Skull Tower

Niš, Serbia

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Admission: Ticketed

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Skull Tower (Ćele kula) is a stone monument in Niš, Serbia, constructed in 1809 following the Battle of Čegar during the First Serbian Uprising. Built by Ottoman order under Governor Hurshid Pasha, the tower was erected from the skulls of Serbian rebels who died in the battle, including forces under Stevan Sinđelić, who detonated a powder magazine rather than face capture. Originally 4.5 metres high with 952 skulls embedded in fourteen rows on four sides, the structure was dismantled in 1861 but partially restored after Ottoman withdrawal in 1878. A chapel was constructed around it between 1892 and 1894, with further renovations in 1937, 1948, and 1989. Today fifty-eight skulls remain embedded in the walls, with Sinđelić's skull displayed separately in glass. Designated as Immovable Cultural Heritage of Exceptional Importance, the tower has become a widely recognized symbol of Serbian independence and attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually.