Belgrade is the capital city of Yugoslavia. It is located where the
Danube and Sava Rivers meet and so it has been a place of importance
since Roman times.
Belgrade is the capital city of Yugoslavia. It is located where the Danube and Sava Rivers meet, and so it has been a place of importance since Roman times. Belgrade has been the scene of many battles because whoever held the city could control the Danube river shipping between central Europe and the Black Sea. Its famous fortress, which is many centuries old, still overlooks the two rivers. Inside the fortress are prisons and an old torture chamber.
Over the centuries, Belgrade has been ruled by many nationalities including the Turks, Greeks, Bulgarians, Hungarians, and Germans. Before World War I, it belonged to Serbia (later part of Yugoslavia ). It was a modern city, with wide streets and beautiful buildings. But the Austrians bombed it in World War I, and reduced it to ruins. The city was rebuilt, but in World War II it was greatly damaged again by the Germans, who captured it. The Yugoslavs and the Russians retook the city in 1944. If you visit Belgrade today, you can see the royal palace where King Alexander of Serbia and his wife were murdered in 1903. You can also see many beautiful churches, a cathedral, and a fine theater.
