Jajce – Sparkling Waterfall Town

Capital of the medieval Kingdom of Bosnia

By Nick Last updated Nov 5, 2022

Jajce

Jajce is a town and municipality located in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Bosanska Krajina region. It is on the crossroads between Banja Luka, Mrkonjić Grad and Donji Vakuf, at the confluence of the rivers Pliva and Vrbas. Jajce bills itself as Bosnia’s ‘Open Air Museum’, and boasts an impressive urban waterfall right in the town center. It is the only city in the world to have a waterfall in its very center!

Confluence of Rivers Pliva (left, waterfalls) and Vrbas (right, canyon)

Jajce was first built in the 14th century and served as the capital of the independent Kingdom of Bosnia during its time. The entire complex with the fortress, town ramparts and towers lies on the southern slope of a large rocky pyramid, enclosed to the south-west by the bed of the river Pliva and to the southeast and east by the river Vrbas.

The fortified Old Town climbs a steep rocky knoll to the powerful, ruined castle where Bosnia’s medieval kings were once crowned.

And surrounding mountains, Pliva lakes, watermills and canyons make Jajce a useful exploration base.

Jajce is on UNESCO’s tentative list considered for nomination for the World Heritage List sites.

Old Jajce’s attractions are major draw cards and together they offer a couple of rewarding hours’ exploration. Add in the surrounding lakes and canyons and you might want to stay for days. The individual structures of monumental or environmental value within the historic urban area are:

The Jajce fortress with the Clock Tower and numerous gatehouses and bastions

Jajce St Mary Church and St Luke Bell Tower

The Mithra Temple (2nd century)

The historic monument of the Catacombs and underground Church

The church of St Mary with St Luke’s bell tower
The historic monuments and remains of the Esma Sultana mosque, Sinan-bey or Okic mosque, Dizdar’s or Women’s mosque, the architectural ensemble of the Ibrahim beg or Pijavice mosque, the Samic mosque
The site and remains of the architectural ensemble of the parish church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Franciscan monastery
The site of the Jewish synagogue
The site and remains of the architectural ensemble of the Orthodox church of the Most Holy Mother of God
The historic building of the Omerbeg house
Several World War II memorials