Bašcaršija
Encyclopedia
Baščaršija is Sarajevo
's old bazaar and the historical and cultural center of the city. Baščaršija was built in the 15th century when Isa-Beg Isaković
founded the town. The word Baščaršija derives from the Turkish language
. The word "baš" which is "baş" in Turkish literally means "head", in some contexts however also "primary", "main", "capital" and "čaršija" which is "çarşı" in Turkish means "bazaar" or "market". Due to the large fire in the 19 century, today Baščaršija is twice smaller than it once was.
Baščaršija is located on the north bank of the river Miljacka
, in the municipality of Stari Grad
. On Baščaršija there are several important historic buildings, such as the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and sahat-kula. Today Baščaršija is the major tourist attraction of Sarajevo
.
. Baščaršija was built in 1462 when Isa-Beg Isaković
built the Ishaković han, in addition to its many shops. At that time, most of the inhabitants of Sarajevo lived in the vicinity of the Emperor's Mosque
. Therefore, Isa-Beg Isaković
built a bridge across the Miljacka
to resolve the main Sarajevo suburb and a new economic center of the city, Baščaršija.
Around the main entrance, the Bazerdžani čaršija was formed. To the west, the čaršija Kazaz occurs and on the north the čaršija Sedlar and Saraca (today's the street Sarača). Perhaps the most significant buildings that were constructed during this period are the mosques. Baščaršija's famous mosque was built by Havedža Durak in the 1528th year.Gazi Husrev-Beg
built his mosque 1530th year.
Gazi Husrev-Beg raises a madrassa, a library
, a haniqah, the Gazi Husrev-Beg Hamam, the Gazi Husrev-Beg bezistan, the Morića Han
, sahat-kula and other tourist attractions in Baščaršija. Gazi Husrev-Beg was buried in the harem of his mosque, beside the harem is the Türbe
of his freed slave and the first mutevelija of his vakuf Murat-beg Tardić.
At this time a number of commercial facilities was built, such as bezistans, hans, and caravanserai
s. Sarajevo was an important center of trade in the Balkans
and had three bezistans (today there are still Gazi Husrev-Bey bezistan and Brusa bezistan). There were colonies of the Venetians and Dubrovnik
. Baščaršija at that time had approximately 12,000 commercial and craft shops. After the earthquake in 1640 and several fires in 1644 and 1656, Sarajevo was 1697 burned and devastated by the troops of prince Eugene of Savoy
. Travel writer Evliya Çelebi
wrote:
To the 19th century, the area of Sarajevo doesn't spread. With the Austro-Hungarian occupation in the 1878th year, foreign architects have wanted to make Sarajevo into a modern European city. A great fire helped them, it destroyed the Stari Grad except the part that is still there. That is how today's well-known boundary between Baščaršija and the street Ferhadija was made. With the liberation of Sarajevo in 1945, a new city people's vommittee has decided that the čaršija should be gradually destroyed, believing that the old shopping center has no role in the modern city.
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
's old bazaar and the historical and cultural center of the city. Baščaršija was built in the 15th century when Isa-Beg Isaković
Isa-Beg Isakovic
Isa-Beg Ishaković, or Isa-Beg Isaković, was an Ottoman general and the first governor of the Ottoman Province of Bosnia. He ruled during the 1450s and 1460s. He made much of the initial conquests for the Turkish Empire in the region, and was one of the then Sultan's most trusted generals. He was...
founded the town. The word Baščaršija derives from the Turkish language
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
. The word "baš" which is "baş" in Turkish literally means "head", in some contexts however also "primary", "main", "capital" and "čaršija" which is "çarşı" in Turkish means "bazaar" or "market". Due to the large fire in the 19 century, today Baščaršija is twice smaller than it once was.
Baščaršija is located on the north bank of the river Miljacka
Miljacka
The Miljacka is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina that passes through Sarajevo and East Sarajevo. It is famous for being "Sarajevo's River", and it has come to be identified immediately with the city itself....
, in the municipality of Stari Grad
Stari Grad, Sarajevo
Stari Grad is a municipality in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the oldest and most historically significant part of Sarajevo...
. On Baščaršija there are several important historic buildings, such as the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and sahat-kula. Today Baščaršija is the major tourist attraction of Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
.
History
Before the arrival of the Ottomans in the largest settlement on Sarajevo field was the village square Tornik, which was located at the crossroad of the roads where today is the Ali Pasha's MosqueAli Pasha's Mosque
Ali Pasha's Mosque was constructed in Sarajevo during 1560-61 as a vakuf of Hadim Ali-pasha, the former Ottoman governor of the Budapest administrative district and the Bosnia Pashaluk. The mosque was built according to the classical Istanbul architectural style...
. Baščaršija was built in 1462 when Isa-Beg Isaković
Isa-Beg Isakovic
Isa-Beg Ishaković, or Isa-Beg Isaković, was an Ottoman general and the first governor of the Ottoman Province of Bosnia. He ruled during the 1450s and 1460s. He made much of the initial conquests for the Turkish Empire in the region, and was one of the then Sultan's most trusted generals. He was...
built the Ishaković han, in addition to its many shops. At that time, most of the inhabitants of Sarajevo lived in the vicinity of the Emperor's Mosque
Emperor's Mosque
The Emperor's Mosque is an important mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.It was built by Isa-bey Ishakovich-Hranushich, as the first mosque in Sarajevo, in 1457 and it was dedicated to the Sultan Mehmed the 2nd, El-Fatih.First settlements in Sarajevo were built around the mosque, and...
. Therefore, Isa-Beg Isaković
Isa-Beg Isakovic
Isa-Beg Ishaković, or Isa-Beg Isaković, was an Ottoman general and the first governor of the Ottoman Province of Bosnia. He ruled during the 1450s and 1460s. He made much of the initial conquests for the Turkish Empire in the region, and was one of the then Sultan's most trusted generals. He was...
built a bridge across the Miljacka
Miljacka
The Miljacka is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina that passes through Sarajevo and East Sarajevo. It is famous for being "Sarajevo's River", and it has come to be identified immediately with the city itself....
to resolve the main Sarajevo suburb and a new economic center of the city, Baščaršija.
Around the main entrance, the Bazerdžani čaršija was formed. To the west, the čaršija Kazaz occurs and on the north the čaršija Sedlar and Saraca (today's the street Sarača). Perhaps the most significant buildings that were constructed during this period are the mosques. Baščaršija's famous mosque was built by Havedža Durak in the 1528th year.Gazi Husrev-Beg
Gazi Husrev-beg
Gazi Husrev-beg was a Bosniak bey in the Ottoman Empire during the first half of the 16th century...
built his mosque 1530th year.
Gazi Husrev-Beg raises a madrassa, a library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, a haniqah, the Gazi Husrev-Beg Hamam, the Gazi Husrev-Beg bezistan, the Morića Han
Morića Han
Morića Han is a han originally built in 1551 in Sarajevo, Ottoman Empire . After a fire in 1697 it was reconstructed in its current form. Morića Han is one of the buildings which were financed by and belonged to Gazi Husrev-Beg's endowment . It is the only surviving han in Sarajevo...
, sahat-kula and other tourist attractions in Baščaršija. Gazi Husrev-Beg was buried in the harem of his mosque, beside the harem is the Türbe
Turbe
Türbe is the Turkish word for "tomb", and for the characteristic mausoleums, often relatively small, of Ottoman royalty and notables. It is related to the Arabic turba, which can also mean a mausoleum, but more often a funerary complex, or a plot in a cemetery.-Characteristics:A typical türbe...
of his freed slave and the first mutevelija of his vakuf Murat-beg Tardić.
At this time a number of commercial facilities was built, such as bezistans, hans, and caravanserai
Caravanserai
A caravanserai, or khan, also known as caravansary, caravansera, or caravansara in English was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey...
s. Sarajevo was an important center of trade in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
and had three bezistans (today there are still Gazi Husrev-Bey bezistan and Brusa bezistan). There were colonies of the Venetians and Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
. Baščaršija at that time had approximately 12,000 commercial and craft shops. After the earthquake in 1640 and several fires in 1644 and 1656, Sarajevo was 1697 burned and devastated by the troops of prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...
. Travel writer Evliya Çelebi
Evliya Çelebi
Evliya Çelebi was an Ottoman traveler who journeyed through the territory of the Ottoman Empire and neighboring lands over a period of forty years.- Life :...
wrote:
-
- " The čaršija has in everything, one thousand and eighty stores that are a model of beauty. The čaršija is very attractive and built according to plan."
To the 19th century, the area of Sarajevo doesn't spread. With the Austro-Hungarian occupation in the 1878th year, foreign architects have wanted to make Sarajevo into a modern European city. A great fire helped them, it destroyed the Stari Grad except the part that is still there. That is how today's well-known boundary between Baščaršija and the street Ferhadija was made. With the liberation of Sarajevo in 1945, a new city people's vommittee has decided that the čaršija should be gradually destroyed, believing that the old shopping center has no role in the modern city.
Important buildings
- Emperor's MosqueEmperor's MosqueThe Emperor's Mosque is an important mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.It was built by Isa-bey Ishakovich-Hranushich, as the first mosque in Sarajevo, in 1457 and it was dedicated to the Sultan Mehmed the 2nd, El-Fatih.First settlements in Sarajevo were built around the mosque, and...
- Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
- Gazi Husrev-Beg Hamam
- Gazi Husrev-Beg bezistan
- Morića HanMorića HanMorića Han is a han originally built in 1551 in Sarajevo, Ottoman Empire . After a fire in 1697 it was reconstructed in its current form. Morića Han is one of the buildings which were financed by and belonged to Gazi Husrev-Beg's endowment . It is the only surviving han in Sarajevo...
- sahat-kula