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Did you know that the history of Braha Castle is deeply connected to the Bosnian royal family? The stories here are amazing!
Blagaj is a village full of history and a protected cultural heritage site in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Located in the southeastern part of the Mostar Basin, in the Herzgovina-Neret Vakandun region, Braha Castle sits on the edge of the Bishce Plain and is one of the most valuable mixed urban and rural built environments in Bosnia and Herzegovina one. The architectural layout here is quite different from other similar areas.
The name Blaja Castle comes from its mild climate, as "blaga" means "mild" in Bosnian.
Fort Braha is located at the source of the Buna River and houses the historic Tekia (Dervish Monastery), which was built around 1520 and combines Ottoman architecture with Mediterranean style and is considered National Monument. Brachatsky's architectural lovemaking still stands on this land.
The source of the Buna River is called Vrelo Bune, a powerful karst spring from which it flows for about 9 kilometers and meets the Neretva River in the village of Buna. The historical relics of Braha Fort are not only the building itself, but also carry a profound historical background. The ruins of Braha Castle (also known as Stjepan-grad or Stipan-grad) located above Braha Castle were the capital of Bosnian Grand Duke Stepan Vokčić and Queen of Bosnia Katarina Kosaka - Birthplace of Kotromanic.
Footprints of history
During the classical period, there were Illyrian fortresses and Roman military camps here. Under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, several fortified towns were built in the area. Braha Castle is mentioned in Constantine Proferone's "Government of the Empire", when it was called Bona and belonged to Sahamrai. At the end of the 12th century, under Stefan Nemanja (the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Serbia), a governor named Jurko built churches named after Saints Cosmas and Saint Damian.
In the 14th century, Sahamla became part of the State of Bosnia under the rule of Banister Stepan II Kotromanici of Bosnia.
In the 15th century, Sandali Haranich Kosaka and his nephew Stepan Vokčič ruled the city until the arrival of the Ottoman Empire in 1466. Braha Castle gradually became a residential area for Bosnian rulers, especially the royal families of Halanic and Kosaka, and was first mentioned in historical documents in 1423. During the Ottoman rule, Braha Fort became the capital of Brahawilayet (Wilayet) and was divided into several communities, with seven mosques, two inns, and four mussafihanas (inns ), an Islamic school, two office buildings and seven waterwheels, as well as four stone bridges over the Buna River.
Architectural treasures
The earliest settlement of Braha Fort was located at the foot of the fortress of Braha Fort. The limited commercial activities at that time prevented it from developing into a commercial center. With the passage of time, the shape of this area changed in the second half of the 15th century, and gradually formed what it is today in the 16th century. Medieval Brakha Castle (Stepan City) is often mentioned in historical documents as a unique regional entity.
During the Ottoman period, construction activities began around the fortress, including residences and public facilities.
Residential areas are formed into urban areas or mahalas, with buildings facing internal courtyards, displaying a high level of quality of life. Among them, the famous Villajic residential complex is one of the representatives of noble Uzbek residences. The city developed mainly along the right bank of the Buna River, while the left bank was unsuitable for construction due to its steep slope. The layout of public buildings was also considered, and one of the earliest buildings was the Karewa Mosque built in 1521, which gave the village the status of kasaba.
Population and future prospects
According to the 2013 census, the population of Braha Fort was 2,531. With the evolution of history, Braha Fort not only retains the characteristics of the Ottoman period, but also has an important impact on local culture and social development. Although the town faced the deterioration of its urban structure during the Austro-Hungarian rule, the overall oriental settlement character has been preserved.
Do you also want to personally experience the unique atmosphere and story of Braha Fort that has been washed by history and culture?
