Vranduk Fortress

Vranduk
Vranduk
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vranduk, map and info table
Site information
Typetown-fortress
OwnerThe Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Conditiongood
WebsiteVranduk - zemuzej.ba
Location
Vranduk
Vranduk
Coordinates44°17′31″N 17°54′14″E / 44.291957°N 17.904017°E / 44.291957; 17.904017
Site history
Builtbetween 12th century and 14th century
Built by(unknown)
In useUntil 1918
Materialsdry stone walling
Garrison information
Designations
Official name
"Old Vranduk Fort, the architectural complex (2528)".
TypeCategory II monument
CriteriaA, B, C iv.vi., D i.ii.iv, E ii.iii.v., F ii., G i.ii.iii.v.vi., H i.
Designated25 January 2005 (?th session)
Reference no.2528
Decision no.
. 05.2-2-165/05-4

Vranduk is a medieval fortress and a historic village in the municipality of Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[1][2]

Location

It is situated on the Bosna River canyon, just downstream from city of Zenica, at the site called the Vranduk Pass. The main road Sarajevo-Zenica-Doboj (M17) passes through the canyon and the village.[1]

History

Archaeological excavations to date on the site of the fort showed no signs of fortifications dating from the prehistoric period or antiquity, or prior to the medieval times. The village itself is one of the oldest and well preserved settlements of Bosnia and Herzegovina, dating back to the 14th century and times of medieval bans and later kings of Bosnia. Vranduk village was established around a medieval citadel of the same name, and together constitute a protected architectural assembly, and as such it is a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, well preserved and maintained in good condition by local and state commissions for national monuments, and managed by a local tourist organization. A small mosque was erected below the citadel after the Ottoman conquest of the Bosnian Kingdom which still is standing today in good condition. The mosque was dedicated to and named after Sultan Mehmed II, conqueror of Bosnia, and is also referred to as the Imperial Mosque or Emperor's Mosque.[1] In 1963, excavations were undertaken by Branka Raunig to explore the impact of the Roman empire on the village.[1]

Heritage designation

On 25 January 2005, the Vranduk fortress and surrounding area are designated a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina by KONS.[1]

Sources

References

  1. ^ a b c d e KONS 2528.
  2. ^ Official results from the book: Ethnic composition of Bosnia-Herzegovina population, by municipalities and settlements, 1991. census, Zavod za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine - Bilten no.234, Sarajevo 1991.