This is a project of collecting postcards from all over the world.
Showing posts with label Bosnia Herzegovina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bosnia Herzegovina. Show all posts
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Bosnia Herzegovina - Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar
MOSTAR
Old Bridge
Sent by Sabina, a postcrosser from Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina.
This is from UNESCO : The Old Bridge area of the Old City of Mostar, with its exceptional multicultural (pre-Ottoman, eastern Ottoman, Mediterranean and western European) architectural features, and satisfactory interrelationship with the landscape, is an outstanding example of a multicultural urban settlement. The qualities of the site's construction, after the extremely ravaging war damage and the subsequent works of renewal, have been confirmed by detailed scientific investigations. These have provided proof of exceptionally high technical refinement in the skill and quality of the ancient constructions, particularly of the Old Bridge. Of special significance is the Radoboija stream, which enters the Neretva on its right bank. This provided a source of water for the growing settlement, and from it springs a number of small canals used for irrigation and for driving the wheels of water-mills.
There has been human settlement on the Neretva between the Hum Hill and the Velez Mountain since prehistory, as witnessed by discoveries of fortified enceintes and cemeteries. Evidence of Roman occupation comes from beneath the present town.
Little is known of Mostar in the medieval period, although the Christian basilicas of late antiquity continued in use. The name of Mostar is first mentioned in a document of 1474, taking its name from the bridge-keepers (mostari ); this refers to the existence of a wooden bridge from the market town on the left bank of the river which was used by soldiers, traders, and other travellers. At this time it was the seat of a kadiluk (district with a regional judge). Because it was on the trade route between the Adriatic and the mineral-rich regions of central Bosnia, the settlement spread to the right bank of the river. It became the leading town in the Sanjak of Herzegovina and, with the arrival of the Ottoman Turks from the east, the centre of Turkish rule.
The town was fortified between 1520 and 1566, and the bridge was rebuilt in stone. The second half of the 16th century and the early decades of the 17th century were the most important period in the development of Mostar. Religious and public buildings were constructed, concentrated on the left bank of the river, in a religious complex. At the same time many private and commercial buildings, organized in distinct quarters, known as mahalas (residential) and the bazaar, were erected.
Of the thirteen original mosques dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, seven have been destroyed during the 20th century for ideological reasons or by bombardment. One of the two 19th-century Orthodox churches has also disappeared, and the early 20th-century synagogue, after undergoing severe damage in the Second World War, has been converted for use as a theatre. Several Ottoman inns also survive, along with other buildings from this period of Mostar's history, such as fountains and schools.
The administrative buildings are all from the Austro-Hungarian period and have neoclassical and Secessionist features. A number of surviving late Ottoman houses demonstrate the component features of this form of domestic architecture - hall, upper storey for residential use, paved courtyard, and verandah on one or two storeys. The later 19th-century residential houses are all in neoclassical style.
Some early trading and craft buildings are still existent, notably some low shops in wood or stone, stone storehouses, and a group of former tanneries round an open courtyard. Once again, the 19th-century commercial buildings are predominantly neoclassical. A number of elements of the early fortifications are visible. The Hercegusa Tower dates from the medieval period, whereas the Ottoman defences are represented by the Halebinovka and Tara Towers, the watchtowers over the ends of the Old Bridge, and a stretch of the ramparts.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Bosnia Herzegovina - Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
SARAJEVO
Gazi Husrev-begova Džamija
Sent by Jasmin from Bosnia Herzegovina.
This is from Wikipedia : The Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque (Bosnian: Gazi Husrev-begova Džamija, Turkish: Gazi Hüsrev Bey Camii), is a mosque in the city of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is considered the most important Islamic structure in the country and one of the world's finest examples of Ottoman architecture. It is located in the Baščaršija neighborhood in the Stari Grad municipality, and remains one of the most popular centers of worship in the city.
The Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque was built by the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who would later go on to build the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne for the Sultan Selim I. The mosque was financed in 1531 by Gazi Husrev-beg, the provincial governor of Bosnia. Gazi Husrev-beg is widely considered Sarajevo's greatest patron, as he financed much of Sarajevo's old city at this time.
Magnificent stalactite ornamentation in the angles under the dome and in the place where the imam leads the prayers, as well as other polychromatic decoration, valuable carpets and the light effects through the 51 windows produces a sense of greater space than there is in reality. At every time of prayer in this mosque, the great benefactor Gazi Husrev-beg is remembered.
In his legacy, he stated: "Good deeds drive away evil, and one of the most worthy of good deeds is the act of charity, and the most worthy act of charity is one which lasts forever. Of all charitable deeds, the most beautiful is one that continually renews itself."
Gazi Husrev-beg also built the same mosque called Hüsreviye Mosque in Aleppo, Syria, between 1531 and 1534.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Bosnia Herzegovina - Cazin
Images of Cazin.
Sent by Jasmin from Bihac, Bosnia Herzegovina.
This is from Wikipedia : Cazin is a town and municipality in northwest Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the border with Croatia. It is located in the Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Cazinska Krajina is named after Cazin. The city of Cazin is located on the main road which connects Bihać and Velika Kladuša.
Today, it is estimated that the municipality of Cazin has 72,000 residents with a clear Bosniak majority. In 2005, almost all inhabitants of the municipality (100%) were ethnic Bosniaks.
Cazin has several historic places, some dating back to the 14th century. Ostrožac castle and Radetina Tower are located in Cazin. The city was successfully defended by the Bosnian (Bosnian Muslim) Army during the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Bosnia Herzegovina - Fethija Mosque in Bihać
Bosnia Herzegovina - Bihać
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Bosnia Herzegovina - Štrbački Buk
Friday, April 2, 2010
Bosnia Herzegovina - Višegrad
The last of the three postcards sent by Jasmin. The postcard shows the town of Višegrad, in Bosnia Herzegovina.
This is from Wikipedia : Višegrad (Cyrillic: Вишеград) is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is administratively part of the Republika Srpska entity of BiH. It is on the river Drina, located on the road from Goražde and Ustiprača towards Užice.
Bosnia Herzegovina - Unsko-Sanski Kanton (2)
Bosnia Herzegovina - Unsko-Sanski Kanton (1)
The first of the three postcards received from Bosnia Herzegovina. Sent by Jasmin, who lives in Bihać.
This is from Wikipedia : The Una-Sana Canton is one of the 10 cantons of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the northwest of the country and has been named after the rivers Una and Sana. The center of canton government is Bihać.
Thanks to Jasmin for the beautiful stamps of Bosnia Herzegovina.
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