Bosnian economic miracle City of Tešanj

When the Wiseman was taking the material for the First man, he took the hand of the best soil beneath the Usora Gradina called Tešanj.

The present name of the city was mentioned for the first time in 1461 in a charter from King Stephen Tomašević to his uncle Radivoj whereby the King grants him, among other possessions i na Usori grad Tešanj – the city of Tešanj, in the Usora region”. It is presumed that the name of the city originates from the Celtic word ‘tesen’ which means ‘small palace’.

Tešanj lies amid hilly area, overgrown in two thirds by beech, oak and pinewood forest – it was written about the position of Tešanj hundred years ago while today Tešanj is usually considered as synonym for the economic prosperity. Those fond of philosophy glorify this picturesque Bosnian city with the following sentence: When the Wiseman was taking the material for the First man, he took the hand of the best soil beneath the Usora Gradina (fortress) called Tešanj.

In 1465 as centre of Bosnian Kingdomand

After Ottoman conquest of Bosnia, Tešanj was declared, for a short period, in 1465 as centre of Bosnian Kingdom and enthroned as a King Matija Kotromanić. Tešanj was than the official administrative and judicial seat of the province. With arrival of Austro-Hungarians the Tešanj enjoys the economic bloom and prosperity, first banks are opened and begin to finance the craft and trade which made Tešanj famous thereafter.

In this way the Tešanj today is a kind of BiH economic miracle and 2014 data shows that every tenth newly employed person in FBiH is employed in Tešanj, every seventeenth exported yard truck is with gods from Tešnj and every fifth resident of the municipality of Tešanj is the entrepreneur. Even 23 companies form Tešanj are among 100 the most successful in the Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Čaršijska or Ferhadija Mosque and Gazi Ferhad-bey’s tomb, national monument: The most significant figure for the development of the old Tešanj was the Gazi Ferhad-bey, son of Iskender and nephew of the glorious Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. When Ferhad-bey died in 1568, he was buried in front of his Čaršijska (City) Mosque and the epitaph on his tombstone was in Arabic, and is the oldest Islamic record in Tešanj. Therefore the Day of the City was chosen the December 10 as a memorial to famous Bey who on that day in 1559, by his wakuf (endowment) laid down the foundations of the urban life in Tešanj.The Čaršijskaor Ferhadija Mosque and GaziFerhad-bey’stomb

1 – Gradina/Fortress

National monument: In the history of City of Tešanj, especially significant is the Gradina, fortress which dominates the surroundings and one of the most significant fortresses in BiH. The complex of the fortress was made in period of early history. The construction was started by Ilirs, completed by Romans and afterwards extended by the Ottomans and Austro-Hungarians. Franciscan Ivan Frano Jukić called it The White Swan in the hills and the fortress which consists of the Dizdar’s and Kapetan’s towers (Guardian’s and Captain’s) is the symbol of the resistance and pride of the city. In Dizdar’s tower there is a permanent museum setting of Public Institution of Museum Tešanj.

2 – The Clock Tower

In the seventeenth century Tešanj attained the 18,5 meters clock tower. The earlier clock was showing the time „alaturka“ while nowadays it shows the Central European Time. It was a gift by the Fehim-bey Smailbegović to the City of Tešanj in 1890. Out of 21 clock towers built in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Clock Tower of Tešanj belongs to those 4 still working today – the clock was brought from Vienna.

3 – The Tomb of the Poet Musa Ćazim Ćatić

Musa Ćazim Ćatić, the poet whose life is even today considered by many as the ideal of freedom and bohemian life style is one of the greatest Bosnian poets, whose destiny connected him to Tešanj. At his final resting place in Tešanj the following words were carved: “Here lies a poet of excellent gift, who did not seek honor nor profit but lived bohemian and sang grand, until death escorted him to this grave.”

4 – Eminagića House

National monument:This is the oldest and the most beautiful building of the family architectural heritage in Tešanj and is deemed to date back to 1860. It belonged to the Eminagić family, the rich aristocrats and merchants and in recent times was renovated by the municipality of Tešanj. The House, namely the hostel, is comprised of magazine, basement (porch, larder, magazine, north-west room, south-west room, south small room and south-east room) and floor. The premises illustrate the elegance and abundance specific for aristocratic families and culture of living at that time.

5 – The Orthodox Church of Presvetog Pokrova Bogorodice

The Orthodox Church of Presvetog Pokrova Bogorodice was built in 1972 and it is famous for its’ middle age icons. The collection of icons was one of the four most valuable in BiH and currently is kept in Bijeljina. During the World War II, the collection was preserved by Mirko Blatandžić, Catholic from Tešanj. During the war in BiH, the collection was kept in the vault of the Privredna Bank Sarajevo in Tešanj.

6 – Catholic Church of Saint Peter and Paul

National monument: There is a local Church of Saint Peter and Paul in Tešanj, which was built in 1898. for the needs of Austro-Hungarian officials and it was thoroughly restored between the 1998. and 2002. The family of Hasan Ahmetlić with its donations renovated the Church in 2014.


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SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL FACUILITLIES IN NEIGHBOURHOOD

  • Excursion site and mountain pass Kiseljak
  • Excursion site Ćatingreb
  • Fishing at the river Usora
  • Fishing at the lake Mrkotić
  • Fishing at the Gypsy lake
  • Eco Park
  • Excursion site lake “Jelen“ (two lakes, mountain pass, mini zoo)
  • Mountain pass Mrkotić
  • ZTC Banja Vrućica–Teslić
  • Fortress – Doboj
  • Maglaj fortress