Mostar Old Bazaar Kujundziluk

Mostar Old Bazaar Kujundziluk
Name	Kujundziluk
Native name	Кујундžилик
Location	Mostar
Country	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Established	15th century (Ottoman period)
Architecture	Ottoman, Islamic architecture
Designation	Historic urban site

Mostar Old Bazaar Kujundziluk is a historic market quarter in Mostar renowned for its concentration of metalworkers, cobblers, and traditional crafts, occupying a key position along the Neretva River near the Stari Most. Established during the Ottoman Empire era, the bazaar developed alongside Ottoman civic complexes and became intertwined with urban life in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, reflecting interactions with neighboring centers such as Sarajevo, Split, Dubrovnik, Belgrade, and Zagreb. The bazaar's survival through events like the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1878), the Yugoslav Wars, and postwar reconstruction situates it within broader narratives involving Mehmed Paša Sokolović, Gazi Husrev-beg, Ivo Andrić, Alija Izetbegović, and international agencies such as UNESCO and the Council of Europe.

History

Kujundziluk traces origins to the 15th and 16th centuries under the Ottoman Empire, contemporaneous with construction programs by figures like Suleiman the Magnificent and governors such as Gazi Husrev-beg, linking it to bazaars in Istanbul, Skopje, Prizren, Kotor, and Mostar's Old Bridge. During the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1878), urban reforms affected market regulations similarly to changes in Belgrade and Zagreb, while trade ties extended towards ports like Rijeka and Dubrovnik. In the 20th century the bazaar adapted through periods governed by Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and later the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, intersecting with personalities such as Josip Broz Tito and events like the World War I and World War II impacts on the region. During the Bosnian War the surrounding urban fabric, including the Old Bridge and adjacent quarters, suffered damage, prompting postwar interventions involving UNESCO, UNPROFOR, European Union, International Committee of the Red Cross, and cultural heritage organizations from Italy, Turkey, Austria, and Croatia.

Architecture and Layout

The bazaar's urban pattern reflects Ottoman caravanserai and suq models found in Istanbul and Damascus, with narrow alleys, stone shopfronts, and timber elements also comparable to markets in Jerusalem and Cairo. Key built features echo regional examples like the Mostar Pier, Ottoman mosques such as Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque and civic complexes like the Hadzibeg Mosque, while workshops recall typologies seen in Tirana and Skopje. The spatial arrangement aligns with the riverfront orientation that complements the Stari Most crossing and nearby structures such as the Bišćević House, Muslibegović House, and public squares resembling those in Travnik and Jajce. Materials include local limestone and traditional roofing also used in Herceg Novi and Kotor, with decorative metalwork motifs linking to traditions in Sarajevo, Prizren, and Mostar's Musalla precincts.

Craftsmanship and Trade

Kujundziluk historically specialized in metalworking, particularly copper and brass wares, connecting to guild practices seen across the Ottoman Empire in centers like Bursa, Konya, Skopje, and Prizren. Artisans produced items comparable to pieces from Istanbul and Aleppo, supplying domestic needs and travelers along routes to Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, and inland hubs such as Tuzla and Zenica. Traditional crafts included coppersmithing, silversmithing, leatherwork, and textiles, resonating with artisans in Sarajevo's Baščaršija and workshops in Mostar’s neighboring districts. The bazaar historically hosted guilds with regulatory parallels to Ottoman vakıf systems and links to mercantile networks reaching Vienna and Trieste during the Austro-Hungarian era.

Cultural and Social Significance

As a social node, the bazaar has functioned alongside religious institutions like Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque and civic sites such as the Mostar Town Hall and the Bišćević House, serving pilgrims, merchants, and residents from communities including Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs. Literary and artistic figures—such as Ivo Andrić, Meša Selimović, and visual artists who referenced Mostar—have evoked the market's atmosphere, while cultural festivals and events often draw connections with initiatives from UNESCO, ICOMOS, and regional museums like the Herzegovina Museum. The bazaar's role in intangible heritage aligns with crafts traditions acknowledged by institutions in Turkey, Austria, Italy, and by scholars associated with University of Sarajevo and University of Mostar.

Conservation and Restoration

Conservation efforts after wartime damage engaged international collaborations including UNESCO’s reconstruction of the Stari Most, technical support from INTBAU, and contributions from national authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Turkey. Restoration projects balanced authenticity principles advocated by ICOMOS and methodologies paralleling work in Kotor, Mostar's urban conservation strategies referenced charters like the Venice Charter and cooperative funding mechanisms involving the European Union, Council of Europe, and NGOs such as World Monuments Fund and Heritage without Borders. Training initiatives for local craftsmen drew on exchanges with conservators from Italy, Austria, Germany, and restoration curricula at University of Sarajevo and regional vocational schools.

Tourism and Visitor Information

The bazaar forms a principal component of visitor itineraries to Mostar alongside attractions such as the Stari Most, Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, Bišćević House, and riverfront promenades, attracting tourists from Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey, and neighboring Croatia. Access is commonly paired with guided tours organized by local agencies and international operators from cities like Sarajevo, Dubrovnik, Split, and Zagreb. Visitor services connect to regional transport nodes at Mostar International Airport and rail links to Sarajevo and Ploče, while accommodation choices range from historic guesthouses to modern hotels affiliated with chains operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider Balkans. Conservation advisories by UNESCO and local heritage bodies recommend respectful engagement with artisans and seasonal schedules for market activity.

Category:Mostar Category:Ottoman architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina Category:Bazaars