Prilepac, Medieval castle in Novo Brdo, Kosovo.
Prilepac is a ruined medieval fortress on the plateau of Ođin kamen hill (861 m), about 13 km southeast of Novo Brdo near the village of Boževce. Its irregular quadrilateral layout measured roughly 120 m north–south by 90 m east–west. Only foundations of several buildings and a well remain, and a large round tower once stood at the southeast corner.
Prilepac was probably built in the 14th century, perhaps earlier, to guard the approach to Novo Brdo through the Prilepnica valley. It belonged to Pribac, logothete of Emperor Dušan, then to Pribac's son Stefan Uroš, and later to Prince Lazar, who was born there around 1329 and gave the fortress to his foundation, Ravanica monastery. The fortress is mentioned in sources in 1381.
Prilepac is remembered as the birthplace of Prince Lazar, born around 1329, and of Nikodim Tismanski, a monk who founded the Romanian Tismana monastery. Lazar later granted the fortress to his endowment, the Ravanica monastery, along with surrounding villages given as metochia to churches. The site is first mentioned in written sources in 1381.
The ruins are located on a mountainside and can be reached via a mountain road and walking paths. It is best to wear sturdy shoes since the terrain is steep and uneven in places.
Prilepac is also recorded as the birthplace of Nicodemus of Tismana, a Serbian monk who founded the Romanian Orthodox Tismana Monastery; sources place his birth here in 1310. The fortress itself is first mentioned in written records in 1381, and Prince Lazar, born here around 1329, later granted it to his endowment, Ravanica Monastery.
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