The Walled City of Jajce (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: Jajačka tvrđava, Serbian Cyrillic: Јајачка тврђава) is a medieval fortified nucleus of Jajce in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Jajce Citadel high above town on top of pyramidal-shaped steep hill, enclosed with approximately 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) long defensive walls,. It is one of the best preserved fortified capitals of the Bosnian Kingdom, the last stronghold before the kingdom dissolved under the pressure of military advancement at the onset of Ottoman Empire takeover.

The old Jajce city core with the Citadel and other individual sites inside and outside the walled city perimeter, such as the Catacombs of Jajce, or the Jajce Mithraeum, including the waterfall, is declared National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina by KONS, as the natural and architectural ensemble of Jajce and proposed as such for inscription into the UNESCO's World Heritage Site list.

The entire complex of the Walled city of Jajce, with the citadel, city ramparts, watchtower Medvjed-kula, and two main city gate-towers lies on the southern slope of a large rocky pyramid at the confluence of the rivers Pliva and Vrbas, enclosed by these rivers from the south-southwest, with the bed of the Pliva, and east-southeast by the river Vrbas gorge.[1]

The altitude at the fortress is 470 meters a.s.l, at Pliva Lakes 426.6 meters, and at the waterfall 362.5 meters a.s.l. The fortress which later became a citadel and the focal point of the system of fortifications, and the ramparts combined length stretch in a perimeter of about 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) and covers an area of roughly 11,200 square metres (121,000 sq ft). The whole area is geographically and historically interesting.[1][2]

History
The fortress was built, on the site of earlier fort, by Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić, the founder of Jajce. It is assumed that one of the locations of his death could be Jajce, where he built his tomb, known as Catacombs of Jajce. However, another location of his burial is discussed and that is Zgošća near Kakanj, where the Zgošća Stećak, a burial megalith, was found and assumed that possibly could belonged to Hrvoje.

Later, however, the city became the seat of the Bosnian kings, hence the royal coat of arms decoration on the citadel entrance. A part of the wall was built by the Hungarian King, while the Ottomans erected the powder magazine. The walls are high and the castle was built on a hill that is egg shaped, the rivers Pliva and Vrbas also protect the castle. There is no rampart on the south and west.[3]

Jajce was first built in the 14th century and served as the capital of the independent Kingdom of Bosnia during its time. The town has gates as fortifications, as well as a castle with walls which lead to the various gates around the town. About 10–20 kilometres from Jajce lies the Komotin Castle and town area which is older but smaller than Jajce. It is believed the town of Jajce was previously Komotin but was moved after the Black Death.[citation needed]



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