Župa near Trebinje: A mosque that was demolished six times and rebuilt again

(Patria) - On the occasion of the event “Days of the Jamaat and Mosques 2026”, the Museum of Islamic Culture and Art Sarajevo, in cooperation with the Administration for Religious Affairs of the Riyaset of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will be presenting texts about interesting, more or less known facts about individual Bosnian and Herzegovinian mosques during the event.

The authors of the articles are: Dr. Sumeja Ljevaković-Subašić and Dr. Elvir Duranović.

The traditional Bosnian and Herzegovinian mosque is the living heart of the Muslim mahala. The melodious call of the muezzin from dawn to nightfall gives rhythm to the mahala, reminding believers of the true value of faith in Almighty Allah, His Prophet (pbuh), and the importance of prayer, without which there is no salvation in the hereafter.

The architecture of the traditional Bosnian and Herzegovinian mosque did not deviate from the mahala, but rather harmoniously complemented it, summarizing in itself the best that the mahala had to offer in terms of carpets, prayer rugs, ewers, and more.

The Bosnian mosque was made of stone with a wooden roof and minaret, while the Herzegovinian traditional mosque was entirely made of stone, which is abundant in this part of Bosnia. The minarets of these mosques, neither in Bosnia nor in Herzegovina, were taller than the surrounding trees, thus perfectly blending into the landscape.

One of these traditional Bosnian and Herzegovinian mosques with a long and turbulent history is located in Župa near Trebinje. Situated on the border with Venice and Montenegro, this mosque, since its first construction in the mid-16th century, has been demolished eight times out of hatred and rebuilt eight times out of love, testifying to the strength of faith, perseverance, and, if you will, the defiance of the robust Herzegovinian Bosniak.

The Venetians first set it on fire at the end of the 17th century, at the same time they attacked the city of Trebinje on Eid morning, set fire to the mosque in Polica, and killed all the Muslims who were in the mosque for Eid prayer, throwing them into the Trebišnjica river.

This grave crime left a deep mark on the collective memory of the Bosniaks of Trebinje, who, in the following years, collected funds for the children whose fathers were killed in the mosque in Polica during every Eid prayer.

As part of the events known as the Moscow Years, at the beginning of the 19th century, united Russian and Montenegrin military forces attacked eastern Herzegovina and southern Croatia, devastating everything in their path.

The mosque in Župa was also targeted in their attacks, and they demolished it in 1807. The mosque was rebuilt in 1820 by Hamzaga Begović.

The mosque in Župa was demolished for the third time in 1858 during the Battle of Grahovac, in which Montenegrin forces defeated the Ottoman army, significantly expanding the territory of Montenegro.

Remains of the demolished mosque and minaret in Župa in 1993. (Source: Archive of the Islamic Community in BiH)

The mosque was damaged for the fourth time during World War I, after which it was renovated after the war, and a minaret nearly 10 meters high was built next to it.

The mosque was demolished for the fifth time in 1962 when the foundations for the hydroelectric power plant in Grančarevo near Trebinje were being laid.

At that time, due to the rising water level, the Lastva-Bileća railway line was relocated and routed through Župa.

On that occasion, the mosque found itself in the path of the railway line, which is why it was demolished.

It was rebuilt again in 1964, 10 meters away from its previous location.

The mosque in Župa was demolished for the sixth time by extremists of the Army of Republika Srpska at the beginning of the Aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1993.