Cegar

On Cegar Hill, at the site of the famous battle from the First Serbian Uprising, a monument was built  as a sign of memory of the brave fighters and their commander, Duke Stevan Sindjelic. Hill is located 6 kilometers from the center of Nis, and the entrance is free. 

After more than 400 years under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, the Serbian population began gathering and organizing the First Serbian Uprising. However, division among the dukes and the non-arrival of Russian military aid made the Serbs hesitant to start the battle. At dawn on May 31, 1809, the Ottoman army attacked Duke Stevan Sindjelic, who was on Cegar hill with his military. The battle lasted all day, and seeing that there is no chance against such a large force, Sindjelic ordered the preparation of gunpowder. The Duke allowed the Ottomans to approach him, and then fired into the gunpowder, killing himself, his own and Turkish soldiers. The explosion marked the end of unequal fight.