Address Prishtina | Architect Aleksandar Deroko | |
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Similar Gračanica Monastery, Visoki Dečani, Patriarchate of Peć, Spomenik Kosovskim Junacima, Our Lady of Ljeviš | ||
Gazimestan (Serbian Cyrillic: Газиместан, [ɡaziměstaːn]) is the name of a monument commemorating the historical Battle of Kosovo, situated about 6-7 kilometres southeast of the actual battlefield, known as Kosovo field. The name is a portmanteau derived from Arabic ghazi, meaning "hero" or "champion", and Serbian word mesto, meaning "place". The monument was designed by Aleksandar Deroko and built in 1953 under the authority of SFR Yugoslavia.
It is in the shape of a medieval tower. Gazimestan is reached from the Pristina–Mitrovica highway, on a 50-metre hill above the plain, ca. 5 km north-west from Pristina. Every year, on Vidovdan (St. Vitus Day), 28 June, a commemoration is held by the monument. The building is covered by an image of Prince Lazar during Vidovdan. In 2007, a 14-day march from Belgrade to Gazimestan was organized by several patriotic organizations.
In 2009, the commemoration brought the biggest crowd since 1999, with several thousand people.
In 2010, the Kosovo Police was handed over the task of guarding the monument, which was criticised by the Serbian government. In 2014, President Tomislav Nikolić held a speech at the monument.