Begova Jamia Mosque (Gazi Husrev Dzamija) description and photos - Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sarajevo (Topic)

Begov Jamia Mosque (Gazi Husrev Dzamija) description and photos - Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sarajevo. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Gazi Husrev Dzamija.

Photo and description

The Begova Jamia Mosque has a second, no less popular name - the Gazi Khusrev-Bey Mosque, in honor of the Ottoman Pasha.

The time of his reign of Bosnia, from 1521 to 1541 remains in history as the heyday of Sarajevo. This renowned builder and philanthropist introduced the tradition of donations for the construction of Islamic public institutions. During his reign, a madrasah, a library, Bascarsija and Begova Jamia markets, the most beautiful and largest mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina were built. Built in 1530, it still retains the title of the largest in the region.

The project of the mosque was entrusted to the chief architect of the Ottoman court, who preferred the early Ottoman architectural style with characteristic stucco molding and stalactite vaults. Its central dome rises 26 meters, the domes of the side annexes are smaller in size, the mihrab, the ritual niche with an arch, is covered with a semi-dome. The complex foundation provides for side annexes with separate entrances. In ancient times, they gave shelter to dervishes - itinerant Islamic monks.

The mosque is located in the old town, heritage of the Ottoman period. But by right it is a decoration of the whole Sarajevo. Due to its impressive size, it looks very majestic.

This religious building has survived many cataclysms. During the so-called Great Turkish War with the unification of Christian states, Sarajevo was besieged at the end of the 17th century. Among the damaged buildings was the main mosque, Begova Jamia. It was restored only 85 years later. At the end of the 19th century, at the beginning of the Austro-Hungarian occupation, the Muslim shrine was damaged by fire. It was restored and until the beginning of the Balkan war the mosque remained the most beautiful Islamic building in the city.

During the siege of Sarajevo in 1992-1995, the mosque was subjected to targeted artillery fire and severely damaged. It was reconstructed, but they could not fully return to its original appearance. In any case, it remains the largest mosque in the country.

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Topic: Begova Jamia Mosque (Gazi Husrev Dzamija) description and photos - Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sarajevo.