Bjelaj Fortress, Medieval hilltop castle in Bosanski Petrovac, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bjelaj Fortress is a hilltop fortification on the Osječenica mountain slope near Bosanski Petrovac, featuring a substantial round tower and ramparts built from stone. The main structure measures roughly 40 meters long and 35 meters wide, with the medieval portions remaining in better condition than the scattered remnants of the Ottoman-era additions.
The fortress first appeared in written records in 1495 and was contested between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Ottoman Empire over subsequent centuries. Military forces garrisoned the site until 1833, when it ceased to serve defensive purposes.
The fortress embodies two distinct construction periods within its stones: medieval sections built with careful stone work and later Ottoman additions made using different techniques and materials. Visitors walking through can observe these different eras layered on top of each other, showing how successive rulers left their mark on the structure.
Reaching the fortress requires climbing up a steep hillside, so sturdy footwear and some physical preparation are necessary for the visit. The ground can become slippery especially after rain, so careful footing is important and you should allow extra time to explore at a comfortable pace.
The fortress gets its name from the light-colored stones that form its walls, which stand out distinctly against the darker landscape of the surrounding Bjelajsko field. This pale appearance has made the structure recognizable from a distance and influenced how locals named the location.
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