FETHIJA MOSQUE

This mosque dedicated to the "conquest" (Fethija Džamija) is one of the very few Islamic places of worship in Gothic style in Europe. And for good reason, it is the former Catholic church of St. Anthony of Padua founded in 1266, rebuilt in the fourteenth century and transformed into a mosque in 1592. Rectangular in shape (22 m x 11.50 m) and rising to 15.50 high (without the minaret), it served as a model for many mosques in Bosnian Krajina in the 17th century. The facade retains two typical elements of Gothic art: the rose window of 2.10 m in diameter and the portal where there are still low plant reliefs at the base of the voussoirs. The portal itself is surmounted by an inscription in Ottoman Turkish indicating the date of the main restoration of the building, in 1894. On the right, the imposing base of the minaret (42 m high) seems to distort the whole. However, it was built on the site of the old campanile in 1863. Other elements of the Christian period remain on the walls, including the symbols (22 different types) left by the stonecutters during construction: it was the most common way to account for work, paid by the job. Inside, the apse was removed and a minbar and mihrab were added. All of the 16th century woodwork and roofing disappeared during World War II. In 1894, several tombstones of 15th century Croatian lords were discovered inside. They are now on display in the National Museum in Sarajevo.