Markovo Kale, Medieval fortress on rocky crest between Krstilovica and Pljačkavica mountains in Vranje, Serbia.
Markovo Kale is a fortress ruin perched on a ridge between two mountains in Vranje, where stone walls roughly two meters thick still stand today. The site spreads across the hillside and contains residential structures and religious buildings from different time periods.
The original fortification dates to the 6th century under Emperor Justinian, then was inhabited and rebuilt over several centuries. In the early 15th century, Ottoman Sultan Musa took control and stationed troops there.
The ruins show traces of multiple periods, including a cross-shaped church and water cisterns that reveal how people lived here over centuries. These remains offer insight into religious and daily life at this isolated mountain location.
The site is difficult to access as paths are unmaintained and the terrain is steep and rocky. Wear sturdy shoes and move carefully, especially in wet conditions.
The western wall was never completed because the steep ravine above the nearby river already provided a natural barrier. This geographic feature shows how builders used the landscape itself as protection.
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