HISTORY

HIDDEN IN A VOLCANO: This fortress was key to defending Serbia from enemy forces for centuries! (PHOTO)

by admin20. February 2025.20. February 2025.

That Serbia was once filled with active volcanoes is best evidenced by the numerous extinct volcanic cones scattered across the country.

The highest concentration of these formations can be found on Mount Rudnik, but the one that stands out the most in appearance is Ostrvica, also known as the “Cap of Šumadija.” Since active volcanoes ceased to exist long ago, in the Middle Ages, this site became one of the fortresses fiercely contested by major powers of the time.

“Ostrvica played an extremely important role in the defense of the Serbian state at the time. It was the most significant fortress in this region, and whoever controlled it also controlled the entire area. This is why great battles were fought there. The people who inhabited the region were engaged in mining, making them even more attractive to foreign forces seeking to conquer it. The fortress was the center of military administration for the Rudnik region. According to historical records, it first fell under Turkish rule in 1438 and remained a Turkish stronghold for a long time,” said Dejan Radičević, a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, in an interview with RINA.

The city’s layout is irregular, adapted to the terrain. The fortress is divided into two plateaus, connected by massive defensive walls. On the accessible southwestern slopes, below the fortified part of the city, a settlement developed, where archaeological research is currently being conducted.

“In the 1980s, research was carried out at this location by the Archaeological Institute in Belgrade, focusing on the Great City in the Lower Town and the Metaljka site, where the remains of a single-nave church were discovered. The structure most likely dates back to the 14th or 15th century. The foundations of the church were the first to be uncovered, and so far, its inner walls have been explored. We are continuing with the excavation of the remaining walls. We also need to determine whether the church was later converted into a mosque and how long it remained in use,” said Ana Cicović, curator of the Museum of the Rudnik-Takovo Region.