The Great Well: Engineering and Legend
The so-called Roman Well at Belgrade Fortress is one of the city’s most mysterious landmarks. Despite its popular name, it is neither Roman nor a conventional well. What you see today is a remarkable piece of 18th-century Austrian engineering.
A Baroque Masterpiece.
During the Austrian occupation of Belgrade, from 1717 to 1739, engineers faced the challenge of securing water for a city often under siege. Under the direction of Balthasar Neumann, they began digging a well, reaching an extraordinary depth of 54 meters. When no water was found, the shaft was converted into a vast cistern, equipped with a wooden lifting mechanism to draw water up from its depths—an innovation sometimes called the start of Belgrade’s “industrial period.”
A Striking Design.
The well’s most distinctive feature is its double spiral staircase. Two separate stairways coil down 35 meters around the central shaft, allowing people to descend and ascend without crossing paths. Inspired by a famous Italian well in Orvieto, this ingenious design adds to the site’s dramatic atmosphere.
Layers of History.
Long before the Austrians, the site had earlier uses. In the 15th century, records describe it as a dungeon during the Siege of Belgrade. Later, in Ottoman times, it was even used as a grain silo. By the 19th century, locals began calling it the “Roman Well,” as many old structures were popularly assumed to be Roman.
Legends and Mystique.
Over time, the well gained a reputation for darkness and danger. During World War II, a rumor spread that the National Bank’s gold was hidden at its bottom. German divers were sent to investigate—none reportedly returned. Its eerie atmosphere inspired filmmakers and even impressed Alfred Hitchcock, who visited in 1964 and admired its unique setting.
A Monument of Memory.
Today, the so-called Roman Well stands as both a feat of 18th-century engineering and a wellspring of local legend. Whether seen as a military cistern, a medieval dungeon, or a portal to myth, it remains one of Belgrade Fortress’s most intriguing and unforgettable sites.
