Maglič
It was built to protect entrance to Ibar valley on one of the Western branches of Stolovi where a long time ago, according to legends, Old Slavic deities had their residence.
Maglič was included on the list of Cultural Monuments of Exceptional Importance in 1979.
The castle is located atop a hill around which the Ibar river makes a curve, about 100 m above the river. The fortress protected the only road that connected the Great Morava Valley and Kosovo polje. Its name means "The Foggy One" from the Serbian word "magla" meaning fog.
Maglič was built in the first half of 13th century, by either Serbian king Stefan or his son Uroš I. It was built to safeguard two important monasteries, Sopoćani and Studenica, as well as prevent any future Mongolian raid deeper into the Serbian lands. During Serbian Empire, Maglič was the seat of Archbishop Danilo II, who wrote his famous hagiographies and regiographies while residing there.
After capturing Smederevo on June 20, 1459, the Ottoman Empire occupied Maglič and held it until its recapture by the Serbs during the Great Turkish War. After the defeat of the Serbian uprising the Ottoman Turks retook the fortress, abandoning it soon after.
The fortress consist of seven towers and one dungeon tower connected by walls. The towers are typical for a medieval fortress in the Balkan peninsula with three solid sides and wooden fences on the inner side. One gate is placed in the north, and one small sally port in one of the towers in the southeast part. Inside the fortress are remains of a palace, barracks, and a church of Saint George. There is also a large reservoir for water and a well. In the southern part of the fortress, three towers are placed next to each other to give better protection from attacks.
The fortress was partly restored after World War I, but main restoration took place in late 1980s. During it, wooden floors in its towers and fences along the walls were restored. Today they are a potential danger because some of them are rotten.
Every year the foot of the Maglič is the starting point of the "Merry Ride", a popular voyage down the Ibar River to Kraljevo. All types of river-worthy vessels are used during it, and politicians often join the festivities. Usually more than 3,000 vessels take part in it.
In springtime valley of Ibar is covered with white and blue lilacs (flowers native to Balkan Penninsula). One theory says that lilacs were first planted by king Uros I, to show his love for queen Helen of Anjou. According to another theory, lilacs were planted by Uros and Helen's son, king Milutin (1253-1321) for his fifth spouse, 6-year old Simonida, daughter of Byzantine emperor Andronicus.
Those lilacs are now autochtonous species.
We also recommend visit to Mountain Stolovo (Kamarište) on which Maglič is built. If you are lucky, you might stumble upon herds of semi-wild horses. Legend says that at this very place Miloš Obilić, famous Serbian hero from the 14th century, found his horse for Battle at Kosovo polje. Breeder Petar gave him horse Ždralin as a gift.
