The city with a very unusual name – Jajce – is a true gem of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The settlement’s name means “egg”. Jajce is a beautiful and fabulous place. However, it would be an exaggeration to say that Jajce is a popular vacation destination. Perhaps, not many tourists are aware of this city at the moment, and this is the reason why there are not many tourists here. That being said, the city is worth visiting at least for the sake of seeing its major attraction – the waterfall. The beautiful nature of Bosnia and Herzegovina is so amazing that it is worth visiting this place at least once.
The earliest mention of Jajce dates back to 1396. Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić, a Grand Duke of Bosnia, was the founder of the settlement. Historians do not know the exact year when Jajce was founded but they agree that this event happened between 1391 and 1404. There was an ancient tower on the site of the modern settlement. This is where the duke decided to build a fortress. In the first half of the 15th century, Tvrtko II was the ruler in the kingdom, and Stephen Tomašević or Stephen II became the king after him. Summer 1463 was tragic for residents of Jajce. The Ottomans besieged the settlement and managed to capture it. At that time, the Ottomans could hold it for only six months.
As it was mentioned above, the waterfall is the main attraction in Jajce. What is so unusual about it? This incredible natural landmark is situated directly in the city, and this fact makes the waterfall unusual and even unique. As a rule, this is the first landmark that tourists visit in Jajce. Guests of the city come to see the spectacular natural attraction that has inspired poets and painters for centuries.
The Pliva Waterfall is situated in a place where the river Pliva meets the river Vrbas. The waterfall is more than twenty meters high. Actually, this waterfall wasn’t here all the time. Initially, the river is this area had a tuff bottom that was prone to erosion. The river was slowly cutting through the rock year after year until the rocks fell down and formed a spectacular waterfall one day. According to scientists, the waterfall appeared approximately fifty thousand years ago. The waterfall keeps changing its shape even in modern times because water continues destroying the stones slowly.
The historic part of Jajce has a thick protective wall. Duke Hrvoje Vukčić liked the area and decided to build a large fortress here. The design of the fortress in Jajce was inspired by a fortress in Naples - Castel dell'Ovo. The name of the fortification also means an “egg”. The Bosnian fortress was also called the Egg Fortress and later gave its name to the city.
At the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century, the founder turned the fort into a large stronghold with several towers and thick walls. People started settling near the fortress, and the territory of Jajce was growing. The fortress looked so spectacular that Bosnian kings decided to settle in it. This fact added a royal touch to the city and surroundings.
There is the eye-catching St. Luke’s Bell Tower on the southern side. The tower is tall, so it is dominating over the surrounding buildings. In the past, this was a bell tower. The tower is a part of an ancient church or the church walls, to be precise. The shrine was damaged in the past and only its walls have survived. The Saint Mary’s Church appeared here before the foundation of Jajce. During the reign of Bosnian kings, a citadel was built near the church, and first dwellers were settling around it.
Initially, the church was a Romanesque basilica with one nave. However, it was not fitting the royal town, and so the basilica was reconstructed into a gothic building in the 15th century. This is when the church got numerous frescos and gorgeous stone décor. Not many of these decorations have survived until modern days. The Ottomans turned the church into a mosque and visited it in order to pray to Allah. Later, a fire almost completely destroyed the shrine, and local authorities decided not to reconstruct it and keep the church in ruins.
The most comfortable way to get to Jajce is from Sarajevo. Five buses connect these two cities every day. It takes roughly three and a half hours to get to Jajce from the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tourists coming from other cities in the country might find it more comfortable to rent a car or find a taxi. This is the fastest way to reach the Bosnian town.
Sightseeing in Bosnia and Herzegovina: things to see
Mostar is an unofficial capital of the country. The city is rich in places of interest; there are many old churches and historic buildings there. However, Stari Most (Old Bridge) remains the signature landmark of Mostar. The building of the bridge took place in 1566 under command of famous architect Mimar Hayruddin. The bridge is 20m high and is considered one of most famous constructions of its era. The bridge was severely damaged during the war with Croatia. Besides the Old Bridge, several hundred churches were destroyed in that war, so now only ruins remind of once magnificent sanctuaries. Tabacica Mosque is another famous landmark of Mostar. The mosque dates back to 1600. It was also damaged and later reconstructed precisely by local architects and builders.
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