Jajce Fortress and Catacombs

Jajce Fortress crowns a steep hill above the confluence of the Pliva and Vrbas rivers in the town of Jajce, in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The medieval stronghold was built in the 14th century and became the seat of the Bosnian kings, and its last king, Stjepan Tomašević, was captured and executed by the Ottomans in 1463 when the kingdom fell. The citadel's walls, gates and the Bear Tower dominate the old town, which is enclosed by ramparts and entered through the Travnik Gate. Inside the fortress, visitors can walk the walls, see the remains of the royal court and enjoy views over the river gorge. At the foot of the hill, the Church of St Mary and the bell tower of St Luke, an unusual free-standing medieval campanile, belong to the same historic ensemble. The Catacombs, located below the town, are a rock-cut funerary complex built in the 14th century for the noble Hrvatinić family, and were later associated with Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić, the powerful Bosnian magnate. The underground chamber is carved into the rock and features carved coats of arms and symbols, with a central burial area and niches. The site later gained importance in modern times as the location where, on 29 November 1943, the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia met and laid the groundwork for the post-war federal state. The AVNOJ Museum records this history. The fortress has been repaired in stages, although some stretches of wall remain ruined. Visitors usually combine the fortress with the Pliva waterfall, a 17-metre cascade in the town centre, and the old Mlinčići wooden mills.