Ferhadija Mosque
Ferhadija Mosque
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
58 reviews
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Brittany_11_10
Los Angeles, CA1,856 contributions
Mar 2022
Pretty mosque from the outside. It was open when we stopped by on a Saturday in March, late morning (we saw a men enter), but we chose to not go inside. Sad that it was destroyed, but they've done a nice job reconstructing it.
Written March 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands6,176 contributions
Jul 2021
For more than four centuries the Ferhad Pasha mosque survived upheavel and war. It was thoroughly demolished using explosives in 1993 as part of an ethnic cleansing effort by Bosnian Serbs. Rebuilding it after the war proved to be difficult, not just because of local hostility, but also for architectural reasons. Eventually reconstruction was accomplished in 2016.
Though they used the original material as much as possible, the structure feels rather newish. Personally I liked the stained glass windows. The combination of different colors is just fantastic. Note that windows have been barred and at the lower levels are fenced with bullet proof glass.
Though they used the original material as much as possible, the structure feels rather newish. Personally I liked the stained glass windows. The combination of different colors is just fantastic. Note that windows have been barred and at the lower levels are fenced with bullet proof glass.
Written July 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindsey Dee
New York City, NY442 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
Visited this mosque with 2 of my friends. We respectfully covered ourselves and entered for a few moments to view the architecture. I had never been inside of a mosque, and this was a peaceful and beautiful place of worship.
Written August 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Apostol
Thessaloniki, Greece15 contributions
Oct 2015 • Solo
Breathtaking! I was so moved to be there! Strong sentiments. The first to do thing in Banja Luka. This mosque reflects the city's profile.
Written October 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philip P
Herentals, Belgium1,506 contributions
May 2022
The buildings don't really invite to be visited. I made an external tour and found the typical architecture of a mask, with however marginal state of maintenance of a.o. the garden.
Written May 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kmarko
Skofja Loka, Slovenia685 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
quite bloody but interesting detail from the history - the mosque was built by the ransom money for heads of two beheaded knights from the castles nowadays located in Slovenia, victorious in several battles against the Turks - but finaly killed, their heads taken to Istanbul to parade with them on spikes in front of sultan. The heads have been bought by the knights' relatives for 20000 golden coins - and with this money Ferhad-Beg built this mosque.
that story aside, the mosque is really nicely rebuit after the last war in Bosnia!
that story aside, the mosque is really nicely rebuit after the last war in Bosnia!
Written June 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Željko M
Zagreb, Croatia65 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
Ferhat Pasha's mosque, known as Ferhadija, was built in 1579 and represents (with Gazi Husrev Bey's mosque in Sarajevo) the most beautiful monument of Ottoman sacral architecture in Bosnia. All 16 mosques in Banja Luka including Ferhadija, and also some Catholic churches, were destroyed by Serbs during the war 1992-1995 in city where there was no war conflicts. They were destroyed using explosive during the night. Remains of Ferhadija, destroyed on May 7th 1993, finished in Vrbas river and on dump. On the place of Ferhadija was later parking space. In 1998 Serb extremists didn't allow Banja Luka's mufti Ibrahim ef. Halilović to be burried on the place of ex Ferhadija. In 2001 extremists attacked believers who came to lay the cornerstone for new Ferhadija and one man was killed. Reconstruction took 11 years, all found remains and traditional building techniques were used so new mosque is identical to original one. It was solemnly opened on 23rd anniversary of destroyment.
Ferhadija is breathtaking both outside and inside. Beautiful carpets, colored glasses and ornaments inside mosque seem very attractive. Inside the Ferhadija complex there are souvenir shop with both Islamic and traditional Bosnian souvenirs and cafeteria where you can try original Bosnian coffee. When I wisited there were young and very kind guides Adnan and Senad working there and they are ready to answer any question. They also showed me room for ritual washing (wudu/abdest). My visit turned into half an hour long pleasant talk about mosque, Islam and life of Bosniaks and young people in Banja Luka. Visitors have to wear long trousers and there are free scarfs for women to cover their heads. Before entering you just have to put your shoes outside. I think every visitor of Banja Luka must see this unique mosque.
Ferhadija is breathtaking both outside and inside. Beautiful carpets, colored glasses and ornaments inside mosque seem very attractive. Inside the Ferhadija complex there are souvenir shop with both Islamic and traditional Bosnian souvenirs and cafeteria where you can try original Bosnian coffee. When I wisited there were young and very kind guides Adnan and Senad working there and they are ready to answer any question. They also showed me room for ritual washing (wudu/abdest). My visit turned into half an hour long pleasant talk about mosque, Islam and life of Bosniaks and young people in Banja Luka. Visitors have to wear long trousers and there are free scarfs for women to cover their heads. Before entering you just have to put your shoes outside. I think every visitor of Banja Luka must see this unique mosque.
Written July 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carbo1960
Belgrade, Serbia428 contributions
Nov 2019
If your artistic taste for Ottoman architecture was formed on Istanbul mosques, you will probably be disappointed: Ferhadija is just an average local mosque (at least from the outside - cannot comment about the interior, as it was closed at the time of my visit), albeit of enormous symbolic importance for local Muslim community. Nice garden with a free toilet to the left and slightly behind the mosque.
Written November 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kim buay p
Singapore, Singapore13,871 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
Ladies have to be appropriately dressed with headscarves and long trousers or skirts to cover the legs. I was amazed at the beautiful painted ceiling inside the mosque-really worth a visit in Banja Luka.
Written June 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cogitoergosum222
Slavonia, Croatia171 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
It's one of two most important mosques in Bosnia. We were introduced to the history and presence of the mosque by a staff member. It's nice mosque, maybe a little bit more beautiful from outside. But, knowing the fact that it was leveled to the ground 25 years ago it is quite an achievement that they built it up again (they used almost 50% of former material to build it). Warning: you have to take of your shoes before entering (you stay in your socks) and women have to put a scarf on their heads. And you can't go in there in skirts or short trousers. You don't have to pay to enter it.
Written August 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nmunir
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I am going to banja luka in april is this mosque easy to find. Is it still cold over there in april. Thank you
Written February 16, 2019
About your question regarding weather conditions in April in Banjaluka... It depends. It could be pretty cold in April there (5-10 Celsius degrees) but, on the other hand, April is very tricky so it could be beautiful spring weather (20-25 Celsius degrees). I recommend layered clothing.
Written February 18, 2019
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