Nearby hippodrome, which we have visited last weekend, nestled in in the rock, out of sight for admirers, and lost in time - summer stage Topčider. Shamefully admitting neither I knew about this once in the past very important place.
He pulled me across the street, with a dose of excitement after he found out I have no idea what lies behind a iron gate safely attached to the stone arch. Afternoon shadows were breaking trough the iron bars, and that scene alone gave me goosebumps.
First few steps led straight to the restaurant which obviously was busy preparing some celebration (typical weekend happening), um my mood got confused, above the restaurant a rock rises, cute but not impressive.
Is that all, are we here for this?
Up to the stairs (silently hoping there aren't plenty as dear darling often has sudden alpinist ideas whenever he sees the chance), wall gives a feeling of medieval times, but actually this place dates from 40s.
Not so young, still not too old.
Let's go back before this stage was build, what was the purpose of it, any idea staring at this unfortunate wild plum almost hanging from the cliff?
No one? Okay, before stage was build this was a quarry, nearby railway you saw on the first photo is just few hundred meters away - easy reachable. Same time (random internet info's) are claiming here are found fossil remains of shells, fish, corals, which are proving Pannonian sea legend.
Some stones decided to grow up and move out of the parents house, not so pretty sight of the landslide. The quarry most often served as a source of raw stone for paving the streets of the city (Belgrade was destroyed several times during the wars), there was always something to fix or build from the scratch.
A short climb up the stairs and in front of you is a multi-storied tower that looks a lot like a prison tower, or watch tower. Real purpose is unknown to me, but scene Romeo and Julia appeared out of nowhere in my mind.
Whole space is certainly impressive, only if you step inside otherwise you will miss the whole point.
Stage is settled into in the womb of the rock (perfectly smoothly arched), imagine that acoustic! Exactly, that's what internet also says about this place, many concerts and ballet performances were organized here.
The benches for visitors are quite rotten, still well preserved at the first glance, considering that nothing protects them even during the worst storms. The arrangement seems confusing, admiring from this point.
I found a draft which shows actual idea.
(hope moderators won't mind this intruder source)
After all the purpose it had, Topcider summer stage get's status protected by law as geological heritage - forgotten.
Some chairs are more privileged than others, these could be ownership of a restaurant that was also built in a part of the former stage, partly privatized property. Nevertheless scene was perfect contrast, where new clashes with history, unapologetically tucking itself under the safe arch leaving the history to struggle with all weather misfortunes.
You are too plastic to fit in, don't even try.
