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Baščaršija Башчаршија
Neighbourhood
Baščaršija
Coordinates: 43°51′32″N 18°25′48″E / 43.859°N 18.430°E / 43.859; 18.430
Country	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Entity	Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canton	Sarajevo Canton
City	Sarajevo
Municipality	Stari Grad, Sarajevo
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Area code	+387

Baščaršija (Cyrillic: Башчаршија; pronounced [baʃ.tʃǎr.ʃi.ja]) is Sarajevo's old bazaar and the historical and cultural center of the city. Baščaršija was built in the 15th century when Isa-Beg Ishaković founded the city.

Baščaršija is located on the north bank of the river Miljacka, in the municipality of Stari Grad. On Baščaršija there are several important historic buildings, such as the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and sahat-kula. Today Baščaršija is the major tourist attraction of Sarajevo.

Etymology

The word Baščaršija derives from the Turkish language. The word "baš" which is "baş" in Turkish literally means "head", but in some contexts also means "primary", "main", "capital". "Čaršija" which is "çarşı" in Turkish means "bazaar" or "market".

Although the suffix 'ja' (modern Turkish: '(y)a') means 'to' in Turkish, implying that the full name of the district literally translates to 'to the main bazaar', it is more likely that the ending -ija is a Bosnianism, as many Turkish loanwords have the same ending to conform to Bosnian grammatical rules. In the nominative case, the place has always been referred to in Turkish as "Başçarşı" only, without "ya".

History

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Before the arrival of the Ottomans in the largest settlement on Sarajevo field was the village square Tornik, which was located at the crossroad of the roads where today is the Ali Pasha's Mosque. Baščaršija was built in 1462 when Isa-Beg Isaković built the Ishaković han, in addition to its many shops.

Around the main entrance, the Bazerdžani čaršija was formed. The čaršija Kazaz is situated to the west, and to the north sit both the čaršija Sedlar and Sarača. The most significant buildings constructed during this period were mosques. Baščaršija's famous mosque was built by Havedža Durak in 1528, and Gazi Husrev-beg built his mosque in 1530.

Gazi Husrev-beg built a Gazi Husrev-begova Medresa, a library, a haniqah, the Gazi Husrev-beg Hamam, the Gazi Husrev-beg bezistan, the Morića Han, sahat-kula and other tourist attractions in Baščaršija. Gazi Husrev-Beg was buried in the harem of his mosque, beside the harem is the türbe of his freed slave and the first mutevelija of his vakuf, Murat-beg Tardić.

Along with Islamic places of worship erected at that time, Baščaršija is also the location of the Old Orthodox Church, built sometime during the 16th century and first mentioned in Ottoman sources from 1539, and also the first Sephardic Jewish temple the Old Synagogue, built between 1581 and 1587. Just next to the Old Synagogue (Bosnian: Stari Hram = Old Temple) the New Synagogue (Bosnian: Novi Hram = New Temple) was built a short time after.

Today the Jewish community uses the more recently erected synagogue just across the Miljacka river, while both Old and New synagogue buildings are used as Jewish cultural centers. The New Synagogue was donated by the Jewish community to the city of Sarajevo and serves as a gallery called Novi Hram. The Old Synagogue building was turned into the Jewish Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is considered to be one of the finest exhibition spaces in the former Yugoslavia.

During the 16th century a number of commercial facilities was built, such as bezistans, hans, and caravanserais. Sarajevo was an important center of trade in the Balkans and had three bezistans (today the Gazi Husrev-begov bezistan and Brusa bezistan are still standing). There were colonies of Venetian and Ragusan traders, and Baščaršija had approximately 12,000 commercial and craft shops.

After the earthquake in 1640 and several fires in 1644 and 1656, Sarajevo was burned and devastated by the troops of Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1697. Travel writer Evliya Çelebi wrote:

"The čaršija has in everything, one thousand and eighty stores that are a model of beauty. The čaršija is very attractive and built according to plan."

The city of Sarajevo didn't expand significantly until the 19th century. With the Austro-Hungarian occupation in 1878, foreign architects wanted to rebuild Sarajevo into a modern European city. A fire contributed to this process, destroying parts of the Stari Grad.

With the liberation of Sarajevo in 1945 after the Second World War, a committee decided that the market should be gradually demolished, believing that it had no role in a modern city. However, the plans were cancelled, and the buildings were left standing.

Important buildings

• Havadža Durak Mosque, better known as Baščaršija Mosque
• Emperor's Mosque
• Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
• Morića Han
• Old Church
• Old Synagogue (Stari Hram or Old Temple), home of the Jewish Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• New Synagogue (Novi Hram or New Temple), home of the Novi Hram Gallery
• Vijećnica

• Feeding pigeons at Baščaršija
• Sarači street in Sarajevo
• Gazi Husrev-beg's Mosque
• The entrance to the Baščaršija district, the old town of Sarajevo
• Baščaršija under the snow
• Traditional Bosnian clothing sold in the Baščaršija district

See also

• Baščaršija Nights
• Stari Grad, Sarajevo

References

1. "Photo". roker.bloger.hr. Archived from the original on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
2. "Grad Sarajevo : Baščaršija". Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
3. Graham, Florence. Turkish Loanwords in Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Bosnian and Bulgarian Franciscan Texts
4. Limited, Alamy. "Tourists in Baščaršija, the old bazaar and the historical and cultural center of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Stock Photo - Alamy". www.alamy.com. Retrieved 2022-08-18. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
5. meta.ba. "Hotel Hondo". www.hotelhondo.ba. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
6. Limited, Alamy. "Tourists in Baščaršija, the old bazaar and the historical and cultural center of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Stock Photo - Alamy". www.alamy.com. Retrieved 2022-08-18. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
7. DestiMap.com. "Gazi-Husrev Beg's Bezistan, Sarajevo". DestiMap. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
8. "Gazi Husrev Beg Waqfs – Bint Battuta Diaries". Retrieved 2022-08-18.
9. DestiMap.com. "Sahat Kula (Watch Tower), Mostar". DestiMap. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
10. "Sarajevo 1915". THE EARLY SILENT ERA 1895-1915. 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
11. "Sarajevo Travel Information and Guide". Bradt Guides. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
12. "The Jewish Museum - Museum of Sarajevo". muzejsarajeva.ba (in English and Bosnian). Museum of Sarajevo. Archived from the original (.html) on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
13. "Visit Sarajevo - Sarajevo's top city guide". Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
14. Administrator. "Historija Sarajevske Baščaršije". kudsevdah-ljubljana.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2011-03-17.

v t e Sarajevo
History of Sarajevo	Ancient times Middle Ages Early Ottoman Late Ottoman Sacking of Sarajevo Austria-Hungary Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Yugoslav era 1984 Winter Olympics Modern era Siege of Sarajevo Mayors (City Council) Timeline
Municipalities	City proper Centar Novi Grad Novo Sarajevo Stari Grad Urban area Ilidža Vogošća Istočna Ilidža Istočno Novo Sarajevo Istočni Stari Grad Metro area Hadžići Ilijaš Trnovo FBiH RS Pale Sokolac Breza Kiseljak Kreševo Visoko
Neighborhoods	Alipašino Polje Babića Bašća Baščaršija Čengić Vila Dobrinja Grbavica Džidžikovac Hrasno Koševo Mejtaš Marijin Dvor Otoka Višnjik Vratnik
Buildings and landmarks	Ambassadors' Alley ARIA Centar Avaz Twist Tower Bijela Tabija Bosmal City Center Clock Tower Despić House Eternal flame Goat's Bridge Greek-Bosnian Friendship Building Latin Bridge Morića Han Presidency Building Sarajevo Rose Sarajevo Tunnel Sarajevo Zoo Šeher-Ćehaja Bridge Skakavac Waterfall Svrzo's House UNITIC Towers Vidovdan Heroes Chapel Vraca Memorial Park Suada and Olga bridge Vrelo Bosne
Places of worship	Muslim Ali Pasha's Emperor's Ferhat-Pasha's Gazi Husrev-Bey's Istiqlal King Fahd's Hadžijska Catholic Sarajevo Cathedral St. Anthony's St. Joseph's Orthodox Serbian Orthodox Cathedral Sarajevo Old Orthodox Church Church of the Holy Transfiguration Jewish Sarajevo Synagogue Sarajevo Haggadah
Culture	Sarajevo National Theatre Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra Sarajevo Youth Theatre Sarajevo War Theatre Kamerni teatar 55 Vijećnica Gazi Husrev-beg Library Dom Mladih Bosnian Cultural Center International Center for Children and Youth Meeting Point Cinema HKD Napredak East West Theatre Company Jelićeva Theatre Open Stage Obala
Galleries and museums	Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina National Museum National Gallery Museum of Literature and Theater Arts Sarajevo City Museum War Childhood Museum Duplex Art Gallery Gallery 11/07/95 Collegium Artisticum Sarajevo Winter Olympics Museum
Education	Public University of Sarajevo Academy of Fine Arts Academy of Performing Arts Faculty of Electrical Engineering Faculty of Political Science Faculty of Law Music Academy Private International Burch University International University of Sarajevo Sarajevo School of Science and Technology
Sports venues	Stadiums Koševo Stadium Grbavica Stadium Otoka Stadium Indoor arenas Skenderija Hall Zetra Olympic Hall
Transport	Sarajevo International Airport Sarajevo main railway station Sarajevo Tramway
Streets	Ferhadija street Marshal Tito street Sarači street Trg Oslobođenja - Alija Izetbegović Vilsonovo Šetalište
Events	Baščaršija Nights Sarajevo Winter Festival Jazz Fest Sarajevo Sarajevo Film Festival Balkan Photo Festival Pop-Up! Sarajevo WARM Festival Ilidža Folk Music Festival Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival Pravo Ljudski Film Festival Sarajevo Youth Film Festival Sarajevo StreeAt Food Festival OPEN Fest Sarajevo MESS International Theatre Festival Sarajevo Pride Sarajevo Chamber Music Festival Sarajevo Beer Festival Sarajevo International Guitar Festival Ballet Fest Sarajevo Sarajevo Ramadan Festival Spiritus Progenitum Bookstan Sarajevo Half Marathon VIVA Film Festival Beton Fest Ballet Fest Sarajevo Sarajevo Street Art Festival Sarajevo Irish Festival Open University of Sarajevo SOS Design Festival FEDU Smile of Sarajevo Theatre Festival PitchWise Festival Juventafest InterDance Fest Sarajevo Evenings of Music
Category

v t e National monuments of  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cultural–historical heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina as designated by Commission to preserve national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance to Annex 8 of Dayton Agreement For official site names and detailed information, see each article or the List of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Buildings and structures	Buildings Vijećnica Gimnazija Mostar Sarajevo train station Morića Han Gazi Husrev-bey Library Gazi Husrev-bey Bezistan Gazi Husrev-bey Hamam Brusa Bezistan Kino Apolo Sarajevo National Theatre National Museum of BiH Bunkers & underground structures ARK/D-0 Željava Air Base Bridges Stari Most Kriva Ćuprija Kosor Bridge Stara Ćuprija Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge Kozija Ćuprija Šeher-Ćehaja Bridge Skenderija Bridge Roman bridge at Ilidža Latin Bridge Drvenija Bridge Ćumurija Bridge Čobanija Bridge Bridge over Žepa Stara Ćuprija Glavatičevo Veliki Most Perići Arslanagića Ćuprija Karađoz-begova Ćuprija Inat Ćuprija Klepci Ćuprija Djevojačka Ćuprija Stara Ćuprija Duman Ovčiji Brod Ćuprija Studenci Clock-towers Počiteljska sahat-kula Fočanska‎ sahat-kula Livanjska sahat-kula Sarajevska (Baščarsijska) sahat-kula Travnička (Gornja Čaršija) sahat-kula Travnička (Musala) sahat-kula Fountains Sebilj
Medieval fortifications castles,walled cities, open & market towns	Royal court Royal court in Sutjeska Visoko Bobovac Jajce Open & market towns Visoko Vrhbosna Drijeva Prača Walled cities Bobovac Jajce Livno Počitelj Vratnik Zvornik Castles & citadels Bijela Tabija Blagaj Bobovac Bočac Fortress Borač Castle Bosanska Krupa Fortress Bužim Castle Počitelj Fortress of Doboj Glamoč Fortress Gradačac Castle Greben Fort Hodidjed Hutovo Fort Jajce Citadel Kamengrad Fort Kastel Fortress Ključ Castle (Gacko) Ključ Castle (Ključ) Komotin Castle Kotor Hrvoje's Fort Ljubuški Fortress Maglaj Fortress Momčilo's Citadel Old town of Visoki Orašac Fort Ostrožac Castle Ostrovica Castle Prusac Fortress Samobor Castle Sokol kod Osat Grada Sokol kod Gračanice Sokol na Plivi Sokolac Citadel Srebrenik Fortress Stolac Fortress (Vidoški Grad) Teočak Castle Tešanj Castle Travnik Castle Velika Kladuša Castle Visuć Citadel (Black Queen's Citadel) Vranduk Vrnograč Castle Vujadin's Citadel Zvečaj Fortress Zvornik Castle Žuta Tabija Odžaci (towers) Šurkovića odžak (tower) Captain's Citadel Fazlagić odžak (tower) Redžep-pašina odžak (tower) Smajilagića odžak (tower)
Architectural ensembles	Vranduk Old Town of Mostar Blagaj Baščaršija Počitelj Džidžikovac Čekaluša street Vratnik old walled neighborhood
Natural & cultural-historical ensembles / Cultural landscape	Stolac Jajce Vrelo Bune Blidinje Lukomir Blatačko Lake
Industrial architectural ensembles	Old Marijin Dvor power station Old Hrid power station Small hydro power plant Bihać on Jarak in Bihać (a.k.a. Hydro power plant „Jarak“, or „Canal Una“) Koševo chimney
Traditional household	Despić House Svrzo's House Muslibegović House Bišćević House Velagićevina Begovina
Religious sites, properties and places of worship	Islamic Begova Aladža Mosque Muslihudin Čekrekčija Mosque Arnaudija Ferhadija Fethija Mosque Alipašina Careva Dukatareva Karadžozbegova Koski Catholic Sarajevo Cathedral Kraljeva Sutjeska Monastery Monastery of St. Catharine Monastery of the Holy Spirit Church of St John Church of Saint Anthony of Padua Orthodox Old Church Church of St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Sarajevo Dobrićevo Monastery Lomnica Monastery Papraća Monastery Rmanj Monastery Judaic Old Temple New Temple Ashkenazi Synagogue Il Kal Grande Bosnian Church Stećci Other (Temple of Mithras) Jajački Mithraeum Konjički Mithraeum
Antiquity	Illyrians Daorson Desilo Roman Mogorjelo Berginium Malvesa Serbinum Tasovčići Early Christianity Cim
Bronze Age	Butmir Culture
Memorials, cemeteries and necropolis	Memorials Heroes of Yugoslavia monuments Vraca Memorial Kozara Memorial Partisan Memorial Mostar Partisan Memorial Livno Bridge on the Neretva Lav Cemetery Eternal flame Moshe Danon's shrine Necropolis for the victims of Fascism Cemeteries Old Jewish Cemetery St. John Alifakovac Kovači Koševo Lav Cemetery Türbe mausoleums Turbe Vizier's grave Travnik Turbeta Sijerčića Semiz Ali-pašino Turbe Sijerčić Turbes Tombs, Crypts & catacombs Hrvoje Vukčić crypt Batalo's tomb Necropolis Stećci Radimlja
Movable property/Other	Sarajevo Haggadah Zmijanje embroidery Mural Zuke Džumhura
World Heritage Sites	Stari Most Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge Stećci
Related topics Archives, museums, etc.	Archives Ottoman Archives fund of the Gazi Husrev-Bey Library Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina Archives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Archives of Republika Srpska Museums List of museums in Bosnia and Herzegovina Museum of Sarajevo National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina The Herzegovina Museum Museum of Sarajevo Museum of the Old Bridge Museum of the National Struggle for Liberation Museum of Modern Art of Republika Srpska Museum of Old Herzegovina Sarajevo War Tunnel Svrzo House Despić House Museum of the First Proletarian Brigade, Rudo
Shared with Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia

• Baščaršija
• Bazaars
• Squares in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Neighbourhoods in Grad Sarajevo
• Populated places in Stari Grad, Sarajevo