A major fire ravaged Visoko 113 years ago, consuming the entire bazaar

(Patria) - Today marks the 113th anniversary of a catastrophic fire - jangija - that struck Visoko, destroying the entire bazaar of the time, recalls the Visoko.ba portal Visoko.ba.

The fire occurred on the night of November 11, 1911, and is believed to have started in the upper part of the then bazaar, specifically in the house of long-time Visoko residents - the Mataradžija family.

At that time, clothes were washed by hand, and laundry was boiled in large pots over a fire. This was also the case on that fateful November 11, when a woman who was boiling and washing laundry left the hearth unattended.

A strong wind was blowing that night, so a spark from the unattended hearth landed on the roof of a nearby house, from where the fire spread from house to house, from shop to shop, and in a short time, an unprecedented fire engulfed Visoko.

More than 450 houses, shops, and other buildings burned down. It was recorded that help arrived from all sides - from Belgrade, Cazin, Nevesinje, Rogatica, Sarajevo, Tuzla, and 32,158 crowns were collected.

Individuals also helped, such as the then director of Vakuf, efendija Šerif Arnautović, as well as the Austro-Hungarian monarch Emperor Franz Joseph I himself.



After the extent of the fire was determined, reconstruction began in the spring of 1912.

The provincial government ordered that houses be built of brick and covered with tiles, but that they remain in the spirit of traditional Bosnian architecture.

After the fire, in the subsequent reconstruction, Visoko gained the contours of an urban environment with a mix of oriental and western styles.

What was talked about after the fire in Visoko and what left a deep mark was the solidarity of the people of that time.

Help arrived from all sides, and after they learned of the disaster that befell the people of Visoko via telegraph, neighbors from Fojnica sent hot bread, and people from the surrounding villages provided accommodation and shelter to those who were left homeless.

The Austro-Hungarian authorities immediately sent an urgent appeal to Vienna, as well as to Pest and Prague, for Visoko to be urgently helped.

Building materials for the reconstruction of homes arrived by the Ćiro train from all parts of the country, as well as from further afield. In addition to material aid, Austria-Hungary also sent its engineers, technicians, and craftsmen, who participated in the reconstruction of the city bazaar.