"The Stone Maiden" or the Greatest Secret of Mali Zvornik

Mali Zvornik, the western gateway to central Serbia, has been a stop for many on their way to Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Drina Regatta.

At first glance, it may seem like just a small settlement with an idyllic location on the beautiful Drina River. However, many will be surprised to learn that beneath the ground, near the old steel bridge but far from public view, there are over 50 secret chambers and a labyrinth of underground tunnels and passages.

"How did that come about?"

In fact, by the order of King Alexander I Karađorđević, a secret underground city was built inside the porous limestone hill from 1930 to 1934. It served as a shelter for extended stays and hiding underground.

This project was strictly kept secret, known to only five people in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. As a result, there are almost no written records about this underground facility, and the few existing documents refer to it by the secret name "Stone Maiden."

According to legend, a system of interconnected underground chambers was built in the hill for military purposes and as a potential hiding place for the King in times of war.

The Underground City of Karađorđević

Natural cavities in the limestone were utilized for the construction of this underground shelter. After four years of secret work, a complete underground city was carved out in the depth of the limestone massif, covering an area of about 5,000 square meters. It included dozens of furnished rooms designed to accommodate up to 5,000 people. The underground city had ventilation systems, a well, water and electricity installations, a weapons depot, and even a chapel. However, after the Marseille assassination, the construction was halted, and the "Stone Maiden" was never fully completed.

During the April War in 1941, the underage King Peter II spent his final days in Serbia in the underground city before evacuating to Greece. The last session of the Government of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, before its capitulation on April 17th, was also held there.

Forgotten...

After the war, this de facto historical site was looted, neglected, and forgotten until 2011 when it was reopened to visitors in a slightly different form after renovation. The underground city now serves as a unique tourist attraction. It has been transformed into a museum space with artifacts from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia era.

The authentic ambiance of the underground city was also used as a filming location for episodes of the popular series "Ravna Gora."