FORTERESSE DE KLJUČ

Offering a magnificent view of the Sana Valley and the town of Ključ (pronounced "klioutch," population 4,000), this fortress (Ključka Tvrđava) was the last refuge of the last king of Bosnia. Perched at 521 m above sea level, it overlooks the Sklop canyon, which frames the Sana River with the Dimitor massif (1,483 m above sea level) to the east and the Šiša massif (1,288 m) to the west. It was built in the 12th or 13th century on the site of a Roman castrum that controlled the passage from Bosnia to Herzegovina. It is a complex consisting of three parts that were once connected to each other. At the roadside, Fort Tomašević is the best preserved. It was here that King Stefan Tomašević took refuge in May 1463 as the armies of Sultan Mehmed II entered Bosnia. After four days of siege, he agreed to surrender, but he was executed on May 25, in Jajce. The fort that now bears his name was remodeled by the Ottomans and recently renovated. The first tower is covered with a tavaillon roof and has a wooden hourd. At the end of the courtyard, the restored Ljubica tower with a wooden roof guards the entrance to the Podgrađe fort installed below. The latter, still clearly visible, sheltered the old town of Ključ. These fortifications can be accessed through the tower. But this is closed for safety reasons: the walls of Podgrađe look directly onto a precipice. Finally, at the very top, at the level of the transmission relay, are the remains of the third part of the complex.