Rest in the fortress of Suleiman the Magnificent- Kladovo is getting ready for Fetislam reconstruction, a museum, a hotels and restaurants planned

The last in a row of the Danube fortresses in Serbia, built in the time of the Suleiman the Magnificent, is getting ready for big polishing. In the next couple of years, an old lady, remembering the smell of gun powder for almost five centuries, jingle of knights’ amours, sonorous sounds of horseshoes and sharp swords, should turn to the main tourist site of Kladovo.

Today, the Fetislam fortress, previously the ending border of the Turkish defense line towards the Hungarians, is a step far from the beginning of the project of the overall revitalization which would, except from renovation of cultural and historical sites, include the construction of a museum, suites, a hotel, visitors ‘center, couple of restaurants, etc.

The complex project has been split in 12 phases and, as previously announced,it totals almost EUR 8 mil.

(Current condition)

Kladovo municipality has recently completed development of an expansive project-technical documentation, funded by IPA program “Integral tourism development I Kladovo and Pozezena” (totaling some EUR 400.000). Nis-based Forma antika designing bureau has successfully developed the Fetislam project-technical documentation.

The first reconstruction phase of Fetislam refers to works on Malo utvrdjenje, the oldest one, and development of the existing summer stage within. Kladovo, together with another Bulgarian municipality, participated for the EU funds, totaling 600.000 euros. The response is expected to come soon, by the end of summer most prorbably. They have the reason to believe that it will be positive because, as they say, they have prepared a grea t project.

- We are waiting for the funds to start the works and, according to the information we have, our project is well-ranked - Nevenka Boldorac, director at the Tourist Organization of Kladovo said.

Fetislam used to be the best maintained fortress in Serbia but time and negligence contributed to its present, very bad condition. The Tourist organization initiated the project and the municipality recognized its extraordinary value.

-There are certain obstacles, i.e. limitations, because numerous rules of the Buerau for Monuments Protection have to be obeyed, licenses have to be obtained because it is cultural heritage… Our idea is to return usage value to cultural-historical monuments - Nevenka Boldorac said.

Our interviewee is explaining what will be done first in Fetislam.

- Firstly, there are conservation works, i.e. protection of Malo uredjenje,built in 1524. We will focus on the things essential to bring the fortress back to life – protection of entrance gates and walls and everything else that is necessary to enable tourists to feel absolutely safe. After that, a decrepit summer stage will be reconstructed.

In, Fetislam, a brick has not been moved since 1986, the director of the Tourist organization said. One part of the wall is hidden underground which will have to be removed.

Everybody can find something

The fortress has an outdoor amphitheater and a couple of outdoor sports fields. One can get to them walking along the Danube quay, convenient for running.

- If Fetislam is completely revitalized, as planned, everybody can find something for himself - an interviewee believes.

In later stages, on the left, where casemates are, construction of a museum and a gallery with high technological solutions is planned. Then, within the existing Hunting house, there should be a candy shop on two levels, then housing capacities, a hotel or suites… Visitor cnter should also decorate Fetislam.

Since the fortification is in the city itself, it will play significant part in the Kladovo development. Quality project documentation will enable Kladovo an advantage the moment Serbia gets the access to pre-accession funds as a EU candidate country.

Although the project requires a lot of money, if the realization succeeds,it wil be a new impulse to development of this Danube town in the field of tourism. There were some stories that Turkey might also support this project.

-It has been forecasted that it will take two years to finish works on the summer stage and Malo utvrdjenje. The overall rehabilitation project of Fetislam is much more complex and cannot be forecasted but it will probably take 5-10 years – Director Boldorac explained for our portal.

Twelve projects of the Fetislam reconstruction has been presented at this year January Fair of Tourism, within the project "Integral development of tourism in Kladovo and Pozezana". Nevenka Boldorac had a presentation of tourist sites in municipality of Kladovo and the manager at Forma antika, an architect, Sima Gušić, presented technical documentation.

The Tourist Organization of Kladovo said confidentially that, except from modernization of the fortress, other interesting activities that will make tourists happy, are being prepared.

The Wall of Faith

By construction Fetislam, a few kilometers upstream Kladovo today, the Turkish defense line towards Hungarians consisting of fortresses Smederevo,Kulic, Ram, Golubac and Fetislam has been finished.

During the first six centuries a.c. this part of the Danube was within the Roman Empire. In the next century, Slovenes made their permanent residence here.In XIV century, the Turkish came, demolishing fortifications and settlements and building their own. Fetislam was the base for further conquering and control of the Danube. The fortress consists of two compounds. A small fortification built in 1524 and the Big one, added in the times of Austro-Turkish wars 1717–1739.

A large fortress, a bastion, is made of stone walls of 14 meters with cogg edendings, enforced with six protruding towers – so-called peak bastions. The fortress is surrounded with still visible, wide dike which used to be filled with water from the Danube natural branch.

It could be entered through three gates, one of which connected to the river.Arms room, a housing facility, a caserne, a gun powder warehouse, a smaller guarding room, lagums-shelters, cobbled streets and water pipeline have been preserved.

A small fortification, a castle, was built at the highest place and incorporated in the wall of the Big fortress. Its walls are enforced with circle towers, four meters tall, and symmetrically set triangle and rectangular bastions. Walls are surrounded by dike. The interior contains only military buildings.

The name Fetislam means the Victory of Islam (Feht ul Islam), or the Wall of Faith

M.S.