Vršac Tower
Encyclopedia
The Vršac Castle formerly known as "Vršac Tower" is a medieval fortress near Vršac
, Serbia
. Only Donjon tower remained from the entire complex, but in 2009 reconstruction started that will recreate entire Vršac Castle.
Vršac Castle was declared Monument of Culture of Great Importance in 1991, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia.
, the fortress was built by the Serbia
n despot Đurađ Branković. Historians consider that Branković built the fortress after the fall of Smederevo
in 1439. In its construction the fortress had some architectural elements similar to those in the fortress of Smederevo
and the fortress around the Manasija monastery
.
The other theory claims that Vršac Castle is a remnant of the medieval fortress known as Erdesumulu (Hungarian: Érdsomlyó or Érsomlyó, Serbian: Erd-Šomljo / Ерд-Шомљо or Šomljo / Шомљо). However, the other sources do not identify Erdesumulu with Vršac, but claim that the location of this town and fortress was further to the east, on the Karaš River, in present-day Romania
n Banat
. A Town named Erdesumulu was first mentioned in 1227. A Dominican monastery with the relics of Saint Dominic
was founded there between 1230 and 1240, while from 1255 it was the seat of the comes
. The fortress of Erdesumulu was built in 1335 as a royal fortress.
After the Ottoman
conquest in 1552, the Vršac fortress was used by the Ottomans. In 1590/91 the Ottoman garrison there comprised one aga, two Ottoman officers and 20 Serb
mercenaries.
.
Vršac
Vršac is a town and municipality located in Serbia. In 2002 the town's total population was 36,623, while Vršac municipality had 54,369 inhabitants. Vršac is located in the Banat region, in the Vojvodina province of Serbia. It is part of the South Banat District.-Name:The name Vršac is of Serbian...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. Only Donjon tower remained from the entire complex, but in 2009 reconstruction started that will recreate entire Vršac Castle.
Vršac Castle was declared Monument of Culture of Great Importance in 1991, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia.
History
There are two theories about the origin of this fortress. According to the Turkish traveler, Evliya ÇelebiEvliya Çelebi
Evliya Çelebi was an Ottoman traveler who journeyed through the territory of the Ottoman Empire and neighboring lands over a period of forty years.- Life :...
, the fortress was built by the Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n despot Đurađ Branković. Historians consider that Branković built the fortress after the fall of Smederevo
Smederevo
Smederevo is a city and municipality in Serbia, on the right bank of the Danube, about 40 km downstream of the capital Belgrade. According to official results of the 2011 census, the city has a population of 107,528...
in 1439. In its construction the fortress had some architectural elements similar to those in the fortress of Smederevo
Smederevo
Smederevo is a city and municipality in Serbia, on the right bank of the Danube, about 40 km downstream of the capital Belgrade. According to official results of the 2011 census, the city has a population of 107,528...
and the fortress around the Manasija monastery
Manasija monastery
Manasija , also known as Resava , is a Serb Orthodox monastery near Despotovac, Serbia, founded by Despot Stefan Lazarević between 1406 and 1418. The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It is one of the most significant monuments of medieval Serbian culture and it belongs to the "Morava...
.
The other theory claims that Vršac Castle is a remnant of the medieval fortress known as Erdesumulu (Hungarian: Érdsomlyó or Érsomlyó, Serbian: Erd-Šomljo / Ерд-Шомљо or Šomljo / Шомљо). However, the other sources do not identify Erdesumulu with Vršac, but claim that the location of this town and fortress was further to the east, on the Karaš River, in present-day Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
. A Town named Erdesumulu was first mentioned in 1227. A Dominican monastery with the relics of Saint Dominic
Saint Dominic
Saint Dominic , also known as Dominic of Osma, often called Dominic de Guzmán and Domingo Félix de Guzmán was the founder of the Friars Preachers, popularly called the Dominicans or Order of Preachers , a Catholic religious order...
was founded there between 1230 and 1240, while from 1255 it was the seat of the comes
Comes
Comes , plural comites , is the Latin word for companion, either individually or as a member of a collective known as comitatus, especially the suite of a magnate, in some cases large and/or formal enough to have a specific name, such as a cohors amicorum. The word comes derives from com- "with" +...
. The fortress of Erdesumulu was built in 1335 as a royal fortress.
After the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
conquest in 1552, the Vršac fortress was used by the Ottomans. In 1590/91 the Ottoman garrison there comprised one aga, two Ottoman officers and 20 Serb
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
mercenaries.
Features
Situated on top of the local hill, the tower has a commanding view of the area. Many holidaymakers visit the area to admire views that extend as far as RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
.
Reconstruction
On a official meeting held on 4 Mart 2009, Minister for Culture assistant Dušan Živković, provincial secretary for culture Milorad Djurić, Director of the Regional Institute for Protection of Cultural Heritage Zoran Vapa, and Vršac Mayor assistant Dragiša Vučinić agreed on the reconstruction of Vršac Tower, and returning it to the former look. On that meeting fortress was officially renamed from Vršac Tower to Vršac Castle.See also
- List of fortresses in Serbia
- Monuments of Culture of Great Importance
- Tourism in SerbiaTourism in SerbiaSerbia stretches across two geographic and cultural regions of Europe: Central Europe and Southeast Europe. This boundary splits Serbia roughly in a ratio of 1:2 alongside the Danube and Sava rivers. The northern parts of the country are Central-European lowlands while the southern and central...
- VršacVršacVršac is a town and municipality located in Serbia. In 2002 the town's total population was 36,623, while Vršac municipality had 54,369 inhabitants. Vršac is located in the Banat region, in the Vojvodina province of Serbia. It is part of the South Banat District.-Name:The name Vršac is of Serbian...
