Maglaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Maglaj highlights

Known for fortress, viewpoint, islam mosque

Maglaj is a town in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, originated in the 14th century, has an old town with mosques, traditional houses dating back from the Ottoman Empire, and a fortress that stands as a symbol of Maglaj.

You understand, it is impossible to see Bosnia and Herzegovina just in a couple of days. Come with us to explore Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 1-2 week road trip. We will pass Maglaj, along with other Bosnia and Herzegovina' attractions, to discover the soul of the country, its way of life, culture and traditions, food and drinks. Browse our tours passing Maglaj, or contact us directly for a custom tour in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the way, we charge nothing for a custom itinerary. Contact us directly, let's plan all the details of your trip and get it done!

Other places in Bosnia and Herzegovina that we are familiar with

Banja Luka - Known for brewery, fortress, museum, orthodox cathedral, islam mosque, catholic abbey

Bihać (Bihac) - Known for museum, park, river

Blagaj - Known for architecture, bridge, cave, fortress, landmark, museum, river, viewpoint, islam monastery; monastery is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Bobovac - Known for fortress, medieval old town, viewpoint

Bosnian Pyramids - Known for ancient settlement, landmark, museum, nature, park

Doboj - Known for fortress, historical center, museum

Dobrićevo (Dobricevo) - Known for orthodox monastery

Dobrun - Known for frescos, nature, viewpoint, orthodox monastery

Gradačac (Gradacac) - Known for architecture, castle, museum

Jablanica - Known for lake, landmark, monument, river

Jajce - Known for fortress, historical center, historical landmark, museum (history), nature, park, river, viewpoint, waterfall, franciscan monastery; historical center is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Ključ (Kljuc) - Known for fortress, viewpoint

Konjic - Known for bridge, river

Kraljeva Sutjeska - Known for historical center, museum, ruines, franciscan monastery

Kravica - Known for nature, park, river, viewpoint, waterfall

Livno - Known for bridge, museum (ecclesiastical), museum (ethnographic), wildlife, islam mosque

Ljubačke doline (Ljubacke doline) - Known for ethno village, museum (open-air)

Lukomir - Known for ethno village, viewpoint

Martin Brod - Known for park, river, viewpoint, waterfall

Međugorje (Medjugorje) - Known for catholic pilgrimage center

Mogorjelo - Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site, nature

Mostar - Known for brewery, bridge, historical center, medieval old town, museum, old bazaar, river, franciscan monastery, islam mosque, orthodox cathedral; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Neum - Known for coastal town, marina

Ostrovica - Known for castle

Ostrožac (Ostrozac) - Known for castle

Počitelj (Pocitelj) - Known for fortified town, fortress, medieval old town, viewpoint; medieval old town is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Radimlja - Known for infocenter, necropolis; necropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Sarajevo - Known for brewery, bridge, fortress, fountain, funicular, historical center, museum (archaeological), museum (National), old bazaar, park, river, viewpoint, catholic cathedral, orthodox cathedral, islam mosque; historical center is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Šćit (Scit) - Known for museum, peninsula, franciscan monastery

Srebrenik - Known for castle, fortress

Stolac - Known for ancient megalites, fortress, river, viewpoint, waterfall; fortress is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Tešanj (Tesanj) - Known for fortress, historical center, viewpoint

Travnik - Known for fortress, historical center, river, viewpoint

Trebinje - Known for bridge, historical center, museum (ethnographic), museum (history), river, viewpoint, winery + wine tasting, orthodox cathedral, orthodox monastery

Tunnel of Hope - Known for museum, sightseeing

Tuzla - Known for lake

Tvrdoš (Tvrdos) - Known for winery + wine tasting, orthodox monastery

Una National Park - Known for nature, park, river, viewpoint, waterfall

Velika Kladuša (Velika Kladusa) - Known for fortress

Višegrad (Visegrad) - Known for bridge, river, tourist attraction; bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Vjetrenica - Known for cave; cave is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Vranduk - Known for fortress, viewpoint

Zavala - Known for cave, frescos, paintings, viewpoint, orthodox monastery

Last reviewed: 17 February 2024

Maglaj description

The town is situated in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is situated in territory where Bosniaks presently form a large majority. The old Maglaj, like numerous other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has an old town with mosques, traditional houses dating back from the Ottoman Empire, and a fortress that stands as a symbol of Maglaj.

The Maglaj town is known from the 14th century. Within 1929 to 1941, Maglaj was part of the Vrbas Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

The Maglaj fortress is found to be among the larger and more fortified structures in the valley of the river Bosna. As a medieval fortress, Maglaj is first mentioned in the charter of Hungarian King Sigismund on the 18th of September 1408. Built though the XIV century to serve the defense of the Bosnian kingdom, the fortress got its final shape in the Ottoman period.

Under the Ottomans, Maglaj was first mentioned in 1485. The first official document that was signed in Maglaj was the document between Hungary and the Ottoman Empire in 1503. The Maglaj fortress is also called Gradina fortress.

Medieval fortress Maglaj is located 182 meters above sea level and consists of 5 towers. The exact data about the construction of the Maglaj Fortress are currently unavailable, and some information is available only about the Clock tower, built on 1697 and well-preserved currently. It is believed that in the Clock tower it was once a gold bell. However, this has never been confirmed.

The Clock tower is located at the entrance of the Maglaj fortress. As this tower is built on a cliff, its front side is slightly larger than the opposite side. After 1878, this clock tower received a clock which was purchased in Vienna, and a bell which was bought at a fair in Zagreb in 1923. Today, the clock tower is abandoned, with no clocks and bells.

The mosque of Kuršumlija, near the fortress, is one of the most beautiful monuments of the Ottoman period in Bosnia. The mosque was built by Ali Pasha Kalauz, and it is know by the name Kuršumlija because it is covered with lead.

The Maglaj fortress has served its purpose for years, primarily as a center of defense of internal security. Upon concurring of the Austro-Hungarian Army in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878, the fortress lost all military significance, and was abandoned as a military defensive object. The desolation of the Old part of the city becomes even more intense when the people who lived in about 70 or so houses left it.

The Maglaj fortress was declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2005.

Maglaj related tours

We at Monterrasol Travel welcome you to see Maglaj during multi-day private car tour. Contact us if you would like to customize your tour to Maglaj.

We have developed several private tours that visiting beautiful Maglaj. But, if you have a special conditions or any from these tours fit you, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can organize a tour exactly as you would like. We charge nothing for develop a custom itinerary. And remember, we have no problems to take you from almost any place where you stay, hotel or private accommodation.

All seasons 12 days tour across Bosnia from Tivat. Explore the best in Bosnia include UNESCO town Mostar. all seasons tour 12 days Price from € 2,261 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Tivat, Montenegro finish in: Tivat, Montenegro tour duration: 12 days (11 nights) tour countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina tour destinations: Banja Luka, Blagaj, Bosnian Pyramids, Doboj, Gradačac, Jajce, Kravica, Ljubačke doline, Maglaj, Međugorje, Mogorjelo, Mostar, Počitelj, Radimlja, Sarajevo, Srebrenik, Stolac, Tešanj, Travnik, Trebinje, Tvrdoš, Višegrad, Vjetrenica, Vranduk, Zavala, Šćit Explore main attractions in Bosnia-Herzegovina with all seasons 12 days tour. We will pick you up in Tivat, a coastal town with an airport, in southwest Montenegro. This tour is particularly interesting for travelers without Schengen Visa. With this tour we will visit medieval towns and Ottoman fortresses, Orthodox monasteries, explore historical centers of few famous towns, try local food specialties and wine, try local made craft beer, visit several museums, few outskirt parks with rivers, beautiful waterfalls, Ottoman bridges, an ethno village with 200 year old original houses, UNESCO archaeological site, famous pilgrimage center, and enjoy scenic valley and hills roads all across the Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Croatia castles + Bosnia medieval fortresses 27 days tour. Balkans UNESCO sites on roadtrip from Zagreb via Adriatic coast and Bosnia land. off-season only tour 27 days Price from € 9,388 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Zagreb, Croatia finish in: Zagreb, Croatia tour duration: 27 days (26 nights) tour countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia tour destinations: Banja Luka, Blagaj, Doboj, Dubovac, Dubrovnik, Jajce, Klis, Ključ, Kravica, Labin, Loreto, Maglaj, Morosini, Mostar, Nehaj, Ostrožac, Počitelj, Pula, Rijeka, Rovinj, Salona, Sarajevo, Skrivanat, Slano, Sokolac, Split, Ston, Tešanj, Trebinje, Trogir, Trsteno, Tvrdoš, Velika Kladuša, Vjetrenica, Vranduk, Zadar, Zavala, Šibenik Explore 2 famous Balkans countries Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Extended Balkans round trip via UNESCO sites of Adriatic coast of Croatia and venetian towns of Dalmatian Riviera. Meet medieval towns, fortresses and monasteries of Bosnia-Herzegovina.