Smederevo Fortress
Смедеревска тврђава
Serbia · Podunavlje District · Near Belgrade
Built 1428 · Medieval Serbian
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© Unsplash
Quick Facts
- Hours
- Daily 08:00–20:00
- Day trip from
- €120
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Best time
- April to October
- Nearest city
- Belgrade
Featured Tour
From Belgrade: 3 Danube Fortresses Guided Day Trip
Cancellation available · Instant confirmation
Highlights
- ✦Largest medieval fortress in the Balkans by area
- ✦Last capital of the medieval Serbian Despotate
- ✦25 towers and nearly 2 km of walls enclosing a triangular town fortress
- ✦Directly on the Danube — spectacular riverfront walls
- ✦Built by Despot Đurađ Branković in just three years (1428–1430)
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Skip-the-line tickets & expert guides
Smederevo Fortress is the largest medieval fortress in the Balkans — a massive triangular citadel enclosing 11 hectares directly on the south bank of the Danube, with 25 towers and nearly 2 km of walls. Built with extraordinary speed by Serbian Despot Đurađ Branković between 1428 and 1430 as his new capital after Belgrade was ceded to Hungary, the fortress was the last seat of medieval Serbian statehood before the Ottoman conquest of 1459. Despite an accidental ammunition explosion in World War II that destroyed much of the upper structure, the sheer scale of the surviving walls and towers is overwhelming. The Small Town — the residential inner fortress — is separated from the Large Town by an internal wall, and a summer festival and concert series draws visitors to perform beneath the medieval ramparts.
History
Despot Đurađ Branković built the fortress between 1428 and 1430 as his capital after surrendering Belgrade to Hungarian King Sigismund. It became the capital of the Serbian Despotate and the centre of resistance to Ottoman expansion. After Đurađ's death it fell to the Ottomans in 1459, marking the end of the medieval Serbian state. The Ottomans used it as a garrison for centuries. In 1941 a German ammunition train exploded near the fortress, causing massive damage. Restoration began in the late 20th century.
How to Visit
Getting there: Smederevo is 45 km southeast of Belgrade — frequent buses and trains from Belgrade's Lasta and Prokop stations cover the route in about 1 hour. The fortress sits directly on the Danube waterfront, a short walk from the bus station and town centre.
Tickets: Walk-up entry €2 adult, €1 child. The GYG tour (t629757, from €120, 5.0★/45 reviews) — a full-day Belgrade day trip visiting Smederevo, Ram, and Golubac fortresses in a guided Danube corridor circuit — book in advance.
Practical tips: Allow at least 1.5 hours — the fortress grounds are enormous and the full wall walk is demanding. Check the summer events calendar: July and August see concerts and cultural events held inside the ramparts. The Smederevo wine region surrounds the town, making a winery stop a natural afternoon addition.
Combine with: [Ram Fortress](/castles/serbia/ram-fortress) is 60 km east along the Danube and pairs naturally on a riverside drive. [Golubac Fortress](/castles/serbia/golubac-fortress) is 100 km further east at the Iron Gates gorge, completing the full Danube fortress corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions
It was the last capital of the medieval Serbian Despotate before the Ottoman conquest of 1459 — the fortress's fall effectively ended Serbian medieval statehood for four centuries.
Location
Smederevo, 11300 Smederevo, Serbia
Nearby Castles
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