Keys Handover Memorial, Memorial sculpture in Kalemegdan Fortress, Serbia.
The Keys Handover Memorial is a monument with a white marble block positioned near the entrance of Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade. The block carries inscriptions detailing the event and listing the names of the fortresses involved in the transfer.
The memorial marks 1867, when Ottoman authorities handed over keys of Belgrade, Smederevo, Šabac, and Kladovo to Prince Mihailo Obrenović. This moment represented a major step toward Serbian independence and control of key border fortifications.
The name refers to the symbolic act of key transfer, which represented liberation from foreign control. Visitors can see the carved drawing that captures this significant moment of self-determination.
The monument sits easily accessible near the main entrance of Kalemegdan Fortress, where visitors encounter it while exploring the grounds. You can read the inscriptions up close and view the artwork from different angles.
A small earth mound surrounded by thuja trees marks the exact spot where the key ceremony took place. This subtle marker lies just meters from the marble block and often goes unnoticed by visitors.
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