MUNICIPALITY OF FOJNICA

Fojnica

Fojnica lies about 50 km west from Sarajevo in rarely beautiful valley, 587 m above the sea, on the river which is named on. Municipality area is 308 km2 and it is placed in central Bosnia. Municipality Fojnica belongs to Central Bosnia Canton which capitol city is Travnik. Before the war Fojnica was normally developed municipality with clear strategic goals based on rich natural resources of water, woods and gold and silver mines. Base of developing of municipality is wood and textile industry, together with graphic, building and public utilities services.

Short history of Fojnica

Common opinion is that area of Fojnica until arrivals of Romans were colonised by Ilir tribe Desitijata. Developing of mining in Bosnia, especially finding of silver, caused founding of cities and their grove. On that way Fojnica become town, first very small one, and later one of mayor trade centres in Bosnia. In written documents Fojnica is first time mentioned on 18th of March 1365, and opinion is that Fojnica is at least one or two decades older. Mining was main branch in medieval Bosnia, especially production of silver in which Fojnica's mines had mayor role. In same time in Fojnica was placed mint of money of Bosnian sovereigns.

There are no exact facts about Turkish conquest of Fojnica, but now we can assume that it happens on spring 1463. In that time Fojnica was second biggest town in Bosnia. First Austrian forces came in Fojnica on 17th of August 1888. Thanks to exploitation of iron in 19th century Fojnica was important trade and craft centre. On the beginning of the 20th century Fojnica had most active mints of money. Area of Fojnica during Austria-Hungarian Empire didn't have progress like those towns in which were placed industrial facilities and which were connected with modern communications. Old iron mines and mints, which provide existence of people in Fojnica for centuries, gone over night.

Cultural and historical monuments

Domicile man named Mustafa, son of Hizir, on the year 1551 made first humble "house of God" (mesdžid). List from 1604 mentioned that building like mosque named ATIK (old) mosque. Šaban Ahmed made second mosque on 1666. In that area develops main of town which is the reason that mosque was named ?ARŠIJSKA (town's) mosque. Short after that in 18 year period third mosque was build in part of town called PAVLOVAC, and it was made by some hadži Muharem. Oldest saved object of public importance is Musarfihana. We can tell that it's build same as mosque by that it is made in part of town called ATIK which was urban nucleus of town, by its architecture and purpose. In cultural-historical inheritance important place take three "TEKIJE NAKŠIBENDIJSKOG REDA" (tekija is something like abbey for Muslim priests). TEKIJA in Fojnica was made in second half of 17th century, Tekija in village Vukelji?i was made in 1780, and third Tekija in village Oglavak was founded by šejh Abdurrahman Sirrija.

One of cultural and historical attraction of Fojnica is Franciscan monastery with its archive, museum and library. Humble monastery with little church was made in 1339, and on place where it is now in year 1520. In monastery is saved hump collection of Bosnian medieval aristocracy, and archive has a lot of rare documents in which is famous AHDNAMA, document which sultan Mehmed the second El Fatih gave to Bosnian Franciscans on 28th of May 1463.

Touristic possibilities

Very interesting and different natural sites and richness of water make possible hunting and fishing. In mountains around Fojnica there are bears, deers, boars, chemises and black-cocks, and hunting club has four hunting houses (Pogorelica, Kozograd, Jezernica and Zahor) with 75 beds. Different kinds of fish (especially trout) are in rivers Fojnica, Gvož?anka, Jezernica and others, like in Prokos Lake which is sowed with Californian trout.

Fojnica is placed in mountain ring of Vranica, Š?it, Zahor and Bitovnja, what provide big pleasure for nature lover. It is possible to visit nearby mountains Pogorelica, Lopata and Zec. Brightness pearl is surely Prokos lake which is on Vranica mount (1636 m above the sea level) and it is 22 km far from town. It is glacier origin and in it is still triton (salamander) very rare endemic species. Lake is sowed with fish and in summer it is possible to swim in it. Around the lake are many cottages in which you can have real home made speciality (sheep's cheese, cream, pie, bred).

Continuing tradition of this area tourist agency in Fojnica offers rinse of gold in rivers in Fojnica. All interested guests can get all necessary equipment for rinsing of gold in tourist agency in Fojnica and if they wish very qualified guides also.

Fojnica is today well-known by its spa which radioactivity and healing capacity were tested by the end of 19th of century, and exploitation started after First World war. Today it is modern equipped Centre for medical rehabilitation which has hotel "REUMAL" with 450 beds, pool, sauna, gym, restaurant, buffet and complete medicine rehabilitation capacity; New hospital with 120 beds and all necessary medicine capacities and hotel "JEZERO" with 35 beds. Radioactive mineral water of Fojnica is slightly mineralised thermal water with temperature of 31,5o C and radioactivity about 45 MACH units.

Lately Fojnica has great possibilities for developing of sport's tourism. Beside extraordinary natural and accommodation's conditions, Fojnica provide organisation of all kinds of base preparation for sports. There are two big football playgrounds, big sport's hall, playground for small sports, tennis, very well equipped gym in hotel "Reumal" and all other necessary conditions.