historical buildings all the way to the ancient Kalemegdan fortress. The street is named after a Serbian prince. Knez Mihailova dates back to the Ottoman days, though it never really came into its own until the 19th century when the wealthy started building homes here.

knez mihailova

Skadarlija Street may not be very long, just 400 meters (1,340 feet), but it’s the most famous street in Belgrade. Located in the Old Town, it connects Despot Stefan Boulevard with Dusanova Street. The street is lined with vintage buildings. With a bohemian atmosphere, Skadarlija Street is considered Belgrade’s version of Montmartre in Paris. In fact, it was known as the Gypsy quarter in the 19th century. It’s a place where poets gather for Skadarlija Evenings at the house of the late poet Dura Jaksic, and where the Children’s Street Theatre performs circus acts. The restaurants and outdoor cafes welcome diners, including celebrities, from all over.

skadarlija

The Church of Saint Sava is a Serbian Orthodox church in Belgrade. It is the largest Serbian Orthodox church, the largest Orthodox place of worship in the Balkans and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. From its location, the Church of Saint Sava dominates Belgrade’s cityscape, and is perhaps the most monumental building in the city. The church is dedicated to Saint Sava, the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church and an important figure in medieval Serbia.

church of Saint Sava

The Nikola Tesla Museum is dedicated to honoring and displaying the life and work of Nikola Tesla. The museum is located in the central area of Belgrade, Serbia. It holds more than 160,000 original documents, over 2,000 books and journals, over 1,200 historical technical exhibits, over 1,500 photographs and photo plates of original, technical objects, instruments and apparatus, and over 1,000 plans and drawings. The Nikola Tesla Archive was inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme Register in 2003 due to its critical role regarding history of electrification of the world and future technological advancements in this area.

nikola tesla museum

Ada Ciganlija is a former island on the Sava River, and Belgrade’s biggest sports and recreational complex. Today it is connected with the right bank of the Sava via two causeways, creating an artificial lake. It is the most popular destination for Belgraders during the city’s hot summers. There are 7 kilometres (4 miles) of long beaches and sports facilities for various sports including golf, football, basketball, volleyball, rugby union, baseball, and tennis.

ada ciganlija

Belgrade has a reputation for offering a vibrant nightlife; many clubs that are open until dawn can be found throughout the city. The most recognizable nightlife features of Belgrade are the barges (splav), spread along the banks of the Sava and Danube Rivers.

Extreme sports are available, such as bungee jumping, water skiing, and paintballing.

Belgrade has a humid subtropical climate, with four seasons and uniformly spread precipitation.

The city of Belgrade covers 3.6% of Serbia’s territory, and around 24% of the country’s population lives within its administrative limits.

It is classified as a Beta-Global City.