When the Turks came, this heap of stones was the last thing in their way. The remains of the last Bosnian fortress to fall to the Ottomans still stands as a monument to the ancient kingdom of Bosnia, which fell to the Ottoman forces long before its last fortress was finally conquered in 1527.
Welcome to Jajce, a town nestled in the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where history comes alive. From its ancient fortress to the picturesque rivers that flow through it, Jajce offers a unique blend of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Join me on an unforgettable journey as we delve into the secrets of this hidden gem.
Today, the Jajce Fortress stands unnoticed on a hill above the town of the same name in the small south-eastern European country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tourists have it all to themselves as 600 years after the founding of Jajce by Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić, a powerful feudal lord, the once mighty fortress is but a shadow of its glory days.
Shadow of the glory days
But as beautiful as the town of the same name built at the confluence of the rivers Pliva and Vrbas. Hrvoje, who held the title of Grand Duke of Bosnia and was heavily involved in the political intrigues and military actions, it served as a power base in his day. From here he schemed against powerful neighbors such as the Kingdom of Hungary and the Ottoman Empire for the benefit of his subjects.
The fortress on the hill in the center of his city helped, as it was long considered impregnable. The fortress was built in the 12th century and was an important political and military center in the Middle Ages. Many important events of Bosnian history also took place in the fortress, including the coronation of King Tvrtko I in 1377.
Those who come to Jajce today can imagine the former splendor of the buildings that Hrvoje had built and which were impressive enough that King Stjepan Tomasevic moved his royal court to Jajce in 1421.
The tiny town with less than 30,000 inhabitants today became the capital of the Kingdom of Bosnia. To reflect the city's new royal status, a palace was built within the Jajce Fortress in the mid-15th century, and a royal portal emblazoned with the Bosnian royal coat of arms was added to the complex.
Near a waterfall
Today, the Jajce Fortress still stands on the rounded hill at the center of the medieval town, but the high stone walls and watchtowers now enclose only a grassy plateau that the Bosnian royal court once called home. The fortress is just a short walk from the famous waterfall in the center of Jajce, on the banks of which a once-wonderful park awaits day-trippers.
Down here the water rushes like wild, above the view goes far into the country: No wonder that Jajce Fortress is one of the most famous and popular sights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because the fortress offers a wonderful view of the surroundings.
Inside is a museum flanked by historical buildings including the palace, chapel, tower and armory. In the immediate vicinity there are also other sights such as the old town of Jajce, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Franciscan monastery and the Pliva waterfall. All this is walled in as if Jajce (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: Jajačka tvrđava, Serbian Cyrillic: Јајачка тврђава) is still threatened by enemies without number.
A pyramid-shaped hill
The citadel looks down from above, its pyramid-shaped steep hill, surrounded by a defensive wall about 1,300 meters long, gives an idea of the difficulties attackers must have had in taking it. This first required military progress, new weapons and strategies.
The Bosnians, however, revere the place as a national monument precisely for this reason: the entire complex of the walled city of Jajce with the citadel, the city walls, the Medvjed-kula watchtower and the two main gate towers of the city, located on the southern slope of the large rock pyramid at the confluence of the Pliva and Vrbas rivers, is part of it.
With a height of 470 meters above sea level, it is geographically unmissable, but also historically significant due to the royal coat of arms decorations, for example at the entrance to the citadel. A part of the wall was only built later by the Hungarian king, while the Ottomans created the powder magazine after their conquest.
Unlucky murderers
The murderers of the last Bosnian king, Stjepan Tomasevic, did not have much luck in the war. They had hardly conquered the city and the fortress and executed the king when the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus came, besieged the conquerors and drove them out after only six months. Later, Queen Catherine restored St. Mary's Church in Jajce, now the oldest church in the city, just in time before the Ottomans returned and became the last Bosnian city to take over their rule.
At least for 500 years, because only in 1878 did it fall under the administration of Austria-Hungary together with the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina. By then the citadel consisting of a main portal, the two large bastions and the gunpowder tower inside had already become pointless militarily.
Swords clanged
Today you can walk along the walls along a path along its entire length and imagine how soldiers with cannons stood on the Great Southern Bastion and swords clanged on the Great Northern Bastion. A secret is hidden under it all, deep caves and shafts are said to be there... but unfortunately tightly closed on this day.
Travel information about Bosnia and Herzegovina: www.bhtourism.ba
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