Marko's Towers

About

Marko’s Towers, or Markovi Kuli, is a fortress that’s changed hands and been renovated many times since its earliest founding in the 5th century. It is named for the former king, Marko Mrnjavčević, during his rule in the 1300s, and the castle has remained relatively untouched since his death. The fortress sits on an inselberg, or an isolated hill made of stone that appears to rise up from the landscape. The foundation of Markovi Kuli began forming as far back as 700 million years ago. Layers of various types of rocks eroded away at different rates due to the differences in their hardness, porosity, and age. After millions of years, only the hardest granite structures survived. Markovi Kuli’s formations are celebrated as a national Monument of Nature and designated as a protected natural area due to their geological rarity. It is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites for both its historical relevance and unique geological foundation.