Sokolac Castle

Description

The castle of Sokolac is situated on one hill on the east side of the hill Debeljača on the left bank of the river Une. The oldest charter in which Sokolac is mentioned dates from the 14th century. For a long time the town was exposed to the battles between the Bosnian crown and the Kings of Sigismund of Luxemburg and Ladislaus of Naples.

The Ottoman army occupied the fort in 1592. At the site of today’s fortress in the Bronze Age there was a prehistoric fortress of 670 x 170 meters. The traces of prehistoric ceramics found at the time of archaeological excavations indicate the period from the 10th to the 9th centuries BC, which coincides with the time of of Japodian settlements on the river Una in the nearby Ripač.

Sokolac Fort was restored by Bihac Mayor Lothar von Berks in 1897. He began to charge entrance to this old town, which represents the beginnings of tourism in these areas.The fortress was declared a national monument.