Ram Fortress
Ram Fortress is located on the right bank of the Danube River, in Ram village, about 25 km northeast of Požarevac and 15 km away from Veliko Gradište. Ram Fortress is situated on the northeastern river side that descends towards the Danube River, featuring medieval ruins of good appearance and condition. There are in Veliko Gradiste comprehensive reconstruction works of the Ram Fortress completed, as well as the construction of pier for boats, and sport ground on the Silver Lake, the cycling trails on the Eurovelo Route 6 and 13 map, walking-cycling route from the Ram Fortress up to the Zatonje village, and further direction to the Silver Lake. Here there are excellent conditions for combined bus – boat rides along those Danube-Branicevo areas: Smederevo Fortress-Viminacium Park-Ram Fortress-Silver Lake/Srebrno jezero-Golubac Fortress… The boat ride for some 30 passengers around the Ram Fortress includes distance of some 50 km and makes special attraction for visitors who enjoy Danube River ride to the Silver Lake, the Golubac Fortress, the Viminacium Archeo Park and the Smederevo Fortress.
The Ram Fortress ranks among the oldest artillery strongholds in Serbia. There are no exact historical records on the time when the Ram Fortress was erected, but it was first mentioned in 1128 as the place nearby of the battle between Byzantines and Hungarians. After the period of Ottoman campaigns on Pannonia and territory of the present day Serbia, the Turks continued occupation of Hungary. With the aim to defend the right side of the Danube River, Turkish sultan Bayazed II /1480 – 1512/ restored and strengthened the fortress which was capable to withstand the artillery attacks. Some historical records claim that the Ram Fortress was constructed in 1483 by the order of the Sultan Bayazed II – grandfather of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent.
Ram Fortress features base of irregular pentagon, which is on the longest side 34 meters long and 26 meters wide. The Ram Fortress contains 5 towers located in four levels on 3 floors and the ground floor, 3 towers on the eastern sides and 2 towers on the western walls. You can enter the Ram Fortress through the Donjon tower, situated in the southwestern part of the fortification. On each wall of the Ram stronghold, except on the western wall which faces the Danube River, there are special holes for canons. Within the walls of the Ram Fortress there are ruins of a structure featuring a proper octagon, whose sides are 3 meters long. Close to the Ram fortress, the Turks have been erected caravan seray and a bath – hammam, what in time turned into establishment of the present day Ram settlement.
Recently were found remains of the Roman castrum – military camp, 1 kilometer east of the medieval Ram fortress on the right bank of Danube river in East Serbia. This castrum from the 1st-2nd century AD had dimensions of 140 x 200 meters, and it was used as one of the base camps by Emperor Traian during invading wars in Dacia. According to seals on bricks we learn that several regular and auxiliary units were temporarily stationed there – I Cretum, II Hispanorum, II Pannoniorum and cohorts of VII Claudia Legion. So far there were no systematic archaeological excavations of this site.
Today the Ram fortress is fully reconstructed and visit to this site is strongly recommended. Also the ferry ride across the Danube, at the Ram fortress in direction Banatska Palanka provides unique experiences for visitors traveling along this part of Serbia.
Bela Crkva and Deliblato Sands Nature Reserve Team Building
