Fethija Mosque

Fethija Mosque is one of Bihać’s most remarkable monuments, a rare example of a Catholic church transformed into an Ottoman mosque while preserving much of its original Gothic character. Built in 1266 as the Church of St. Anthony, it became a mosque in the late 16th century, making it one of the oldest functioning mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina with unmistakably European medieval architecture. Inside, the contrast is striking. The tall Gothic nave remains intact, giving the prayer hall an unusual verticality compared to traditional Ottoman designs. The mihrab is carved with elegant stone details added after the conversion, and the wooden minbar shows fine local craftsmanship. Look closely at the pointed arches and ribbed vaults—these are original church elements that survived centuries of conflict and reconstruction. One of the most interesting features is the absence of a dome, replaced instead by the steep medieval roof typical of Western churches. The minaret, added later, rises beside the structure like a historical footnote marking the building’s transformation. Together, they create a unique silhouette found nowhere else in the region.