Husein-paša’s Mosque: An Ottoman Islamic Monument in Montenegro
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 5
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Montenegro
- Primary era
- Early Modern
- Eras represented
- Early Modern, Modern
- Civilizations
- Ottoman
- Site type
- Religious
- Remains
- Mosque
On this page11 sections
History
Ottoman foundation
Husein-paša’s Mosque is an Islamic mosque in Pljevlja, Montenegro, built during the late sixteenth century as part of the Ottoman architectural tradition. It formed the center of the waqf, an Islamic charitable endowment whose property supported religious, educational, social, and community institutions, established by Husein-paša Boljanić. The mosque is regarded as one of Montenegro’s notable monuments of Islamic and Ottoman architecture.
The mosque takes its name from Husein-paša Boljanić, who was born in the nearby village of Boljanići. Its probable architect was Hayruddin, an Ottoman master builder also associated with the bridge in Mostar. The waqf extended beyond the mosque itself, incorporating a courtyard with a cemetery, an ablution fountain, a clock tower, a mekteb or elementary religious school, a caravanserai with an imaret providing free meals, and a bezistan, a covered commercial market.
Damage and preservation
Lightning struck the minaret in 1911. It was later rebuilt as a slimmer and taller structure, reaching 42 metres and becoming the highest minaret in the Balkans. The mosque has survived in almost its original form, preserving both its architectural character and its connection with the wider waqf complex.
Remains
Prayer hall and exterior
Prayer hall
The mosque has a square plan measuring approximately 13 by 13 metres and is built from finely hewn stone. Its prayer hall is covered by a low-pitched dome resting on a cubiform pedestal. Twenty-five windows arranged across three levels illuminate the interior. The dome carries rich arabesque decoration, formed from stylized flowing plant ornament, while the prayer hall and entrance porch retain polychrome painted decoration with floral designs and quotations from the Quran.
Entrance porch and minaret
An open entrance porch, about 4 metres wide, stands before the main facade. Four marble columns support its roof, which is formed by three domes. A single minaret rises beside the southern side of the mosque. Rebuilt after the lightning strike of 1911, it is 42 metres high and has a slimmer profile than its predecessor.
Interior furnishings and manuscripts
Prayer furnishings
The hexagonal mihrab, the niche indicating the direction of Mecca, is decorated with geometric motifs. The minbar, or pulpit used for sermons, and the mahvil, an elevated interior gallery, feature stalactite ornament made of tiered three-dimensional niches and traditional perforated Turkish decoration. Four richly decorated semi-domes occupy the corners.
Carpet and Quran manuscript
An original carpet dated 1573 remains on the mosque floor. Made in Egypt to fit the building, it is stitched with leather, measures 10 by 10 metres, and weighs approximately 400 kilograms. The mosque also contains a Quran manuscript dated 1571 and commissioned by Husein-paša Boljanić. Its leather binding encloses 233 leaves with 352 miniatures executed on a gold background, and it is regarded as an outstanding work of sixteenth-century Islamic calligraphy. Old handwritten books in Arabic and Turkish are also preserved there.
Waqf complex
The associated physical complex included the mosque courtyard and cemetery, an ablution fountain, a clock tower, a mekteb, a caravanserai, an imaret, and a bezistan. Together, these installations connected worship with education, charitable food provision, accommodation, and commerce within Husein-paša Boljanić’s endowment.
