Petrovaradin Fortress (Petrovaradinska Tvrdjava) Tours and Tickets

Located high on the right bank of the Danube River in the city of Novi Sad, the Petrovaradin Fortress (Petrovaradinska Tvrdjava) has played a significant role in Serbia’s history. Over the centuries, the site of the fortress has been used by the Romans, Byzantines, Celts, Turks, Hungarians and Austrians. Starting in the 17th century, the Austrians spent nearly a century building new fortifications, including new walls, water moats and channels with movable bridges and control gates. A 16-kilometer long system of underground tunnels was completed in 1776 and visitors today can explore about one kilometer of the system with a guide. While many other fortresses were destroyed when Serbia became part of Yugoslavia, the colonel responsible for the destruction is said to have spared Petrovaradin because he thought it was too beautiful to destroy.

The fortress complex is divided into an Upper Town and a Lower Town. The Upper Town is home to old military barracks, the clock tower and the Novi Sad city museum, while the Lower Town is where you can see military officer residences, the Monastery of St. George and the Baroque style Belgrade Gate. The clock tower is notable for its large clocks with Roman numerals and the minute and hour hand reversed so that fishermen on the Danube can see the time from a distance.