Bascarsija
Bascarsija is Sarajevo's old bazaar and the historical and cultural center of the city. Bascarsija was built in the 15th century when Isa-Beg (Bey) Ishakovic founded the city. Bascarsija word originates from the word "bas" which means "main" in Turkish, so Bascarsija means "main bazaar". Because of the large fire in the 19th century, today’s Bašcaršija is twice smaller than it once was.
Bascarsija is located on the north bank of the River Miljacka, in the Sarajevo’s municipality Stari Grad. There are several important historic buildings in Bascarsija, such as Gazi Husrev-Beg’s (Bey's) Mosque and clock tower. Bascarsija is the main tourist attractions of the city of Sarajevo today.
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Old Town of Travnik
The only monument of the Middle Ages that has survived is Stari Grad (Kastel). It was built during the Bosnian independence in the first half of the fifteenth century, as it is assumed at the time of the Bosnian king Ostoja or King Tvrtko II. The town consists of several architectural units, very nicely fitted into overall look of the fortress, where the appearance of the terrain and purpose of each bulwark were taken into account. Travnik is the only town in the world with two clock towers.
Mosques
Eighteen mosques of Travnik are famous monuments of Islamic architecture. One of the most famous is Sulejmanija Mosque (Sarena Mosque), which was painted with designs of vines and since 1815. was named after reformer Selejman - pasa (pasha) Skopljak. It is located in the town center along the main street M5, and is a magnet for foreign tourists, as well as our tourists.
Old Town of Kljuc
Ruins of Kljuc consists, architecturally speaking, from three separate complexes that have constituted an organic whole, but were not encompassed by a unique system of perimeter walls. The main features of the medieval town are the elongation of base and relatively small area of defended space, but more complicated system of fortifications.
In the narrow sense, the town is located high above Sana, and only this portion was incorporated as a whole in the wall. The core of the medieval fortress with a kind of "suburb" underneath it belongs to this complex. "Suburb", which was located about 50 m below Kapi-kula, was also surrounded by walls, but they have long since collapsed.
On the plateau below the northern bulwark, the ancient material was discovered. The area of that part below the town is overgrown with trees.
The town is the oldest and it represents the medieval town of Kljuc. During time, modifications and adjustment to firearms were carried out on several structures. The town consists of several objects erected on uneven, rocky ground with a couple of reefs, which descend abruptly to the south, i.e. to the valley in which lies today’s settlement of Kljuc. From the south it is protected by rocks, i.e. deep ravine, and from the north by high walls, i.e. the protective shield that encompasses the whole complex of medieval fortification. The floor plan of the town is adjusted to the maximum to the long and narrow terrain.
The town of Kljuc is high-altitude town, built during the cold arms, and over time some parts of town or objects were adjusted to firearms.
Tabori lie on the saddle below the town. Basically they are medieval building, and in their present form date from Ottoman times.
Tower of Ljubica, a detached tower, is located on the westernmost and highest stone peak above the town and Tabori.
Old City of Banja Luka
The citadel Kastel is one of the oldest buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some remains of archaeological excavations have shown that the fortress existed in the 9th century A.D. At the site of today's Kastel fortress was Roman military stronghold, used to ensure road which connected Split with Pannonia.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, this area was inhabited by Slavs and the old town and citadel were mostly within the Byzantine State (8th-12th century) with periodical rule of Hungarian kings. In the first half of the 12th century Banja Luka was ruled by Bosnian ban Boric.
The Turks conquered Banja Luka in the beginning of the 16th century, and by the end of the same century, Banja Luka was significantly rebuilt. Ferhat-pasa (pasha) Sokolovic built the settlement in this area with some 200 public buildings.
Among them was the famous mosque Ferhadija, karavan Saraj, and many craft and trade shops. 1583., Banja Luka became the seat of the Bosnian pashaluk and remained it until 1639.
For all the time of its existence, Banja Luka was the scene of many wars, and its population was either executed or exiled. Also, Banja Luka was ravaged by strong earthquakes, but the city still managed to recover and return. Kastel alone was destroyed many times in the First and Second World War. After the Second World War, Kastel was rebuilt, and again after the terrible earthquake in 1969.
Very well maintained, Kastel today represents one of the events center in Banja Luka, where large number of young people gather around the various facilities. It also represents one of the places to be visited, if ever you get somewhere in that region.
Old Town of Jajce
The old town, or fortress is the most notable and the most imposing building in Jajce, whose construction marked the formation of the town of Jajce. In short, it is still interesting to our historians for traces of building that existed here before the fortress, which we see and know now, was built and remained for the most part until today. Built stone and travertine, which differ in the lower layers of the fort, and on its basis indicate it.
Old Town of Pocitelj
This unique place is listed on the UNESCO list. Although the town was first mentioned in written records in 1444., it is assumed that it was built by the Bosnian king Tvrtko 1383. This medieval town had a Mediterranean look, but was orientally reshaped after the Turkish conquest. A mixture of these two architectural styles gives Pocitelj an extra dimension.
Besides its stunning oriental architecture and Ottoman "soul", Pocitelj is interesting and well-known as host of the art colony with the longest tradition in South East Europe.
Artists from all over the world come here to create and paint, among other things, shiny red pomegranates and figs, which grow abundantly in the hills around Pocitelj.
Hadzi-Alijina Mosque, Sisman-Ibrahimpasina Medresa (School) and Gavrankapetanovica kuca (House) were rebuilt and all of these facilities are open to visitors. The most interesting object in Pocitelj is the clock tower, tall fortress that is at the top of the hill above the town. It was the home to the guards who kept a watchful eye in order to avoid possible enemy invasion through Neretva valley.
