(magla) that ensure it sometimes seems like a citadel that‘s neither in the heavens nor on earth, and which proudly recounts the story of the heroism and magnificence of Serbianknights. On a foothill of Stolovi mountain, just above the Ibar and twenty kilometres to the south of Kraljevo, it stands monumentally as a fortress of historical and strategic importance.Maglič is reminiscentof a fairy tale castle, because it stands atop ahall, at anelevationof around 150 metres, while the Ibar forms a meander around it and encircles it on three sides. On the fourth side, a deepmoat separates it fromStolovi. According to legend, the fortress was named after the thickmist that often descends on the entire area. The fortification itself consists of seven towers and is surrounded by thickwalls, while it has an irregular shape due to the uneven terrain. The citadel interior consists of two courtyards, a smaller and a larger one, which contains the remains of the church of St. George. The origins of Maglič itself are mysterious, because therearenohistorical records confirming when it was actually built. It is assumed to have been in the second half of the 13th century, during the reign of King Uroš I, the son of Stefan the First-Crowned. After Mongol raiders burned down Žiča Monastery in 1241, the king ordered the construction of a fortress that would bring a halt to the enemy‘s advance towardsStudenicaandendowments in Sopoćani and Grac. There is alSerbia » Srbija | 79 Dolina vekova je mesto gde istorijski događaji često izgledaju kao bajka, a mitovi i legende liče na realna zbivanja The Valley of the Ages is a place where actual historical events often look like something from a fairy tale, while myths and legends resemble actual events Beograd Maglič so a legend claiming that Maglič was built by Irene Kantakouzene, the wife of despot Đurađ Branković, who was so hated by the people that they dubbed her Jerina the Cursed.However, experts reject this suggestion because it would mean that the fortresswas built in the early 15th century, while the first reliable information on Maglič dates back to 1335. Before the castle emerged, the site was home to a fortification dating back to the Byzantine era, most probably the 12th century, the only discovered traces of which are two walls and part of one tower. ArchbishopDanilo II restored the site by hiding the traces of Byzantine construction. Everything we see there today originated in the first half of the 14th century. There is no informationonhowMaglič fell intoTurkishhands, but it was annexed to the Ottoman Empire in 1459, immediately after Turkish forces entered Smederevo and the entire Serbian despotate. Traverse the Valley of the Ages, clamber up to the proudMaglič, feel the harsh history under your feet and allow the scent of blooming lilacs to enchant you forever.
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