The Golubac Fortress

Such position led the border powers – Hungary and Serbia, and later the Ottoman Empire, to battle throughout the 14^th and 15^th centuries in order to conquer the Golubac Fortress, thus gaining control and dominance over the state border. In historical sources Golubac Fortress is mentioned for the first time in 1335 as a fortification housing Hungarian military garrison. 

Although it was erected even before that year, its original builders and the exact date of construction remain unknown. On medieval maps the name appears in various languages: Galambas, Galambocz, Colombazo, Columbaz, Columbarum, Taubersburg, Tawbenstein, Peristerin, Giwerdzinlik…each with the word golub (dove) at the stem.

The explanation for the mystery of the name is found in medieval legends, among which the most famous one tells the tale of an Ottoman town commander who fell in love with a beautiful local girl named Golubana. Having refused to enter his harem, Golubana was cruelly punished – she was chained to a rock to repent. Her defiance to the Ottoman commander led to her death.

In her memory the Fortress was named Golubac, while the rock, which protrudes from the Danube to this day, was named “Baba-kaj” (Turkish for “repent”). In the 1930s, construction of a regional road that ran through the Fortress caused damage to both gates of the fortification.

The base of Golubac Fortress is adapted to the configuration of the terrain. It comprises the Palace and 9 towers connected by ramparts. Given its architecture and the time of construction, it is apparent that the fortification is divided into two main parts: the Inner Fort, with the tallest Donjon or defense tower, better known as the Hat Tower, and the Outer Fort, which was the first to come under attack of the enemies.

Tower 2 architecturally belongs to the Upper compound of the Inner Fort of the fortification, constructed at an earlier date. Circular and smaller in size, it was built on a precipice protruding right above the Danube, most likely to serve as a watchtower.

Tower 3 architecturally belongs to the Upper compound of the Inner Fort of the fortification, constructed at an earlier date. It is a 3-storey structure, open in its entire height, indicating that it served as a defense post.

Archaeological excavations have uncovered round cannon balls made of stone and numerous arrowheads (the largest number of arrowheads and arrows for crossbows, roughly 7000 in total, were found in towers 3 and 4). 

The tower with a chapel. Tower 4 architecturally belongs to the Upper compound of the Inner Fort of the fortification, constructed at an earlier date. It is an enclosed 5-storey building, which suggests that the upper story may have served as a accommodation for the army. On the second story there is a chapel with a decorated and nicely finished entrance.

Tower 6 architecturally belongs to the Upper Compound of the Outer Fort, built at a later date. It is square based, presumed to originate from the time of despot Stefan Lazarevic. During the Ottoman rule, at the time of intensified use of firearms, it was reinforced with battlements, as were the other towers in the Outer Ward, and adjusted to the new form of warfare.

Around the same time, cannon fire embrasures aimed towards the hillside behind the Fortress were added as another defensive measure. Tower 6 is open in its entire height, which indicates that it served for defensive purposes. The tower protecting the Fortress from hillside attacks.

The tower with Christian inscriptions etched in stone. Tower 7 architecturally belongs to the Upper Compound of the Outer Fort, built at a later date. It is square based, originating from the third phase of construction and reign of despot Stefan Lazarevic. During the Ottoman rule, at the time of intensified use of firearms, it was reinforced with battlements, as were the other towers in the Outer Fort, and adjusted to the new form of warfare.

Being open in most of its height, tower 7 served for defensive purposes. The function of subsequently walled-up lower story remains unknown at this time. This is where the excavations have uncovered two built-in stones with engraved crosses and inscriptions in Serbian Slavic. Further examination of the inscriptions should ascertain whether the lower story of the tower may have served as a dungeon at some point.

The tower that guarded the Main Gate. Tower 8 is adjacent to the Main Gate and was used predominantly for defensive purposes. It architecturally belongs to the Lower Compound of the Outer Fort, built at a later date. During the Ottoman rule, at the time of intensified use of firearms, it was reinforced with battlements, as were the other towers in the Outer Fort, and adjusted to the new form of warfare.

As it was the first to come under attack and completely exposed to wartime destruction, it bears visible traces of numerous building repairs done over the years, in particular in the highest levels of the tower. The two bottom story of tower 8 are enclosed and some point presumably served as armory and food storage.

The majestic edifice – home of the long gone fortress’ commanders. The Palace is a monumental, multi-story building belonging to the Lower compound of the Inner Fort. It is attributed to the second phase of construction, i.e. reign of despot Stefan Lazarevic.