Prizren Fortress — Attraction in The plateau of Dukagjin

Prizren Fortress (Serbian: Призренски град/Prizrenski grad), also known as Kaljaja (Albanian: Каlаја, Serbian Cyrillic: Каљаја) and Dushan's (Stephan Urosh IV ,Nemanic dynasty)Fortress (Душанов град/Dushan city), is a medieval fortress in Prizren, Kosovo,[a] which once served as the capital of the Serbian Empire. It was built on a hill above Prizrenska Bistrica, around which the modern city developed. The first fort, erected on this location by the Byzantines, was further expanded by Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55). The fort then came under the control of the Ottomans for four centuries. It was declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1948

History Prizren was developed in the 11th century on the ruins of ancient Theranda, and it was first mentioned in 1019 at the time of Basil II (r. 976–1025) in the form of Prizdrijana. In 1072, Serbian ruler Constantine Bodin (r. 1081–1101) was declared "Emperor of the Bulgarians" in Prizren during the large Slavic uprising against the Byzantine Empire. From the time of Stefan the First-Crowned (r. 1196–1228) and onwards, Prizren's importance increased, particularly during the reigns of King Stefan Milutin (r. 1282–1321) and Emperors Stefan Dushan (r. 1331–55) and Urosh V (r. 1355–71). The Prizren square and its stronghold developed the Via de Zenta trade route which passed through the Drin valley and connected the Adriatic Sea with the interior of the Balkan Peninsula. Dušan expanded the fortification and had his endowment, the Monastery of the Holy Archangels, built in its vicinity by the Višegrad fortress. Prizren served as the Serbian imperial capital for which it is called the City of the Emperor or Serbian Tsar-city. During the fall of the Serbian Empire, up until the turn of the 14th century, the city was in the possession of several Serbian noble families, such as the Mrnjavčević family, the Balšić family, and the Branković family. With Ottoman expansion, it began to lose its commercial importance, so in 1433 it is mentioned as a deserted square. Prizren fell to the Ottomans on 21 June 1455, although some sources place it in 1459. The Ottomans expanded the fortress, and held it up until Prizren's capture by Serbia during the First Balkan War (1912). During the Ottoman occupation of the Serbian lands, the Serbs held social gatherings at several monumental places, such as Kaljaja, where they danced the Kolo in...

Prizren Fortress.. my favorite place in Prizren. I visited it 3 times on my 1.5 day stay. It’s free and the view is incredible!! You see all of Prizren, the surrounding towns and distant mountains. It’s the best place to watch the sunset. Also you can climb up on different wall sections. Different ways to get there… the shortest way (but steepest way) goes through cobbled streets in old town and keep climbing, past Trini cafe, and a few more meters of incline until you get to the fortress entrance. They is route takes about 15 mins, depending how often you take breaks. There is also a nice walk through a tree covered path about 2.85 mile long, during the first half you’re following the river, then by Panorama restaurant you take the unpaved/gravel path on a gradual incline to the fortress. The path is wide, shades gray trees and there’s at least 2 natural springs/drinking spring along the way. I’ve also seen some people drive up in cars, ATV and mopeds, but I think walking is still the best option and you feel so accomplished when you get to the top. I went up on a rainy day, in the early afternoon...

Review for the Prizren Fortress

If you’re visiting Prizren, there’s no better way to end your day than by hiking up to the fortress. This historic stronghold, perched above the city, offers a breathtaking view a magical blend of Prizren’s red rooftops, the winding river, and the mountains in the distance.

You can feel history in every stone. Dating back to the Illyrian era, the fortress has witnessed countless historical moments. Its ruins tell stories of a glorious past, while the peaceful atmosphere makes it a perfect spot for reflection and relaxation.

The best part? The sunset! As the sun dips behind the mountains, the city is bathed in golden light, turning the entire scene into a living painting. At that moment, any exhaustion from the climb simply disappears.

If you’re in Prizren, the fortress is a must visit..... for its history, its serenity, anddddd most of all, its breathtaking view!

You don't need to pay any tickets, the door is open and free... ...