What to see in Jajce is a guidebook explaining sights of interest in one of the most important cities in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jajce.

Jajce is a city located in the Central Bosnia region, and its history dates as far as the 14th century. It was founded by Hrvoje Vukcic Hrvatinic, who was a medieval Bosnian nobleman and Duke of Split. He was one of the major feudal lords in the Kingdom of Bosnia. He was the Grand Duke of Bosnia under three Bosnian kings: King Tvrtko I, King Stephen Dabisa and King Stephen Ostoja. 

Jajce was first built in the 14th century and served as the capital of the independent Kingdom of Bosnia during its time. The first reference to the name of Jajce in written sources is from the year 1396, but the fortress had already existed by then. The town has gates as fortifications, as well as a castle with walls which lead to the various gates around the town.

Jajce was the residence of the last Bosnian king Stjepan Tomašević, where he died, and where his remainings still are.

It is a quite small city, but it offers a lot! Whether you are in search of natural beauties or culture and history, Jajce has it all. Hence, let’s dive in and explore the 8 greatest attractions in the city itself.

The river Pliva makes many small cascades, and waterfalls and the last cascade is the famous Pliva waterfall. Located in the centre of Jajce, in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is 22 meters high and is one of the 12 most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

It existed before the town of Jajce. According to the amount of tufa, it is believed to have originated as far back as 50,000 years ago. This last and largest cascade of the Pliva is in the river Vrbas.

NOTE!

Pliva waterfall is the only one in the world located in the city centre and that makes it specific and unique.

Ticket prices

Entrance fees for the Pliva waterfall on the date range from 01.10 to 30.04 (off-season) are:

2€ for the adults

0.50 € for elementary school and high school children

free of charge for children under 7 years of age.

Entrance fees for the date range from 01.05 to 30.09 (season) are:

4€ for the adults

0.50 € for elementary school and high school children

free of charge for children under 7 years of age.

Additional tip

There is parking in the short vicinity of the Pliva waterfalls. The hourly price is 1€, while the daily parking ticket is 5€. On Sundays and National holidays, parking is free of charge.

One of the best and most popular tours we offer is Travnik and Jajce tour. On this tour, you will have the opportunity to visit this captivating waterfall and create an unforgettable memory for yourself. We would wholeheartedly suggest anyone join us on this incredible experience.

Five kilometres from Jajce are the Great and Small Pliva lakes, created by the transformation of the course of the river Pliva. The lakes are located in the river valley of the Pliva, between Jajce and the settlement of Jezero. The Great Lake lies at an altitude of 424 meters.

It is about 3.3 kilometres long, with an average width of about 400 meters and a maximum of about 700 meters. The greatest depth of the lake is about 36 meters.

It was formed at the place where the Pliva ends its course, downstream from the settlement of Jezero, and ends in the settlement of Zaskoplje.

The small lake starts in the village of Zaskoplje and is about 950 meters long. Its average width is about 220 meters, and the maximum is about 430 meters. The maximum depth of the lake is about 24 meters.

With regards to all of this, it is also important to emphasize that the entrance to the Pliva lakes is free of charge.

NOTE!

Pliva lakes are an essential part of our Travnik and Jajce tour itinerary. Hence, if you decide to join us on our tour, you will be able to visit the lakes as well. 

The Watermills in Jajce or simply Pliva Watermills are complex of 20 small mills built of oak wood, which construction reflects the well-known carpentry skill there were used back then. Watermills date as far as 400 years, and that is the reason why they are so unique and really valuable for Jajce and its history.

Watermills are built on a travertine barrier in-between the Great and Small Pliva Lakes. 
 
Watermills are a national value as they preserve the tradition of the state and reflect the way cereals are processed in Bosnia and Herzegovina since ancient times.

Stories from ancient times say that Pliva Watermills were owned by rich landowners who gave them for use to residents who paid taxes on their use in flour.

This place preserves the Bosnia and Herzegovina tradition, and in 2005 it was renovated and 6 mills were returned to use, while the others were restored to their original appearance with minimal renovation to preserve their originality.

Due to its natural, historical, architectural, geological and scientific value, the Cultural Landscape-Pliva Lakes with a complex of Watermills on the Pliva River 2009 was declared a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

With regards to all of this, it is also important to emphasize that the entrance to the Pliva watermills is free of charge.

NOTE!

Pliva watermills are an essential part of our Travnik and Jajce tour itinerary. Hence, if you decide to join us on our tour, you will be able to visit the watermills as well. 

Built around 1400, the catacombs in Jajce are an underground church (crypt), carved into the living rock, within the walls of the Jajce fortress.

By its architecture, it slightly resembles a church. The main rooms are: the narthex, baptistery with baptismal font, nave, presbytery with altar area

Hrvoje Vukcic, a Grand Duke of Bosnia, whom we already introduced at the beginning of the article, ordered the carving of the catacombs, now a historic monument, as his tomb and the tomb of the ducal family Hrvatinic, where he was lied down after he died.

Even though there is no written historical data about the building itself, it even nowadays amazes and surely represents one of the greatest historical monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Jajce especially.

With regards to all of this, it is also important to emphasize that the entrance to the Jajce catacombs is as follows:

For adults 2€ from 01.05 until 30.09 (season)

For adults 1€ from 01.10 until 30.04 (off-season)

NOTE!

Jajce catacombs are an essential part of our Travnik and Jajce tour itinerary. Hence, if you decide to join us on our tour, you will be able to visit the catacombs as well. 

Jajce Fortress was a stronghold of the town of Jajce, the former royal capital and the last territorial possession of the Kingdom of Bosnia. Jajce Fortress is located above the city at an altitude of 470 meters. It is in a mediaeval town complex dating back to the 13th century.

The fortress, built over several centuries, surrounds the architectural remains of a castle from the middle of the 15th century. Next to the entrance to the fortress is a portal with the royal coat of arms of the Kotromanic family from the 15th century.

It is the only surviving Royal Portal in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Inside the fortress, there is a powder magazine, built in the late 15th and early 20th century, and an accumulation from the time of Austro-Hungarian rule.

With regards to all of this, it is also important to emphasize that the entrance to the Jajce catacombs is as follows:

For adults 2.5€ from 01.05 until 30.09 (season)

For adults 1€ from 01.10 until 30.04 (off-season)

NOTE!

Jajce Fortress are an essential part of our Travnik and Jajce tour itinerary. Hence, if you decide to join us on our tour, you will be able to visit the fortress as well. 

Dedicated to the Persian invisible God of Sun, the Jajce Mithraeum is the oldest national monument in Jajce. It dates back to ancient times and it is believed that it was built sometime around the 2nd until 4th century AD. It was found by accident while building a private house.

The usual practice among Mithra followers was to build the temple in caves, however, in absence of such a possibility, they would excavate a part of the soil in order to erect a temple. Hence, Jajce Mithraeum is called spelaea

Jajce Mithraeum is one of the best-preserved sights like this in Europe.

Here you can find the exact location of this unbelievable national monument which will forever remain in your memory as one of the most unique things you saw.

📍 Jajce Mithraeum

Also, the entrance fee is 1€ regardless of the season.

Anyone who knows even a little bit about history overall must have heard about the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFR Yugoslavia) or more commonly, just Yugoslavia.

But, have you known that it was founded in Jajce? Yes, indeed, Yugoslavia was founded in Jajce, on the second assembly of the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ). 

With that, Jajce was forever carved as one of the most important cities in the history of Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as well, history-wise. 

Nowadays, the building where the assembly was held is transformed into the Museum and it is called the Museum of the National Struggle for Liberation or more commonly, the AVNOJ Museum.

The Museum itself, due to its importance to the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina is proclaimed a National Monument in 2002.

In case you fancy visiting this monument while you are in Jajce, below you can find the exact location of the Museum.

📍 AVNOJ Museum

Also, the entrance fee is 1€ regardless of the season.

Franciscans were present in Jajce since the Middle Ages. There was the St.Mary’s Church prior to the arrival of the Ottoman Empire transformed the Church to the Mosque. However, the Bell Tower is fully preserved.

The Franciscan monastery has more than 2,000 exhibits, and the museum exhibit only covers about two per cent or about 100 items that are available to the public.

History-wise, the most important exhibit of the Franciscan Museum in Jajce are the remains of the last Bosnian king Stjepan Tomasevic.

Visitors to the Franciscan Museum of Jajce can see, among other things, exhibits that testify to the respect of the supreme Roman deity Jupiter in the area of Jajce.

Here you can find the exact location of this incredible museum where the history books and history of Jajce, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are cautiously being cautiously preserved.  

📍Franciscan Museum/Monastery

Also, the entrance fee is 1€ regardless of the season.

So, every time you decide to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, make sure to read our “What to see in Jajce guide” and learn something new. We are continuously updating the information that is available. In the case of Jajce, it can be related to the entrance fees to the various monuments and locations such as Pliva Waterfall, Pliva Lakes, Pliva Watermills, Jajce Catacombs, Jajce Fortress, Jajce Mithraeum, AVNOJ Museum and Franciscan Museum.

If you are a traveller who would like to add something to our list, or you know some amazing facts about this city, make sure you contact us with the message subject “What to see in Jajce”. Looking forward to hearing from you!

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