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 Kale
fortress is situated on a hill in the middle of Skopje and dominates this
whole portion of the Vardar valley. Archaeological excavations has revealed
traces of habitation from the late neolithic and early bronze ages.
Exactly when the first fortifications were built on this
site has not yet been established, though it is believed that reconstruction
was undertaken during Justinian's reign (527-565), i.e. after the great
earthquake in 518. Today's visitor first notes the walls, 121 m in length,
built of huge blocks of dressed stone; according to some authorities the
walls were built soon after the earthquake of 518, and according to others
in the 10th or 11th century. However, the most probable construction date
appears to be some time in the 6th or 7th century when Byzantium was under
constant attack from Pechenegs, Polovitzians, Normans, Bulgars, and Slavs.
Important additions were made to the fortress which incorporated
several residential buildings and quarters for the soldiers. A small chapel
with frescoes assigned to the 14th century has also been found.
The most detailed description of the fortress was given
by Evliya Chelebi, the Turkish traveller and writer. "The walls," wrote
Chelebi, "encircling the castle on all sides are 50 ells high. The stronghold
is adorned with 70 bastions, and the bazaar has 2,000 shops. There are
three gatehouses facing the south-east, and in the vistibule of each tall
gate many guards. Flowing past the west side of the fortress is Vardar.
There is also a path leading from the fortress through a cave to a 'water-tower'
on the river bank. Inside the fortress are about a hundred buildings: soldiers'
quarters, grain and munitions depots."
When the military withdrew at the end of the last war
the fortress was converted into a large park dedicated to the Revolution.
Since many of the buildings had collapsed during the earthquake of 1963,
conservation work was undertaken.
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