Fethija Mosque

About this place

The Fethija Mosque stands in the centre of Bihać in northwest Bosnia and Herzegovina, close to the Una river. It is a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is considered the oldest Gothic building in the country. It was built in 1266 as the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, with a Dominican monastery beside it, and in the late 16th century it became a mosque named Fethija. The Gothic bell tower served as a minaret until 1863, when it was so worn that it was taken down and a new minaret built. Conservation work to preserve the building took place in the mid-20th century. The mosque has grey stone walls, tall pointed Gothic windows and a steep roof, with a slender stone minaret beside it and a Gothic doorway framed by carved stone arches. The building blends European Gothic architecture with its role as a mosque. Visitors admire the facade, Gothic doorway and minaret, and may go inside outside prayer times, respecting mosque etiquette. The visit pairs well with the Una river and its nearby waterfalls.