Throughout history, the diverse cultures that have inhabited the lands of Bosnia and Herzegovina have left behind traces that are visible to this day. However, the most prominent remnants of our rich past are found in the Zenica-Doboj Canton, where the foundations of modern Bosnia were laid during the Middle Ages.
On this remarkable territory, you’ll discover some of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most important cultural and historical monuments: Mile, once the royal seat, coronation, and burial place of Bosnian kings; Vranduk, a medieval fortress offering breathtaking views; the royal town of Bobovac; ancient castles in Maglaj and Tešanj; and the ruins of the Old Town Visoki.
Bilino Polje Abjuration
Many historical records bear witness to significant events and documents that originated in this canton. Among them, the Bilino Polje abjuration stands out as a crucial moment in Bosnian history. This document features Bosnian ruler King Kulin Ban, who, in the presence of pope’s envoy Ivan de Kazamaris and Dubrovnik archdeacon Marin, publicly renounced the teachings of the Bosnian Church – views that were not aligned with the doctrines of the Catholic Church. However, secretly and alongside his people, those living within the territory of medieval Bosnia, Kulin Ban continued to practice the teachings of the Bosnian Church in sicrecy. This bold move ultimately helped him avoid an invasion of Bosnia, preserving the country’s spiritual independence.
Bobovac
The medieval royal city of Bobovac was a key administrative and military center of the Bosnian Kingdom, serving as the capital and the place where the royal crown was kept. It was built in the 14th century by Ban Stjepan II Kotromanić. Three Bosnian kings—Stjepan Ostoja, Tvrtko II Kotromanić, and Stjepan Tomaš—are buried there. Located on a steep cliff between the municipalities of Vareš and Kakanj, today it stands as a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mile
Mile was the royal seat and council site of the Grand Ban of Bosnia, as well as the coronation and burial place of Bosnian kings during medieval Bosnia. Additionally, during that time, a Franciscan monastery was located there, and from 1340, it became the center of the vicariate. Mile is situated near Visoko, in the settlement of Arnautovići. Today, the archaeological site of Mile is a protected national monument.
Vranduk
The Old Town of Vranduk, a fortress located in the area of the Zenica Municipality, defies time. It is a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and has a turbulent and impressive history. Its name – Vranduk – is derived from the word “branduk” (meaning “to defend”). It is believed that no conqueror could enter Bosnia without capturing this fortress, which is why it was called the “Gate of Bosnia” or the “Key of Bosnia.” Vranduk was also one of the medieval towns of central Bosnia, where a very active political, economic, and cultural life developed. It was a bannate and later a royal town.
Tešanj Fortress
The medieval fortress in Tešanj, known as Tešanj Fortress, is one of the best-preserved and largest medieval fortifications in Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated on a rocky hill above the town. Although there are indications that the fortress existed earlier, its significant development began in the 14th century, and the first written mention dates back to 1461. It served as a military stronghold and later as a residential building, and during Ottoman rule, it underwent significant modifications and enlargements.
The Fortress in Maglaj
The medieval fortress in Maglaj (also known as the Old Town of Maglaj) was built in the 13th century and is first mentioned in a charter of Hungarian King Sigismund in 1408. The fortress was a key point for the defense of medieval Bosnia, and later the Ottomans expanded it. It served as an important military stronghold.
The Old Town Visoki
The Old Town Visoki was once the center of political and spiritual life in medieval Bosnia. It is first mentioned in documents from 1355, when Ban Tvrtko I Kotromanić, along with his mother Jelena and brother Vuko, issued a charter to Dubrovnik. In this charter, Tvrtko refers to Visoki as “castrum,” which confirms its importance as a fortress. The town was likely established long before it is mentioned in historical sources. According to historian Marko Vega, it could be identified with the names Bosnia, Bossina, Posana, and it was built by Stjepan II Kotromanić, who issued a charter there in 1334. The fortress served a defensive purpose but was also a place where Bosnian rulers issued charters and documents.
Mirza Mušija, Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, states that the area of today’s canton was once the embryo of Bosnian statehood and still holds the same significance today.
“The seat of the Bosnian Church was located in the narrow Zenica region, and traces of the spiritual presence of the Bosnian people can be found in thousands of medieval tombstones scattered across smaller or larger necropolises in Bosnian villages. The most beautiful of all is the Zgošćanski stećak, whose replica, not by chance, adorns the space in front of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. These are the regions of royal history. Evidence of this is Bobovac, the seat of our bans and kings, who elevated the Bosnian state in 1371 to the strongest on the Balkans. It was in this strength that it faced Ottoman conquest in 1463. Ottoman legacy in this area is indeed significant. There are numerous vakufs (Islamic endowments), tombstones, and tombs that have preserved centuries-old epitaphs, as well as authentic cultural monuments of Oriental-Bosnian architecture. The most representative monument from the Ottoman period in this region is the Sultan Fatih’s Mosque, one of the oldest and a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nearby, as a natural historical companion, is the Franciscan monastery in Kraljeva Sutjeska. All of this is Bosnia. And its modern history — the Austro-Hungarian era, the industrial period for which we are known beyond this country, as well as the monuments of the anti-fascist legacy from World War II and the last defense and liberation war from 1992-1995“, Mušija emphasizes.
He reminds that the Zenica-Doboj Canton possesses a rich cultural, historical, and industrial heritage that should be systematically preserved and promoted.
“The Cantonal Government will develop projects through education, tourism, and infrastructure that place this heritage in the service of development and identity. We also expect the engagement of state institutions to establish a clear strategy for the protection and international promotion of our heritage“, Mušija concluded.
