Tower of Mara

The site of the Tower of Mara Branković (Marin Hill) is located 2 km east of Kuršumlija, on a conical elevation rising above the confluence of the Kosanica and Toplica rivers and the modern Niš–Priština road route. It is a multilayered archaeological site containing the remains of settlements and fortifications dating from prehistoric times, the Roman Empire, Byzantium, the Serbian medieval state, and the Ottoman period. At the top of the hill, the remains of ramparts built from cut stone bonded with lime mortar can still be seen. Beneath the terrain, traces of several structures and a defensive trench are visible. The summit of Mara’s Tower is an excellent viewpoint overlooking the Monastery of Saint Nicholas in Kuršumlija.

According to local legend, this site was once home to the court of Mara Branković, daughter of Despot Đurađ Branković and wife of Ottoman Sultan Murad II, after whom the entire hill was named. The legend also says that Mara had her own tavern on this hill.

The site has been declared a cultural monument of great importance. To this day, it remains archaeologically unexplored.