Avala Tower

Avala is a low forested hill south of Belgrade, and the tower on it is unusual in shape: an equilateral triangular base on three legs, said to echo the tripod of a traditional Serbian stool, carrying a shaft to 205 metres with a viewing deck near the top. The original was completed in 1965, destroyed in 1999, and rebuilt to the same design by 2010, funded substantially by public donation and a telethon, which is part of why it means what it does locally. The deck gives a view over the city, the plain and, on clear days, a long way south. The hill around it is a park with walking paths, a monument to the Unknown Hero by Ivan Meštrović in black granite, and cafes. It is the standard easy escape from the city.

History

Designed by Uglješa Bogunović, Slobodan Janjić and Milan Krstić, the first tower was built from 14 October 1961 to 1965, and colour broadcasts from it began on 31 December 1971. After the tower was lost in 1999, a reconstruction proposed by the Journalists' Association of Serbia in 2002 and funded by public appeals began on 21 December 2006 (Wikipedia, Avala Tower).

The main sights

• The tripod tower - the three-legged structure and its shaft.
• The viewing deck - a wide panorama over Belgrade and the plain.
• The Meštrović monument - the black granite mausoleum on the summit.
• Forest paths - walking routes across the wooded hill.

When to go

April to October for clear views and the surrounding park; visibility is best after rain has cleared the haze. The tower closes in high winds. Weekends bring families from the city and queues for the lift.

Things to know

The lift queue can be long on weekends and the deck is small. Haze often limits the view in summer. Getting there without a car means an infrequent bus. The hill park is pleasant but modest, and the whole outing is a half-day at most.

Nearby

Belgrade lies north; Vinča is east on the Danube.

Key facts