The upper citadel
Near hexagonal.
Arben Llapashtica — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bujar I Gashi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Atdheu — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Atdheu — CC BY-SA 3.0 · albinfo — CC0
Novo Brdo Fortress is the ruin of a medieval stronghold on a conical hilltop near the town of Novo Brdo, about 40 km east of Pristina. Locals call it Artana Castle in Albanian, and it is one of the finest medieval castles in Kosovo. The Serbian king Stefan Uroš II Milutin built it in the late 13th century to guard the area's rich gold, silver, iron and lead mines, and Novo Brdo was famous for its silver. It peaked in the first half of the 15th century as the region's most important mining centre, home to Saxon miners and merchants from Ragusa. Systematic excavation began in 1952. You climb a grassy path to the summit, where crumbling stone walls and towers ring the nearly hexagonal upper citadel. From the walls you see green hills and valleys around you, with the remains of the lower town spilling down the western slope. The place is quiet and sees few visitors. Pristina is about 21 km away in a straight line, and Gračanica Monastery about 18 km. Wear comfortable shoes, as the ground is uneven and some walls are unfenced.
Near hexagonal.
Green all around.
Few visitors.
Near the town of Novo Brdo, eastern Kosovo
About a quarter of an hour from the parking area.
Spring to autumn, when the hills are green.