Maglič
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Maglič (Serbian Cyrillic: Маглич) is a medieval fortress in Ibar gorge 20 km south from Kraljevo in Serbia. It is placed atop a hill around which the Ibar River makes a curve, about 100 m above river level. The fortress protected the only caravan road that connected the Morava Valley and Kosovo polje. Its name means The Foggy One from the Serbian word "Магла", meaning fog.
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[edit] Structures in Maglič fortress
The fortress consist of seven towers and one dungeon tower connected with walls. The towers are typical for a medieval fortress in the Balkan peninsula with three solid sides and wooden fences on inner side. Maglič has one gate 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.
[edit] History
Maglič was probably built in the first half of the 12th century by Stephen the First Crowned or his son Urosh I. During the Serbian empire it was the seat of Archbishop Danilo II, who in Maglič wrote his famous hagiographies and regiographies.
After capturing Smederevo on June 20, 1459, the Ottoman Empire occupied Maglič and held it until its recapture by Serbs during the Great Turkish War. After the defeat of the Serbian uprising the Ottoman Turks took it back, but they abandoned it soon after.
During the Second Serbian Uprising Voivod Radoslav Jelečanin ambushed Turks in it and stopped their advance from Novi Pazar.
[edit] Maglič today
The fortress was partly restored after World War I, but main restoration of it took place in late 1980. During that restoration 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 bottom of the Maglič is the starting point of for the "Merry Ride" (Serbian: Весели спуст), 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.
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