Gazi Husrev Bey’s Mosque in one of the oldest religious monuments in Sarajevo. Built in the 16th century, it is the largest historical mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the most representative Ottoman structures in the Balkans.
Being the central Sarajevo’s mosque since the days of its construction, today it also serves as the main congregational mosque of the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Baščaršija neighborhood in the Old Town abeing one of the main architectural monuments in the city, is regularly visited by tourists.
It was built in the center of Baščaršija in 1530. Bey’s Mosque was designed by Adžem Esir Ali, a Persian from Tabriz, who was the chief architect in the Ottoman Empire at that time.
The mosque was built as part of a vakuf (endowment) established by the Ottoman Governor, Gazi Husrev Bey, who governed Bosnia, more or less continuously, from 1521 until his death in 1541. His grave is actually located in the mosque’s courtyard and visitors can see it.
Besides him, there are many Bosnian leaders buried in the mosque’s courtyard, including Reis-ul-Ulema, Mehmed Džemaludin Čaušević; the politician, Dr. Mehmed Spaho; the reformer, Ali Bey Firdus; the poet, Safvet Bey Bašagić….
It’s hard to miss Gazi Husrev-bey’s Mosque when you are walking around Old Town in Sarajevo. The entrance is always free and you can go inside the courtyard anytime.
You can also enter inside the mosque, but you have to be appropriately dressed.