Despot Stefan Tower, Belgrade

Despot Stefan Tower was built by Stefan Lazarevic in 1405. The stone tower is sometimes referred to as Dizdar Tower or Dizdareva Kula. The quadrangular tower received the Dizdar Tower moniker because it was the home of Dizdar, the commander of the Fortress.

It is located next to the Despot's Gate, which is often referred to as the Eastern Upper Town Gate. In the Middle Ages, Despot's Gate was the main entrance to the Belgrade Fortress. It is the best preserved portion of medieval Upper Town with frequent restoration projects taking place.

In 1963, an agreement was reached among the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, members of area astronomical societies and the Belgrade city administration to turn the tower into an observatory. It is now the seat of the Astronomical Society Ruder Boskovic.

The observatory has a refractor Zeiss and reflector Tall 200 K. They are primarily used for observing the night sky. The tower also has four panoramic telescopes that are available for use during the day.