Ćele Kula

Niš

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With Serbian defeat imminent at the 1809 Battle of Čegar, the Duke of Resava kamikazed towards the Turkish defences, firing at their gunpowder stores, killing himself, 4000 of his men and 10,000 Turks. The Turks triumphed regardless, and to deter future acts of rebellion, they beheaded, scalped and embedded the skulls of the dead Serbs in this tower. Only 58 of the initial 952 skulls remain. Contrary to Turkish intention, the tower serves as proud testament to Serbian resistance.

Catch bus 1 across the street from tourist information on Vožda Karađorđa (60RSD).

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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Nearby Niš attractions

1. Mediana

1.27 MILES

Mediana is what remains of Constantine the Great's luxurious 4th-century Roman palace. The recently unveiled 1000 sq metres of gorgeous mosaics are the…

2. Orthodox Cathedral

1.42 MILES

Second only in size to Belgrade's St Sava Temple, this huge Orthodox cathedral, completely restored after being destroyed in a fire in 2001, was…

3. Archaeological Hall

1.58 MILES

Though it's small, this museum is worth a gander for its collection of prehistoric, Roman and medieval artefacts, including coins, jewellery, religious…

4. Niš Fortress

1.72 MILES

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5. Red Cross Concentration Camp

2.19 MILES

One of the best-preserved Nazi camps in Europe, the deceptively named Red Cross (named after the adjacent train station) held about 30,000 Serbs, Roma,…

6. Bubanj Hill Memorial Park

2.63 MILES

Bubanj Hill, located 3km from the city centre, is the location of one of Serbia's most recognisable Yugoslav-era spomeniks (memorials). Three gigantic…

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