Our third trip outside Belgrade. Smederevo fortress and Jeremic winery were on our itinerary. Our goal was to visit a small town on the Danube-Smederevo, explore the fortress and of course, grab a glass of wine in some of the wineries around the town.

The town of Smederevo stands on the banks of the Danube river and it is widely known for its remarkable medieval fortress. The fortress and the settlement were built from scratch in 1430 on the order of Despot Djuradj Brankovic, who was a ruler of the Serbian despotate. It was further fortified by the Ottoman Empire, which had taken the city in 1459. Interestingly enough, Smederevo’s location on the Danube (between Belgrade and Golubac fortress) provided easy access to other points along the river. It also allowed the control of Danube traffic, including blocking Hungarian entry into the Morava valley, which satisfied the Ottomans.

Photo credits@Maja Jankovic, https://www.facebook.com/theladyofchic

Today’s Smederevo is not even close to its former significance. The fortress, which was our first stop is definitely worth a look, however, I can’t say that it’s in the best shape. I’ve noticed that one part of the fortress where the knight festival was organized is restored and reminds of the interior of Winterfell from the Game of Thrones series.

As well, the city center was very interesting to see. The St. Georg church stands of the main square, in the close proximity of bars, cafeterias, parks, and ice cream parlors. This monument of sacral architecture was built in the period from 1850 to 1854 as the first reminiscence of a Serbian medieval monument i.e. the Church of the Holy Trinity in the Manasija Monastery. Likewise, it should be highlighted that the St. Georg church represents a fine example of the peak of early Romantic historicism.

Next to the church, there are a bunch of nice local bars where you can grab a cup of coffee and eat some yummy artisan ice cream at very affordable prices. In case you get hungry, I recommend visiting a local restaurant Terasa that stands on the banks and overlooks the Danube. I must admit that the food was super delicious. Serbian salads, roasted peppers, river fish, and a pork fillet were “to die for”.

Not to forget to mention that the surrounding of Smederevo houses two wineries. So, the visitors can choose between Janko winery and Jeremic winery. We opt for a second option and drank a bottle of Sonata (Sauvignon Blanc) which I warmly recommend to all wine aficionados.

In a nutshell, if you decide to visit Smedrevo don’t forget to reserve a wine tasting in one of those two local wineries (or maybe both so you can compare the quality), and visit the fortress and the church on the main square.

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