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GOLUBAČKI GRAD Nacionalni park Đerdap N a samom ulazu u Đerdapsku klisuru, tamo gde široki, opasni Du- nav najviše podseća na more i gde vam se čini da rukom možete da dotaknete Rumuniju, uzdiže se Golubačka tvrđava iz 14. veka. Ova utvrda sa deset kula, čijoj je lepoti teško odoleti, kako iz vazduha, tako i sa zemlje, potpuno autentično dočarava srednjovekovnu atmosferu, a neverovatni okolni pejzaži daju joj dodatnu draž. Golubac je teškim lancem povezan sa stenom Baba-kaj, koja se iz reke uzdiže do visine od šest metara, a za koju se vezuje i neobična legenda o devojci Goluba- ni, po kojoj je utvrđenje i dobilo ime. Glas o lepoti ove devojke stigao je i do turskog paše, ali ga je ona odbila, a kazna je bila drakonska – veza- na je za usamljenu stenu u vodi, dok su joj uzvikivali: „Baba kaj, kaj“, ili „pokaj se, ženo“. Tako stenu i dan-danas znamo kao Baba-kaj, a tvrđa- vu, koja je bila u rukama Ugara, Turaka i srpskih vladara – kneza Laza- ra i Đurđa Brankovića, kao Golubac.
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KALEMEGDAN Beograd/Belgrade
T he banks of the beautiful, blue Dan- ube, which cruises through Europe for exactly 2,860 kilometres, are adorned by more than 120 castles and fortress- es, and Serbia can boast of being home to sev- en of them, the most famous of which are cer- tainly Kalemegdan and Petrovaradin, which are symbols of the country’s two largest cities – Bel- grade and Novi Sad. The ramparts of these two fortresses, which are recognisable almost world- wide, o er incredible views, while both also pro- vide authentic tourist experiences, but also a kind of time travel experience, considering the fact that every corner has its own story – some of which are “only” a century old, while others date back many centuries. Petrovaradin and Kalemegdan are woven into the hearts of the people of Novi Sad and Belgrade, attached inseparably to these centres representing the souls of their cities, because both fortresses are places that haven’t only writ- ten global history, but also personal, individu- al histories, with their cobblestone streets lled with mementos and memories... The interest of the public was also piqued recently by the restoration of Golubac Fortress, which was formally opened to visitors at the end of March and which, despite years of neglect, is unrivalled as one of the most beautiful and im- posing forti cations in the Balkans. The list does not end there. Actually, it’s just the beginning, because there are four other fortresses that tow- er over the Danube – they may have been some- what forgotten, but they all have a glittering past and, we believe, a future too.
GOLUBAC FORTRESS, ĐERDAP NATIONAL PARK At the very entrance to the Đerdap Gorge, at the point where the wide, dan- gerous Danube most resembles a sea, and where it seems that Romania can be touched with your outstretched hand, rises the 14 th -century Golubac Fortress. This forti cation, with ten towers and beauty that’s all but irresistible, both from the air and and from the land, fully encapsulates an authenticate medieval at- mosphere, while it is provided with additional charm by the incredible land- scapes that surround it. Golubac is connected by a heavy chain to a rock called Baba-kaj, which rises from the river to a height of six metres and is linked to an unusual legend about a girl called Golubana, after whom this fortress was named. Talk of this girl’s beauty reached the Turkish pasha, but she refused his advances and was subjected to draconian punishment – tied to the lone rock in the water, while onlookers shouted “baba kaj, kaj” or “repent, woman”. We still know this rock as Baba-kaj, while the fortress - which was under the posses- sion of Hungarians and Ottoman Turks, but also Serbian rulers Prince Lazar and Đurađ Branković – is known as Golubac.
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