Cele Kula (Tower of Skulls)
Cele Kula is a tower built by the Turks from the skulls of the murdered participants of the first Serbian uprising and located in the east of the city of Niš. The tragic monument is 3.5 meters high and consists of human skulls. Originally there were 952 of them, but nowadays 58 remain. The ancient tower is a reminder of the tragic pages of Serbian history, and is classified as a Serbian cultural monument of exceptional importance. This list includes 154 other historical monuments that are located on the territory of this country.
Video: Cele Kula
History
In 1809, a decisive battle took place on Mount Cegar near Niš between a Serbian detachment, led by the leader of the popular uprising Stefan Sindjelic, and the Turkish army. The Turks, numbering 30,000 men, attacked the fortifications built by the Serbs. Many of the defenders of Čegar were killed, and Sinđelić, fearing capture, shot at a powder magazine and died. With him, the remaining Serbs and the Turks who had managed to break through to the mountain were killed.
.
After the victory, by order of the Turkish army commander Khurshid Pasha, the heads of the dead Serbs were skinned and stuffed with cotton. In this form, the scalps of the defeated enemies were sent to the capital of the empire – the city of Istanbul. From the remaining skulls, the Turks built a tower so that everyone would know how any attempt to rebel against the Ottoman Empire could end. They embedded the skulls between the brickwork in 56 rows – 17 skulls in each.
.In 1878, Serbian units recaptured Niš. To preserve the tower from the weather, a roof was placed on top of it, and in 1892 a Christian chapel was built around Chele Kula, designed by architect Dimitrije Leko. It is noteworthy that funds for this temple were collected throughout Serbia.
.Information for tourists
The memorial is surrounded by a green park. There is a fee to visit Cele Kula. The chapel is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
.
Separately, under glass is a skull that belongs to the leader of the rebellious Serbs – Stefan Sindjelic. There is a bust of the Serbian hero near the chapel, and a copy of the tower is exhibited in the Military Museum in Belgrade.
.
How to get there
Cele Kula is located on the eastern outskirts of Niš, near where Dr. Zoran Djindijc Boulevard intersects with the small Gabrovaca River. The memorial can be reached by cab or city buses.
.
