FORTRESS OF PETROVARADIN

This great fortress, perched on its promontory, seems to serenely watch over the city. Interesting for its museum, the fortress is also interesting for romantic walks and for the numerous painters' and sculptors' studios nestled in the rock. Its numerous multi-storey projections and its strategic situation earned Petrovaradin the nickname of Gibraltar of the Danube because it was built according to the Vauban system from 1692 to 1780: Eugene of Savoy dislodged the Turks from this site, but it is after the definitive victory of 1716 that the Habsburgs undertook large-scale fortification work. On 112 hectares, more than 16 km of underground galleries, distributed on four levels, were dug to receive 400 cannons and 12 000 loopholes. This stronghold had such a reputation of impregnability that the Austrian imperial family had the crown treasures transported there during Napoleon's advance on Vienna.

The underground galleries (guided tour between 9 am and 8 pm). The guide will lead you through 1 km of galleries, where you can see the loopholes and the casemates. On the upper plateau, in addition to the Petrovaradin museum and the fortress restaurant (see relevant sections), a very pleasant walk along the walls is recommended.

At the entrance to the fortress, when you come by car, you can see on the right the Rimski Bunar, a fairly wide and 11 m deep well, which has always served as a hiding place for weapons.

The center of the complex is occupied by the gunboat, built from 1755 to 1760. In front of it, the parade square, still paved. Behind it, with a view of the Danube, is the one-story officers' pavilion.

The artists' studios. On the eastern side of the fortress, a little below, is what makes this place so unique: more than 88 artists' studios dug into the rock. These artists spend most of their time here and can be visited.

The Suburbium. This is the oldest part of Novi Sad, still in a very authentic state. Baroque, its houses are multi-storey and with decorative facades. There is also the St. Julian's Monastery from 1701, in baroque style. The portal of Prince Eugene of Savoy, known as the Belgrade Portal, is the most monumental work in the Suburbium in the classical style.

The EXIT music festival has been held in the fortress in the summer since 2001.