00:00I'm Lily Dauss and this is Grand Voyager.
00:04In this series I travel the world to discover incredible places
00:09filled with culture, luxury and adventure.
00:13Along the way I meet the people, taste the flavours
00:16and 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.
00:39In this episode I'll be immersing myself in the culture and complex history
00:44that gives this city its amazing positive energy.
00:48I'm starting my tour of the city by transporting myself back in time.
00:53Meeting with the Belgrade insider to discover some 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.
01:12As well as an iconic monument.
01:14I would say Knez Mihajlo Brenović, the man that is on the horse on the Republic Square
01:20was one of the most important historical figures for Serbia
01:23because he was in charge of liberation at the end of the Turkish Ottoman period.
01:27In order to reach Belgrade fortress we walk along some of the key bustling streets of Belgrade.
01:33With one important street 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
01:49with the building reflecting the name of the city itself.
01:53Beo means white and grad means city and the name Beograd refers to the white colour of the fortress
01:59which dominantly stand on the top of the hill once we are on the riverside and we look at the
02:05fortress.
02:05Some outer parts of the fortress are dominated by brown red bricks showcasing construction
02:11which occurred during the late 18th century 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.
02:55With further remnants of the past being showcased at every turn, even under the fortress itself.
03:02You definitely could spend a lot of time exploring, but I have one more stop with Želko, the church of
03:09St. Sava.
03:09First of all, St. Sava was the founder of Christian Orthodox Church, Serbian Christian Orthodox Church.
03:16But unfortunately, his holy relics were burnt by the Turks Ottomans in 1594.
03:22Construction of the church began in 1935.
03:26However, it was stopped due to World War II and only then resumed in the 1980s.
03:31Inside the church, you notice its huge dome and golden mosaics, which span as far as the eye can see.
03:41Just 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.
03:57Do you like it?
03:58I 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
04:10a 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.
04:21Mmm, some good water. And cold. Very cold.
04:24We 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 Avala Tower. This is our symbol of Belgrade. There are a couple more, but we like to
05:07say 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.
05:37I'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. They are very simple to make, and are placed on a
06:17grill 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.
06:28Everything tastes delicious, very fresh, and full of flavour.
06:32It'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.
07:30And even with the modern twists like the wellness facilities and spa, elegance and classic features are observed throughout.
07:38From 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, you can imagine how it was all those years ago.
07:59Belgrade's architecture varies greatly across the city, and so I found a very unique way of seeing more sights.
08:07Welcome to Belgrade, it's a pleasure. Hopefully we'll show you Belgrade from another perspective, especially from our tiny time machine
08:14called the Yugo Car,
08:16to show you a little bit of Belgrade as a capital 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 I, 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
09:54II,
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, Dortchel 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 this part of the island and stop to enjoy the views.
10:55In the summertime, they come with the boats.
10:58Here 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 can 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.
11:36I have collected so many incredible memories, which will last a lifetime.
11:43Belgrade is a city full of energy.
11:46You can't quite put your finger on what makes it so special,
11:50but I truly have had such a wonderful trip.
11:53But now, time for my next adventure.
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