Old Town Ostrozac was built on a hill above the beauty of Krajina – Una River, because it seems that what is special, does not deserve anything but – special. Its large size fortress represents a unique synthesis of different architectural styles, which is leaving many passersby speechless even today.
Old Town Ostrozac, in its present form and dimensions, was built in 4 epochs. The oldest part, with the diameter of 45-50 meters, originates from the 13th century, or more precisely from 1286, when the historical sources first mentioned the town of Ostrozac, as a possession of the lords Babonic’s from Blagaj.
Ottomans unsuccessfully besieged Ostrozac in 1538 and 1543. Somewhat later, in 1577, Ferhat Pasha Sokolovic occupied the fort but general Khevenhuler returned it the same year. Two years later, in 1579, the fortress definitely went into Ottoman hands, after which followed Ottomans rule over Ostrozac and fortress for centuries.
Lothar von Berks, Knight of the Maltese Order, restored the old town Ostrozac after he bought it from Mehmed Besirevic in whose possession it was, and constructed his castle in neo-gothic style, in which, together with his family, he settled in 1902.
The castle was beautifully decorated: chambers were full of artistic crafts: there were salons for music and dancing, a rich library, paintings – portraits of family members, sleeping rooms of various sizes, corridors with hunting trophies, luxury furniture, and other things. From that moment on, Ostrozac was like a fairytale town for numerous curious bystanders.
Ostrozac was owned by Berks until 1946, when nationalization followed, and the castle was placed under state protection, then FNRY.
During World War II, during Bihac Republic, Ostrozac was the headquarters of the Supreme Headquarters of National Liberation at one point, and even Josip Broz Tito stayed in it from December 1942 to January 1943. Moreover, during this period great poet Vladimir Nazor stayed in the castle, where he wrote his famous work “With Partisans”.
Contemporaries of each of the listed historical periods engraved part of themselves in walls of Ostrozac, the best that they knew, thus these treasures should be preserved.
It is important to emphasize that detailed archaeological research and serious studies have never been carried out in this region, in order to demystify all historical states, texts, myths, especially those related to the period of the Middle Ages, so Ostrozac still hides its secrets and mystiques.
(Source: M. C./Klix.ba)
