128 Dr Boue on the Scenery and Antiquities 



in which was the only spring on the hill. From the summit 

 of the hill there is an extensive view of the country, which is 

 mountainous towards the north, east, and west, but flat towards 

 the south. 



I may mention, among the old castles of tlie middle ages in 

 Servia, that on the hill of Avala, 9,\ leagues from Belgrade, 

 said to have belonged to a chevalier Portscha of Avala ; and 

 that of Stolacz, at the confluence of the Morawas, where a Ser- 

 vian nobleman so long withstood the attacks of the Turks, and, 

 when finally overpowered by them, precipitated himself along 

 with his wife into the Morawa, an heroic deed, which is still 

 celebrated among the people. At Kusnick in the Upper Ra- 

 china valley, there are the ruins of a castle situated on a very 

 high hill, which, from the extensive view it commands, and its 

 vicinity to the Ibar valley, is still used as a miUtary post in 

 time of war. A part of the surrounding wall, with the chief 

 entrance and five large square towers, as also some small build- 

 ings below the castle, are still visible. 



The finest Servian architectural remains are the churches and 

 monasteries. Of the former, the finest are Studenilza and Krus- 

 chevetz in Servia, and more especially, Detschiani in Upper Al- 

 bania near Ipek. At Kruschevatz there was formerly the 

 royal palace, with a chapel much ornamented in the Byzantine 

 style. At present we can only observe some traces of a wall, 

 and the chapel has lost part of its spires, and its roof The 

 Turks used it as a hay store, and made a sort of fortification on 

 the platform of the castle. The chapel is in the form of a 

 Grecian cross with two round towers. In the front there is 

 one large central door, and one small lateral one. The former 

 is surrounded with small columns, and above is a sculpture in 

 bos relief, representing the baptism of our Saviour. The arched 

 windows are also decorated with some ornaments ; and the small 

 door is ornamented with other has reliefs, as also eagles with 

 extended wings, lions, &c. 



The Detschiani church belongs to a monastery situated in a 

 secluded valley, which is separated from the Albanian plain by 

 a forest of chestnut trees, and has, on its other side, lofty hills 

 and forests of ten leagues in extent, which no human being in- 

 habits. The monument built by king Stephen is in admirable 



