00:00I'm Lily Douse and this is Grand Voyager.
00:04In this series I travel the world to discover incredible places filled with culture, luxury and adventure.
00:13Along the way I meet the people, taste the flavours and experience the moments that make each destination unforgettable.
00:25Today I'm travelling to one of Europe's most dynamic and unique cities.
00:30A fascinating destination which is gearing up to host Expo 2027.
00:36Stravo and welcome to Belgrade. In this episode I'll be immersing myself in the culture and complex history that gives
00:45this city its amazing positive energy.
00:48I'm starting my tour of the city by transporting myself back in time, meeting with the Belgrade insider to discover
00:56some of Belgrade's unique history.
00:59We meet in Republic Square with Jelko dressed in traditional Serbian attire.
01:04This is the main square in the city and the main meeting point in Belgrade.
01:07We are surrounded by two main buildings, the National Theatre and the National Museum, as well as an iconic monument.
01:15I would say Knez Mihajlo Brenović, the man that is on the horse on the Republic Square, was one of
01:20the most important historical figures for Serbia because he was in charge of liberation at the end of the Turkish
01:26Ottoman period.
01:27In order to reach Belgrade fortress, we walk along some of the key bustling streets of Belgrade, with one important
01:34street being notable due to the fact that its name has not changed since 1870.
01:40So some streets in Belgrade has changed the name six, seven times, but this one never.
01:44As we approach the fortress, you truly appreciate the beauty of the exterior, with the building reflecting the name of
01:51the city itself.
01:52Belgrade means white and grad means city and the name Belgrade refers to the white colour of the fortress, which
02:00dominantly stand on the top of the hill once we are on the riverside and we look at the fortress.
02:05Some outer parts of the fortress are dominated by brown red bricks showcasing construction, which occurred during the late 18th
02:14century when the city was under Austro-Hungarian rule.
02:17However, further into the fortress, you can notice the rich history, which dates back to the Celtic and Roman era.
02:25And even though the city has succumbed to many battles over time, the fortress has been rebuilt throughout these periods.
02:33Reflecting this very complex history, a statue was erected in the early 19th century to demonstrate the resilience of the
02:42people.
02:42Because it's a symbol of victory, power, pride and strength, but it's also naked and it's a symbol of a
02:47new life, new birth, new beginning.
02:49Wandering around the fortress is truly a history lesson through the ages, with further remnants of the past being showcased
02:58at every turn, even under the fortress itself.
03:01You definitely could spend a lot of time exploring, but I have one more stop with Jelko, the church of
03:09St. Sava.
03:10First of all, St. Sava was the founder of Christian Orthodox Church, Serbian Christian Orthodox Church, but unfortunately his holy
03:17relics were burnt by the Turks Ottomans in 1594.
03:22Construction of the church began in 1935. However, it was stopped due to World War II and only then resumed
03:30in the 1980s.
03:32Inside the church, you notice its huge dome and golden mosaics, which span as far as the eye can see.
03:40Just a short drive out of the city sits Avila Mountain, a small but historically important mountain south of Belgrade.
03:50Joining me for a hike today is Milan, an active adventurer who knows the best route to the viewpoint.
03:57You like it? I absolutely love it. Yeah, I love being surrounded by trees.
04:01Yeah, clear nature close to the Belgrade. Amazing. Really amazing.
04:05I think that's definitely what sets this apart, right? You're not far at all from the city, but you feel
04:09a million miles away.
04:11The journey up the mountain is very picturesque and we decide to stop at a freshwater spring to enjoy some
04:18local water.
04:20Mmm, some good water. And cold. Very cold.
04:25We continue with our hike, speaking about the importance of the mountain and also the history which surrounds the city.
04:31There's so many different layers to the history, different people coming in, that it's really complex.
04:38Yeah, we talk about that because the Belgrade is on the crossroad of Two River, a good point to control
04:44trading west of the east.
04:46And everybody wants to stay on the Belgrade or conquer the Belgrade to control trading.
04:52As we reach the top of the mountain, you are greeted by spectacular views from every angle.
04:59You can see Avila Tower. This is our symbol of Belgrade.
05:04It exists a couple more, but we like to say that that tower is a symbol.
05:09Unfortunately, in 1999, the tower was destroyed, but was reconstructed to its former glory in 2010 and stands as another
05:19important reminder of Belgrade's history.
05:25Back in the city and it's time to check out one of the most famous areas in Belgrade.
05:30When you're in Belgrade, everyone will mention to you Skedalia and it's clear to see why.
05:36I'm really excited to try some Serbian food.
05:40To embrace the flavours of Serbia, I'm heading to a well-known restaurant frequented by artists, politicians and royalty.
05:48Three shashira, or three hats in English, has been serving traditional food for over 162 years, closing for only six
05:58days over World War II.
06:00They allow me into their kitchen to prepare two very special dishes.
06:05Today we prepare Cevapi, Serbian traditional meat.
06:11Cevapi are small finger-sized rolls of minced beef.
06:14They are very simple to make and are placed on a grill for around ten minutes.
06:19There we go! I'm a natural!
06:23Once the time has passed, it is time to try some of my creations.
06:27Everything tastes delicious, very fresh and full of flavour.
06:33It's easy to see why this restaurant is so busy every single day.
06:39For my stay in Belgrade, I'm discovering an iconic hotel which has been beautifully restored to its former glory.
06:47The hotel's manager, Alistair, explains the significance of this incredible building.
06:53It opened in 1912 and became very quickly the leading property in the Western Balkans.
07:00And now, after a long restoration work of nearly seven years, it's reopened in February as the Bristol Belgrade and
07:07brought back to its original shine.
07:09There's been excitement, there's been drama, there's been romance.
07:12We've been home to celebrities like Garry Kasparov, the chess grandmaster.
07:18We've been home to Tito, to the British royal family.
07:22The hotel is a real reminder of the stunning architecture which graced the city over the years.
07:29And even with the modern twists like the wellness facilities and spa, elegance and classic features are observed throughout.
07:39From relaxing in the library to admiring the royal suite, it is clear to see why this building has played
07:45a key role in Belgrade's history.
07:49When history and luxury come together, it truly is something to behold.
07:54It takes you back in time.
07:55You can imagine how it was all those years ago.
07:59Belgrade's architecture varies greatly across the city.
08:02And so I found a very unique way of seeing more sights.
08:07Welcome to Belgrade, it's a pleasure.
08:09Hopefully we will show you Belgrade from another perspective.
08:12Especially from our tiny time machine called the Yugo car to show you a little bit of Belgrade as a
08:19capital of a much wider country of Yugoslavia.
08:22A country that no longer exists but is still there in traces in Belgrade.
08:27We hop into the car, which Maria from Yugo Tours explains has a very interesting historical importance.
08:34This one that we are using today was produced in 1980 and was actually purchased by a member of the
08:41secret police just the day after Tito, the president of Yugoslavia, died.
08:45We start by heading to Novi Belgrade, an area which was mainly constructed post-World War One as Belgrade became
08:53the capital of Yugoslavia.
08:55One such building constructed in that period is our first stop, the Western Gate of Belgrade.
09:02This building is one of the iconic buildings of brutalist architecture.
09:06It got its name by French words, Beton Brut, raw concrete, that was used as the main material to build
09:13some of these things.
09:14The architecture might not be for everyone, but it really is an important style which is observed throughout Novi Belgrade.
09:23To understand more about living within these buildings, Maria has brought me to block 23, where we are walking in
09:29the footsteps of local residences.
09:32This is just an incredible space. As I say, it's an oasis in a concrete jungle.
09:37Definitely.
09:39There are schools, play areas, coffee shops and sports facilities all within the blocks of buildings.
09:46It truly is fascinating to understand the importance of these buildings in the industrialisation of the city post-World War
09:54Two,
09:54with many residences moving from the countryside to buildings like these.
10:00Arriving back in the old town, parts of modern life are evident around you, showcased perfectly by the incredible murals
10:09on display.
10:10Belgrade has been known for its murals, for its street art, especially this part of the city, Dorchel area.
10:16It's a reminder to be like, hey, things haven't always been perfect.
10:20And they still not are, but have fun on the way.
10:25There are two very important rivers in Belgrade, the Salva and the Danube.
10:31Where they meet is a large natural river island known locally as Great War Island.
10:37I've decided to explore this wonderful spot by kayaking with a local instructor named Daniel.
10:43It's a beautiful and calm day, making floating on the river feel extra special.
10:50Eventually, we make it around part of the island and stop to enjoy the views.
10:55In the summertime, they come with the boats.
10:57Here is a lot of boats, small boats. We don't have a big yacht.
11:02And small boats like five metres long where families come and children swim here.
11:10Serbians have the best lifestyle. I could definitely get used to this. Kayaking, barbecues.
11:16This is my kind of place. Yeah.
11:18I really enjoyed paddling around the water, but sadly, it's time to head back to shore.
11:26Belgrade truly is a city which embraces and celebrates its unique past and traditions.
11:33Whilst progressing into a more modern and bold city.
11:37I have collected so many incredible memories which will last a lifetime.
11:42Belgrade is a city full of energy.
11:46You can't quite put your finger on what makes it so special, but I truly have had such a wonderful
11:52trip.
11:52But now, time for my next adventure.
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