Fortress
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Smederevo Fortress
Smederevo Fortress is one of the largest lowland medieval fortifications in Europe, built between 1428 and 1430 by Serbian Despot Đurađ Branković as the last capital of medieval Serbia before the Ottoman conquest. Situated at the confluence of the Jezava and Danube rivers, the triangular stronghold features 25 massive towers. Construction was overseen by Despot Đurađ's Greek wife, Jerina Kantakouzene, whom local folk tradition branded 'Damned Jerina' (Prokleta Jerina) for forcing peasants into lethal forced labor. Centuries of battles, Ottoman executions, and a catastrophic WWII ammunition dump explosion have made Smederevo a focal point for stories of phantom curses and unquiet spirits.