Tešanj Castle

Tešanj Fortress (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: Tešanjska tvrđava / Тешањска тврђава), also known locally as Gradina is a fortress located in Tešanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It remains one of the biggest historical defensive fortifications in the country with an area of 6,296 square metres (67,770 sq ft).

Tešanj Castle
Tešanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tešanj Fortress
Site information
Type	castle
Owner	The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Controlled by	Regional Museum of Travnik
Condition	preserved
Location
Tešanj Castle
Coordinates	44.61345980441922°N 17.98939625450022°E / 44.61345980441922; 17.98939625450022
Site history
Built	-th century[1]
Built by	-
In use	until 20th c.[2]
Materials	hewn stone (ashlar)
Designations
KONS of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Official name	Old Tešanj castle, the architectural ensemble
Type	Category 0 cultural and historical property
Criteria	A, B, C i.iii.iv., D ii.iv., E v., F ii.iii., G v.vii, I iii.iv.
Designated	25 January 2005 (?th session)
Reference no.	-
Decision no.	-
State	National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Location

The fortress is located on a steep cliff around which Tešanj city centre eventually was formed. It is accessible only from one side which had provided it with a good defensive advantage against any incoming forces.^[3]

History

Castle as seen from the heart of Old town of Tešanj

No current historical sources identify the exact year of its construction or who its constructor was. The early foundation of this fortification had started some time during the Bronze Age^[3] and it was later gradually expanded by the Romans, Slavs and Ottomans. It has been primarily a defensive fortification and during the Ottoman period, the fortress had a permanent Ottoman Army garrison. In 1697, during Prince Eugene of Savoy's raid, it had been besieged for 3 days but remained unconquered.^[3]

See also

• Tešanj