Golubac is located in the Braničevo District, in the north-eastern part of Serbia, on the border with Romania. Golubac Fortress, probably built in the 14th century, guards the entrance to the Iron Gate gorge from high cliffs overlooking the Danube. Its strategical location on the embankment of the Danube River allowed for the regulation and taxation of traffic across and along the river.
It was held, in turn, by Prince Lazar, Despot Stefan and Despot Djuradj. The fortress has ten towers, most of which started square, and several of which received many-sided reinforcements with the advent of firearms.
The upper compound is the oldest part of the fortress. It includes the citadel and the Serbian Orthodox chapel. Later, during either Serbian or Hungarian rule, the fortress was expanded to include the rear and forward compounds.
Despite the many times it has been the scene of battles, Golubac is still comparatively well-preserved and represents one of the finest medieval fortresses in the country.