On the rocky wall, under the mountain “Fruška Gora”, there were military fortifications at the site of today’s fortress. The latest archaeological research indicates that the history of this site is over 200,000 years old. The fortress is located in Novi Sad, the cultural center of Vojvodina
In the Roman era, (1st century AD), there was a fortress named “Cusum“, between Petrovaradin and today’s Sremska Kamenica. During the time of Byzantium in the same place there was the fortress “Petricon”. In the 8th century, today’s Petrovaradin was in the French state, and since the 9th century, it was a part of the medieval Hungarian state. The Turks occupy the fort in 1526.
This fortress was a significant military fortress of Austrian rulers. During Napoleon’s conquests, Austrian rulers was using the fortress to hide important things and values. Today it is the centre of art and the environment in which the Exit festival takes place and the building whose mysterious underworld does not cease to intrigue the world’s researchers.
The most striking part of the Petrovaradin fortress is the Clock Tower at the Ludwig bastion, where hands looks very unusually. A small hand shows minutes, and the big one shows hours. This unusual clock was important for all the shipowners, because they could see the time from a distance.
The Labyrinth
Special charm of the Petrovaradin fortress is its mysterious four-storey underground, built in the 70’s of the 18th century. It was intended for the accommodation of soldiers and weapons. and had 12,000 loopholes, and installations of minefields for protection from the enemy were also envisaged. Today, many researchers are studying this labyrinth in a desire to illuminate the legends and secrets of the Petrovaradin Underworld.
The Planetarium
From the Petrovaradin Fortress you can watch the stars, in the Planetarium you can hear lectures from astronomy. See the settings of the Museum of the City of Novi Sad. “Petrovaradin Fortress in the Past” and “Novi Sad from the 18th to the 20th Century” are in the Topovnjača building. Visit the studios that are located in the basement rooms of the Long Barracks. Talk with the artists of this unique and largest art colony of this kind in Europe.
In addition to all these curiosities on the Fortress, take a little time for a light walk. Catch a break in the cafes and restaurants with a view over the Danube, seagulls and ships.
Try to feel the spirit of ancient times. The sound of the glamour of famous warriors such as Eugene Savoy, was walking on the Petrovaradin cobblestones.
