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Skull Tower of Serbia photo By From freesrpska.org,

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Skull Tower

Skull Tower is a stone structure embedded with human skulls located in Nis, Serbia. The structure was constructed by the Ottoman Empire after they won the Battle of Cegar of May 1809, the First Serbian Uprising between the Serbian Revolutionaries and Ottoman forces.

The aim of building the Skull Tower was to discourage the rebels from taking revenge by inducing fear when they see the skull of their fellow people.

However, Midhat Pasha, one of the Ottomans Empire members ordered the dismantling of the Skull Tower when he realized that it no longer served as a means of discouraging potential rebels but instead increased hatred and the need to revenge since it reminded them of the empire鈥檚 past cruelty.

The tower鈥檚 ground is opened at different times according to season.  During winter opening hours from Tuesday 鈥� Friday 09.00 -16.00, Saturday and Sunday 10.00 -14.00 and remains closed on Monday while during summer opening hours from Tuesday -Friday 08. 00- 20.00 and closed on Monday.

1. Considered a Symbol of the Country鈥檚 Struggle for Independence

For centuries since Skull Tower was constructed has become a place of Serb pilgrimage.  In Serbia and among Serbs both inside and outside the country, it is considered a symbol of the country鈥檚 struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Even the French Romantic poet Alphonse de Lamartine visited the tower in 1833, he later wrote 鈥� May the Serbs keep this monument! It will always teach their children the value of the independence of a people, showing them the real price their fathers had to pay for it.鈥� This clearly shows that the Skull tower is a symbol of independence.

2. Famous Tourism Site

Skull Tower of Serbia photo By From freesrpska.org,

This structure has become one of the popular tourist attraction sites in Serbia. Many tourists visit daily to come and see this unique building.

It is estimated that approximately 30,000 people and 50,000 people visit annually. This is a must-visit place any time you visit Serbia.  

3. It is used as a Subject in a Poem

It is amazing to know that the Skull tower has been used in the poem. It is the subject of an eponymous poem written by the Serbian modernist poet known as Vasko Popa.

Vasko Popa was a famous Serbian poet. He worked as an editor of the publishing house Nolit for years and he published his first ever poems in magazines.

4. Skull Tower was Featured on the Cover of the Serbian Rock Band

One of the remarkable facts about Skull Tower is the fact that it was featured on the cover of the Serbian rock band known as Riblja Corba, which was one of the most popular and influential acts on the Yugoslav rock scene.

The Skull Tower was featured in Riblja Corba鈥檚 sixth studio album Istina which was released in 1985. The band member鈥檚 faces are embedded in the tower walls. The cover was designed by the artist Jugoslav Vlahovic (a Serbian artist, illustration, photographer and former rock musician).

5. Skulls were Used as Building Blocks of the Tower

Skull Tower of Serbia photo by By Djina

The skulls were used as building blocks for the tower which was built by the main road at the city’s entrance.

952 skulls were used to build the tower. The tower stood 15 feet high and 13 feet wide in its original form before reconstruction.  Skulls were arranged in 56 rows, a total of 17 skulls in each row, at each side of the tower.

6. A Chapel was Built Around the Tower to Preserve the Skull Tower

After the Ottomans withdraw from Nis in the year 1878, the Skull tower was partially restored since Midhat Pasha, the last Ottoman governor of Nis had ordered the dismantling of the Skull Tower in 1861.

After the restoration of the skull Tower, the authorities of Serbia constructed a chapel surrounding the tower to preserve this unique monument representing the sufferings of the nation.

The construction of the structure started in the year 1892 and was completed in the year 1894. Later the chapel was renovated in 1937 and further renovation of the chapel occurred again in 1989.

7. It Represents the Nations Bravery and Suffering

The skull tower is one of the unique monuments in Serbia. It presents the bravery of the nation and the suffering it went through before gaining independents in 1830.

It was constructed by the Ottoman Empire an empire that controlled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa between the 14^th and early 20^th centuries.

The tower was made from the skulls of the fallen Serbian rebels which was an order made by the governor of the Rumelia Eyalet, Hurshid Pasha. Hence representing the sufferings of Serbian.

8. It is a Cultural Monument of Exceptional Importance

Skull Tower of Serbia photo by By Djina By Djina

Skull Tower and the chapel surrounding it were declared Cultural Monuments of Exceptional Importance back in the year 1948 and come under the protection of the Socialist Republic of Serbia (one of the six constituent republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Its formation was initiated in 1941 and achieved in 1944 -1946).

Objects under the Monument of Exceptional Importance enjoy the highest level of state protection in the Republic of Serbia.

9. Skull Tower was Mentioned in the Work of the British Travel Writer

This Towel is one of the most famous tourist attractions sites in Serbia. It is remarkable at the same time that Skull Tower was mentioned in the work of the British travel writer, Alexander William Kinglake.

He was an English travel writer and historian, and the work he wrote about the skull tower he published in 1849. It was of positive impact on the tower since it made many people know about it and increased a number of tourists.

10. Building of the Tower with Serbian Skull Made Serbia Fight to Gain the Independent

Skull Tower of Serbia photo By From freesrpska.org,

The Ottomans Empire build the Skull tower using Serbian Skulls after the Battle of Cegar in May 1809 after they killed many Serbians and defeated them. The aim was to discourage the rebels of Serbian and induce fear when they see their fellow citizens’ skulls.

However, these made the rebels more powerful and madder toward the Ottomans Empire and ready to fight back. According to Midhat Pasha, who was the last Ottoman governor of Nis, he ordered the dismantling of the tower in 186, because he realized the structure no longer served as an effective means of discouraging potential rebels.

 The structure only fostered resentment against the Ottomans by reminding locals of the empire鈥檚 past cruelty.