User:Xompanthy/golubac

(Still work in progress)

Golubac city or Golubac is a medieval fortress, a cultural monument of great importance, that can be found in National Park Đerdap, on the right shore of Danube, 4 kilometers downstream from today's settlement. It is situated on high cliffs, at a place where the river narrows, right at the entrance to the Đerdap Ravine.

Golubac is composed of three parts: forward, back and upper city (with the citadel). It has 10 (9+1) towers and 2 portcullises. The Turks later fortified the towers with cannon ports and added another tower (10.) around the year 1480. In front of the city is the forward wall (I) that makes up the outer wall of the moat, which was likely filled with water as it was linked to the Danube. The city was connected to the Babakaj stone by a strong chain, so it completely controlled the traffic through the Đerdap Ravine. A settlement for common people was situated in front of the fortress.

Forward city

The forward city consists of the upper and the lower part which where divided by a wall linking the 4th and 7th tower. The lower part has the entrance (II), which is guarded by the 9th and 8th tower, which in turn is fortified with a cannon port. At the end of the city is the 10th tower, which the Turks added to act as a lower artillery tower. It controls the passage over Danube and the entrance to the city harbor (which was probably situated between the 5th and 10th tower), and it was connected to the 9th tower with a low wall. Opposing the entrance was a portcullis that led to the back city. This part did not contain buildings except the remains connected to the 8th tower that probably formed a larger whole with it. Along the path was a ditch 0.5 meters wide and 0.75 meters deep from which a steep decline starts.

On the wall that separates the upper from the lower part is a gate that leads to the upper city. The upper part does not have buildings but has a pathway that leads to the stairs to the gate (IV), which is 2 meters of the ground, right next to the 3rd tower.

Back city

The back city is divided from the upper by a wall (which connects the 2nd and 4th tower) and a steep rock 3 to 4 meters high. The stairs (VI) lead tot he top of the wall, over the portcullis. Next to the 5th tower is a building (VII) (that was probably a military barracks and munition storage)

(some 12-15% of text I'm skipping over; also, I'm not translating the “exploratory” sentences in the following text)

Towers

The towers in the fort have wooden floors and stairs inside, while the stairs that connect to them are made of stone. Step width is approximately 60 centimeters. Half of the towers are completely made of stone on all sides (1,2,4,5,10), while the other half (3,6,7,8,9) don't have the side facing the interior of the fort.

1.Dungeon tower. It has an eight-sided base with a circular spire rising from it. The interior is square. 2. Circular tower, with all sides made of stone 3.Tower has a square base, with the weak side facing the Dungeon tower. The last floor has a balcony that faces the Đerdap. 4.Tower has a square base. The ground floor has an orthodox chapel that wasn't added later, but was built into the tower. 5. Completely square tower. 6. Tower has a square base, but is reinforced with a six-sided foundation. 7. Tower has a square base, but is reinforced with a circular foundation. 8. Tower has an irregular square base and is shorter than the other towers. 9. Tower has a square base, but is reinforced with an eight-sided foundation. 10. A very short tower (only one floor) with cannon ports. Has an eight-sided base and is practically identical to the three artillery towers added to the Smederev fort.

History of the Fort

Golubac is mention for the first time in Hungarian sources from the years 1335., 1337. and 1342. It's not know who built it or when, but the Upper city was built by a Serbian noble (note the orthodox church in tower 4.). The city was then expanded (the Back and Forward city) during Serbian or Hungarian rule, although it's possible it was originally built in this size. The Turks made the last phase of construction by fortifying towers 6.,,7., 8., 9., and by adding the artillery tower (10.).

It was part of count Lazar's state, who was giving away nearby villages to monasteries. Immediately after the Kosovo battle in 1389., Bajazit I. takes it over. It was in the hands of the Hungarians who handed it over to the despot Stefan in 1403., when he became the Hungarian vassal. According to the contract from 1426., the city, along with Belgrade, was supposed to be turned over back to the Hungarians after the despot died (Stefan dies in 1427.) But the commander of the city, duke Jeremija, hands it over to the Turks for unknown reasons. According to the Segedin peace (between the Hungarians and the Turks) from 1444., the Serbian Despotovina state was rebuilt and Golubac becomes a part of it. After the death of despot Đurađ in 1456., the Turks conquer it. The Hungarians manage to conquer it in 1481., but abandon it soon after.

It's in Turkish possession until 1867., when they turn it over to count Mihail, along with several other towns in Serbia. The Austrians held it for a short time (1688 – 1690), as did the Serbian rebels during Kočina krajina and the First Serbian rebellion.

Golubac today

After the First world war, a road was constructed that went through both the fort's portcullises. This road is the shortest link between Serbia and eastern parts of the Balkan peninsula.

After the Hydroelectric plant was built on the Danube, the water level rose at Golubac, so the lower parts of the city are flooded.

From the beginning of the 21st century, most parts of the fort have been overgrown by weeds and other plants, making most of the upper parts of the fort impassable. During the spring in 2005., a public project with the goal of restoring the fort was started. Most of the plants were removed and certain parts were repaired (like the fountain in the moat that was raised in the honor of knight Zaviša Crni who lost his life in Golubac).

The walls, towers and stone stairs are in pretty good condition, but the wooden floors and steps have rotted out. Most of the upper floors are impassable.

Golubac is a highly visited site today, for several reasons: a major road goes through it, and it's close to Lepenski Vir, so the two locales make a touristic whole.