National Theatre, Belgrade

The first stones of the National Theatre building were laid in 1868, but the building has gone through many changes in its long history. As such, it stands a monument to Serbia in general--a symbol of Serbian culture, spirituality, and tradition.

You can trace the theatre's history in Belgrade back to a performance seen by Prince Michael. In 1868 the Serbian Theatre from Novi Sad, the second largest city in Serbia, performed in town. Prince Michael was so impressed that he invited its founder, Jovan Dordevic, to create a theatre in Belgrade.

The Prince even chose the site of the theatre. It was located on what became Republic Square, on the location where one of the outer gates to the Belgrade Fortress once stood. Unfortunately, Prince Michael did not live to see his theatre's completion.

Work on the building was begun and stopped during the Great War and interbellum years. During World War II, the German military effectively took control of construction, and soldiers repaired damage and finished the building in 1942. Regardless, the building still sustained heavy damage from bombings during the war.

After the war, the building was rebuilt and reopened in 1989. During the 1999 NATO bombings, the theatre was opened daily to the public for operas, plays, and ballets.

Today the National Theatre is open for concerts, drama, opera, and ballet performances. The Grand Hall has three levels, with 219 seats on the ground floor and three balconies. The Raša Plaović Stage has 281 seats with no balconies and is used for smaller drama productions.

Don't miss the backstage tour for a closer look at the inner workings of this beautiful theatre.