Monument to the Unknown Hero, Mount Avala

Constructed between 1934 and 1938 on the summit of Mount Avala, the monument was commissioned by King Alexander I of Yugoslavia as a grand tribute to unknown soldiers who fell during the First World War. It replaced an earlier, simpler grave that marked the burial site of an unidentified soldier discovered on the mountain. The design by Ivan Meštrović reflects classical influences, with the structure taking the form of a monumental stone sarcophagus built from black granite.

The monument is approached by a wide staircase leading to an elevated plateau, where eight caryatid sculptures stand guard around the tomb. Each figure represents a woman in traditional dress from different regions of the former Yugoslavia, symbolising unity among the South Slavic peoples. To make way for the monument, the remains of the medieval Žrnov fortress were demolished, a decision that remains controversial. Today, the site serves both as a place of national remembrance and a scenic viewpoint overlooking the Belgrade region.