Fortress Kale Momchilo's Town

Pirot, Serbia, Serbia

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Fortress Kale, also called Momčilo's Town, is a well-preserved medieval fortress in Pirot, southeastern Serbia, built during Prince Lazar's reign in the late 14th century on an isolated rock above the Nišava River and Bistrica stream. Originally constructed to defend against Ottoman raids along the strategic Via Militaris route, it features three sections—Upper Town with a donjon tower and gate, Mid Town expanded by Despot Stefan Lazarević, and Lower Town added by Turks—with thick ramparts, natural river defenses, and accommodations for soldiers, nobles, and refugees. Despite the folkloric name linking it to 14th-century voivode Momčilo (disproven by archaeology dating it post-1345), it changed hands repeatedly until Ottoman annexation around 1426, served militarily until the mid-20th century, and underwent excavations and restoration from 1970-1986 as a cultural monument of great importance.