Maglič Fortress

Maglič stands on a rock spur in a loop of the Ibar, encircled by walls with seven towers and a keep, built in the thirteenth century to control the gorge road that linked the Serbian heartland to the south. Inside the walls are the remains of a chapel, a hall and cisterns; the castle was never taken by assault and its later decline was slow. It is reached from the valley road by a steep path of twenty to thirty minutes through scrub, and there is no vehicle access. The Ibar gorge below is known as the valley of the lilies from a story about King Uroš planting them for his wife, and the drive through it is attractive in its own right. From the walls the view down the gorge is the reward.

What you actually see

• The walled circuit - seven towers and a keep on the rock spur.
• Interior remains - chapel, hall and cistern foundations inside.
• The Ibar gorge - the river loop and valley seen from the walls.
• The approach climb - the steep path up from the valley road.

When to go

April to October; the path is slippery and overgrown in wet weather. Spring brings the valley greenest. Summer afternoons are hot on the exposed rock. Winter access is possible but icy.

Honest expectations

The climb is steep and rough with loose footing, and takes half an hour each way. There are no barriers on the walls and the drops are real. Facilities are none. Opening and ticketing are irregular and the site is often simply open.

Nearby

Žiča lies north; Studenica is south up the Ibar.