Vršac Castle: A Tower Above the Ages
The Vršac Castle, a symbol of the city and its glorious past, has proudly stood above Vršac for more than 700 years. This magnificent monument is not only a historical landmark but also a vantage point offering breathtaking views of Vršac and its surroundings. The external walls of the castle are 19.85 meters high, with sides measuring 13.80 meters and 11 meters in width. For the first time, all artifacts found in the fortress have been conserved, curated, and made available to the public, providing an authentic insight into the history of this significant site.
How to Get to Vršac Castle
The Vršac Castle is located approximately 7.5 km from the city center of Vršac.
How to get to Vršac
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“When a traveler approaches Vršac from any direction across the Banat plains, they are greeted from afar by the Vršac hill crowned with the ruins of the tower. Inevitably, the traveler wonders: what kind of castle was this, and who built it?” These words mark the beginning of Felix Mileker’s study of the Vršac Fortress. A long-serving curator of the Vršac Museum and a dedicated scholar of the medieval history of Banat and its settlements, Mileker noted that the fortress ruins, with their well-preserved donjon tower on the Vršac hill, clearly indicated medieval origins. However, written records about Vršac were scarce.
The puzzle of Vršac’s medieval past was solved with the publication of the 1579–1580 census of the Temișvar Sandjak, which mentioned “the town of Šemlik, another name for Vršac.” Since the name Šemlik is derived from the Hungarian word Somlyó, it became clear that Vršac is identical to the settlement of Er(d)šomlyó, well-documented in medieval sources. Somlyó is a Hungarian term referring to a barren hill, mountain, or peak. Both the old Hungarian and the modern Serbian name for Vršac originate from the hill where the fortress was built.
The name Šemlik, used in Ottoman records from the late 16th century, during a time when the town’s population was Serbian, suggests that the Serbs initially adopted and adapted the Hungarian name of the town. In the 1554 census, only the name Šemlik is used for both the town and the district. However, the name Vršac appears alongside Šemlik in the 1569 and 1579 censuses. The old Hungarian name eventually fell into complete disuse, while the new Serbian name has remained to this day.
This settlement was one of five provincial markets (forum provincialium) in the Caraș County in 1330. Coins from the medieval period also attest to Er(d)šomlyó’s status as a county marketplace. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, two hoards of Slavonian banovac coins from the 13th century were discovered in Vršac, containing 22 and 18 pieces, respectively, along with a coin of Serbian King Dragutin (1276–1316).
Exhibition: “Life in a Medieval Fortress in Banat”
This exhibition explores Vršac as a dynamic center of political and cultural change, where the influences of great powers and cultures intertwined, laying strong historical foundations. The exhibit is arranged chronologically, covering the period from the first mention of Vršac in 1227 to its liberation from Ottoman rule in 1718.
The exhibition is not based on archaeological findings but rather offers a vivid narrative, blending historical context with the story of the Vršac Fortress. It aims to provide both a spatial and chronological perspective of this remarkable site.
Visitors can explore four thematic sections, featuring original medieval weapons, warrior equipment, and archaeological discoveries from the site. The exhibition also includes replicas of cold weapons, Gothic armor, vizier shirts, and a facsimile of Franz II’s Privileged Market Charter. Informative bilingual texts reveal the authentic history of Vršac Castle for the first time.
Be sure to take note of the depiction of the daily life of soldiers who maintained and defended the fortress. Among the highlights for antique enthusiasts are a Hungarian hussar helmet from the early 17th century, notable for its unusual beauty and elegance despite being made of iron, and a breastplate cavalry cuirass from the 16th century. For the first time, the public can view conserved and restored items discovered in the fortress, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience the past of this important historical monument.
Opening Hours and ticket prices:
The Vršac Tower is open from April to November, Thursday to Sunday, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Tickets can be purchased online for 250.00 RSD.
You can purchase the combined online ticket “Vršac Tour” for visiting the City Museum Vršac, the Pharmacy on the Stairs, and the Vršac Castle (Tower) via the provided link.
Purchasing the online ticket does not incur any additional fees or costs.
Tickets for students, primary and secondary school pupils, and pensioners cost 200.00 RSD and are available only at the ticket office.
Free admission: Preschool children (up to 7 years old), persons with special needs and their companions, members of the Serbian Museum Society, ICOM members, journalists, and colleagues from other museums. State holidays and Museum holidays.