This well preserved fortress built by the Turks in the 18th century is today the symbol of the city of Niš. This fortress is one of the few representative edifices of the Turkish military architecture in the region while hiding the remains of Roman past in his foundations.
Many attractions are situated inside the Fortress, such as the Antiquity Street near the Lapidarium, the remains of the Roman Thermae, and the Hammam – a stunning Turkish bath that is the oldest construction from the period of the Ottoman rule.
The Monument on the Čegar Hill was built on the spot where one of the crucial battles led during the First Serbian Uprising took place. The battle is well known for the heroic act of Commander Stevan Sinđelić who, when he realized he was outnumbered, waited for the Turkish soldiers to get closer to the positions of the Serbian army, and then shot the gun powder, causing an explosion that took away a large the number of enemy soldiers. The Turkish Commander of Niš then ordered, in retaliation, to cut heads of dead Serbian soldiers and build them into a large tower.
The Skull Tower, monument made of mud and human bones, still reminds of the uprising against the Ottoman Empire and the heroism of the great Serbian commander.
At the entrance to the liveliest part of the city- The Kazandžijsko Sokače, stands an unusual monument: a restaurant table, two men engaged in a lively conversation and a hunting dog called Čapa. Those are the Serbian writer Stevan Sremac and Kalča the hunter, a literary character who entertained his friends with his fictional exploits.Although he is a product of imagination, Kalča is one the favorite heroes of Niš – he welcomes and farewells the visitors of the former Turkish handicraft Bazar, today a street filled with cafes and restaurants.
