Srebrenik castle is located on the northeastern slopes of Majevica mountain in the village of Gornji Srebrenik, about 5 km away from the city centre. It is built on a steep, almost inaccessible rock, with a deep trench dug underneath, with the only entrance being a small bridge.

No current historical sources identify the exact year of its construction or who its constructor was. Earliest records date back to edicts of Stephen II to Ragusa from 1333.

It was located on, at the time, important military roads which made it an important strategic stronghold. Already in 1363, king Louis I of Hungary sent an army to Bosnia, led by his palatine Nicholas Kont, which suffered significant losses under Srebrenik.

In 1393 it was captured by Hungarian king Sigismund of Luxembourg and within the next decades it changed rulers several times, with Hungarians recapturing it in 1405, 1408 and 1410 respectively. It was then granted as a gift to Serbian despot Stefan Lazarević, but remained in use by the Hungarians as a garrison. King Thomas of Bosnia managed to recapture it by 1433, but already in 1452 it was seized by Đurađ Branković, nephew of Stefan Lazarević, who gave it to Hungarians.

By 1462 the entire župa Usora was under Ottoman control, including Srebrenik. Due to failures in logistics and an epidemic, the Ottoman army had to retreat and Matthias Corvinus managed to seize back Srebrenik. In order to further improve defense against future Ottoman attacks, Matthias created banate of Srebrenik in 1464 and granted it to Nicholas of Ilok who later became the titular king of Bosnia.

It is not known when the Ottomans recaptured it, but sometime between 1510 and 1519 is the most likely date.

Ever since the Battle of Mohács and up to Treaty of Karlowitz, due to expansion of Ottoman borders, the fortress saw very little military activity. Because of that, it was either completely abandoned or left with only a small garrison.

The Srebrenik Castle belonged to the Smoluća Nahija, the prince was Vlatko, son of Vladimir. He had 8 sons of which 3 converted to Islam. Vlachs of this principality belonged to the settlements of Gnojica, Miričina, Kruševica, Gornja Smoluća, Puračić, Gornja Lukavica, Srednja Smoluća, Donja Smoluća, Devetak, Dobošnica and Čitluk. In the entire principality there was 153 Christian households with 214 tabis, and 63 Muslim households with 68 tabis.

In the 18th century, with Ottoman borders shrinking, it regained its strategic importance. Austrian spies reported it as an old fortress without providing any detailed descriptions. At this time, it was already in dire need of reparations. Some reparations were carried out as early as 1756, but their circumstances and results remain unreported.

It finally ceased its use as a garrison in 1835 when the last soldier left it and was mostly abandoned ever after. The mosque, built by the Ottomans in early 16th century, was still maintained in the following years.

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Details

Founded: 14th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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en.wikipedia.org

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User Reviews

Erik Ocvirk (4 months ago)
Never heard about this fortress. What a beautiful surprise. Road leading to the castle is amazing with beautiful views of the castle. While there eat at restaurant panorama and thank me later.
Stefan Henneken (4 months ago)
The fortress and scenery was great even though the fortress was small and quickly checked out. There was nothing in English, only for Bosnian language. If I remember correctly it was 10 BAM (5€) to get in and 2 BAM (1€) for parking a car.
EmirF (5 months ago)
There is a parking lot maybe 150m away from Fortress, 2 BAM for cars for whole day. On the way to fortress is a small dining place, looks cozy, but we didn't visit. Entry price for fortress itself is 10 BAM ( 5 euros), for Bosnian citizens is 4 BAM. Fortress itself is cool, looks medieval, worth a visit.
Andrew Machado (7 months ago)
The fortress is referred to as ‘Old City’ in its entirety, given that it was at the heart of life for many years. While it may appear quite run down, one must remember it dates back all the way from the 14th century and has changed hands multiple times over the years. If I had a small criticism, it is that there was no information available in English but that in itself does not take away from what is a very good, cheap (BAM 3 = EUR 1.5) visit.
Maida Skys (16 months ago)
Located in the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Srebrenik Fortress stands as a remarkable testament to the country's rich history. Nestled atop a rocky hill, this medieval fortress offers visitors a captivating journey through time, combining stunning natural scenery with architectural marvels. The fortress offers stunning natural scenery alongside its well-preserved architecture. Exploring the interior reveals impressive defensive walls and towers, while the museum provides insight into the region's history. As I climbed the well-preserved ramparts, the vista opened up before me, revealing rolling hills, lush greenery, and a winding river that added to the picturesque beauty. It's an ideal spot for photography enthusiasts, allowing for breathtaking shots of both the fortress and the natural scenery. A visit to the Srebrenik Fortress is an unforgettable experience that will ignite your fascination with the past.
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