Jajce Turizam

Old Town (Esma Sultana) mosque with supporting facilities

Esma Sultan Mosque is the most valuable object in Jajce of all mosques of the Ottoman period. By its size and shape stands out from other mosques of Jajce.

Esma Sultan Mosque is located in the center of Jajce old town, on the main street that connects the gate of Travnik and Banja Luka. According to the chronogram above the portals, the mosque was built 1749/50 year, and its founder is čauški ćehaja Emir Mustafa.

Regarding the name Esma Sultan preserved tradition to the Esma Sultana, wife of Bosnian governor, Mehmed Pasha Muhsinovića built this mosque and two bridges on the river Vrbas. When she was a sick, astrologers predicted that she would heal if takes three endowments. Since her jewelry was raised bridges on the river Vrbas and one of the most beautiful mosques in Jajce.

According to M. Mujezinović this mosque is among the last built mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina which are covered by a dome.

In the mosque complex was located a fountain, mekteb and cemetery. Fountain was a covered wooden porch with a dome that was lying on eight wooden pillars. In the harem of the mosque was about twenty tombstones of which eight had epitaphs.

Esma Sultan Mosque was completely destroyed in 1993 and during the year of the repair works (so far completed work on the exterior).