Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Small statues of Buddha line the path to the top of the mountain.
Mitaki-dera
A view of the Sandiaoling bike tunnel.
Sandiaoling Bike Tunnel
The old ticket house at League Park now houses the Baseball Heritage Museum.
League Park
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Carlson’s Fishery is a Great Lakes institution.
Carlson’s Fishery
The Cathedral Café maintains the building’s original church exterior.
Cathedral Café
Exterior of the historic Dyffryn Arms pub.
Dyffryn Arms
Most of what’s on the menu here comes from Michigan.
The Glenwood
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Passersby stop to admire the punny offerings of Brooklyn’s only dinosaur bodega.
We Visited the Dino Bodega in (Jurassic) Park Slope
2 days ago
Native Americans have a longstanding, rich, and vibrant culture in Wyoming.
Wyoming’s Sacred Landscapes: A Journey Through Native American History
2 days ago
This strawberry cucumber sorbet tastes like early summer in a scoop.
Salt & Straw Wants You to Create Your Own Ice Cream Flavors
3 days ago
Catch a glimpse of some of the many wildflowers Crested Butte is known for.
Rodeos, Star Parties, and Festivals: Your Guide to Colorado’s Magical Summer Events
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Bosnia and Herzegovina Jajce Jajce Fortress

Jajce Fortress

The remains of the last Bosnian fortress to fall to the Ottomans are still standing.

Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Added By
mandacvitic
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Jajce Fortress, with town below   Julian Nitzche on Wikipedia
Jajce Fortress, with town below   Julian Nitzche on Wikipedia
Grassy Interior of Jajce Fortress   Dans on Wikipedia
The Ramparts of Jajce Fortress   Brenda Annerl on Flickr
Watchtower   Brenda Annerl on Flickr
Wall with Lookout Spot   Brenda Annerl on Flickr
View across courtyard, over wall, and onto town below   Brenda Annerl on Flickr
Royal Portal   Bizutage on Wikipedia
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Jajce Fortress was the stronghold of the town of Jajce, a former royal capital and the last territorial possession of the Kingdom of Bosnia.

Jajce was founded in the 14th century by Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić, a powerful feudal lord in medieval Bosnia. Built at the confluence of the Pliva and Vrbas Rivers, the town served as the seat of power for Hrvoje, who bore the title Grand Duke of Bosnia and was heavily involved in the political intrigues and military actions needed to protect Bosnia's independence from her more powerful neighbors, the Kingdom of Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. Thus it is altogether sensible that Hrvoje also built a fortress atop the hill at the center of his new town, to deter foes and safeguard his own power.

Hrvoje died in 1416 after shifting his alliances one too many times and being stripped of most of his lands in the process. His town and the fortress at its heart, however, still stood, and in 1421 King Stjepan Tomasevic moved his royal court to Jajce, thus making it the capital of the Kingdom of Bosnia. To reflect the city's new royal status, a palace was built within Jajce Fortress in the mid-15th century and an royal portal was added to the complex, emblazoned with the royal Bosnian coat of arms.

Jajce Fortess stood fast for another century and helped maintain the independence of the city while the rest of the Kingdom of Bosnia fell to encroaching Ottoman forces. It could not hold out forever, though, and in 1527 Jajce was finally overtaken, making it the last Bosnian town to fall to Ottoman rule.

Today, Jajce Fortess still stands on top of the rounded hill at the center of the medieval city, but the tall stone walls and watch towers now only enclose a grass-covered plateau that the Bosnia royal court once called home. The fortress is a short walk from the famous waterfall at the center of Jajce.

Related Tags

Fortresses Castles Medieval Ruins
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina

Traverse the beauty and history of the Balkans through locals' stories.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

mandacvitic

Edited By

RHyzer

  • RHyzer

Published

February 16, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jajce_Fortress
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jajce
  • http://www.visitjajce.com/en/index.php/about-jajce/natural-and-cultural-heritage/jajce-fortress
  • http://www.agencija-jajce.ba/karta/index.php/en/tvrdava-u-jajcu
  • https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g1759889-d4451249-r184421814-Fortress_of_Jajce-Jajce_Central_Bosnia_Canton.html
Jajce Fortress
Harmani
Jajce, 70101
Bosnia and Herzegovina
44.340812, 17.26932
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Jajce Catacombs

Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina

miles away

Watermills of Jajce

Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina

miles away

Bullfights of Grmec

Oštra Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Jajce

Jajce

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Places 3

Nearby Places

Jajce Catacombs

Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina

miles away

Watermills of Jajce

Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina

miles away

Bullfights of Grmec

Oštra Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Jajce

Jajce

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Places 3

Related Places

  • Baile Hill.

    York, England

    Baile Hill

    The little-known second castle that William the Conqueror built in York.

  • The castle.

    Odiham, England

    Odiham Castle

    It's believed King John of England stayed at this 13th-century castle before riding off to sign the Magna Carta.

  • Alamut Castle.

    Roudbar Alamout, Iran

    Alamut Castle

    This ruined fortress was the stronghold for a persecuted medieval leader and his infamous Assassins.

  • The eerie ruins sit high up upon a hill, over looking the surrounding area

    Graz, Austria

    Burgruine Gösting (Gösting Castle Ruins)

    The shell of a medieval fortress offers commanding views of the area it once protected.

  • Tharandt, Germany

    Tharandt Castle Ruin

    Near Dresden, a scenic medieval castle ruin offers atmospheric views, educational ties to forestry, and a glimpse into Saxony’s past.

  • Red-stone castle ruins sit atop a green hill

    Allinge, Denmark

    Hammershus Castle Ruins

    Northern Europe’s largest castle ruins sit precariously on an island cliffside.

  • Caisteal Maol

    Isle of Skye, Scotland

    Caisteal Maol

    This ruined castle is said to be the legendary keep of a Viking princess.

  • Zsámbék, Hungary

    Premontre Monastery Church of Zsámbék

    The remains of a 13th-century Romanesque church lie abandoned on a hillside.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.