Medieval Heritage of the Town of Jajce

Jajce je grad smješten u središnjoj Bosni. Datacije nalaza o ljudskom obitavanju na širem Jajačkom području variraju od 13 000 do 4 000 godina pr. Kr. Jajce i njegova šira okolica prožeta je materijalnom kulturnom baštinom koja svjedoči o burnim vremenima njegove relativno duge prošlosti. Glavna značajka Jajca je njegov strateški položaj. Naselje koje će se kasnije nazivati Jajce se smjestilo na križanju trgovačkih pravaca. Na temelju arheoloških nalaza možemo pretpostaviti postojanje veće rimske naseobine iz koje će se razvijati naselje pod nazivom Jajce. Najveću problematiku u istraživanju urbanističkog slijeda Jajca je relativno dugo razdoblje koje obuhvaća skoro cijelu kasnu antiku i rani srednji vijek. Naime u navedenom razdoblju nemamo mnogo pismenih i materijalnih ostataka koje bi nam mogle ukazati na urbanistički slijed iz kojega će naposljetku nastati Jajce. Poprilično dugo se smatralo da je osnivatelj Jajca Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić. Današnje stajalište struke smatra da je citadela, pa i moguće naselje ispod nje, postojala i prije njega, ne osporavajući mogućnost arhitektonskih zahvata u njegovo doba. Hrvatinić najvjerojatnije ograđuje podgrađe triangularnom osnovom zidova koje povezuje sa dvije kule i tvrđavom. Nakon kraljevskog preuzimanja Jajca dolazi do velikih graditeljskih zahvata gdje se grade današnji zapadni bedemi sa kulom kružne osnove, južni bedemi sa gradskim vratima te se sjeverni bedemi šire do litica iznad Vrbasa uz još dvije kule i još jednim gradskim vratima. Navedeno razdoblje je i vrijeme ekonomskog procvata samog grada. U vrijeme Osmanskih ugroza Jajce postaje jedno od važnijih obrambenih središta što je rezultiralo dugogodišnjim ratnim razaranjima koja su ostavila duboki trag na gradu. Zauzimanjem Jajca 1528. godine, grad gubi svoju stratešku važnost te slijedi višestoljetno razdoblje stagnacije. U Osmanskom se periodu grad i njegove fortifikacije poprilično dugo neodržavaju, tek u XVIII. i XIX. st dolazi do velikih fortifikacijski proširenja i modernizacije. Razlog navedenom je povećana opasnost od prodora kršćanskih snaga. U razdoblju Austro-Ugarske monarhije dolazi do gradnje tipičnih austrougarskih građevina u samoj jezgri grada kao i do proširenja grada prema sjeveru. U navedenom razdoblju se ruši Mračna kapija, proširuje Banjalučka kapija te dolazi do gradnje vodovodne stanice u samoj Citadeli.Jajce is a town located in central Bosnia. The dates of the findings of human habitation in the wider Jajce area vary from 13,000 to 4,000 years BC. Jajce and its wider surroundings are imbued with material cultural heritage that testifies to the stormy times of its relatively long past. The main feature of Jajce is its strategic location. The settlement, which would later be called Jajce, was located at the crossroads of trade routes. On the basis of archaeological findings, we can assume the existence of a larger Roman settlement from which the settlement that will later be named Jajce will develop. The biggest problem in researching the urban sequence of Jajce is the relatively long period that covers almost the entire late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Namely, in the mentioned periods, we do not have many written and material remains that could indicate the urban sequence from which Jajce will eventually be created. For many years, it was believed that the founder of Jajc was Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić. Today's expertly opinion considers that the fort and possibly the settlement under it existed even before him, without disputing the possibility of architectural interventions in his time. Hrvatinić most likely encloses the substructure with a triangular base of walls that connects it to two towers and the fortress. After the royal takeover of Jajce, major construction works took place during which today's western ramparts were added with a circular tower, southern ramparts with the city gate, and the northern ramparts extend to the cliffs above Vrbas with two more towers and another city gate. The mentioned period is also the time of economic prosperity of the city itself. At the time of the Ottoman threats, Jajce became one of the most important defense centers, which resulted in many years of war destruction that left a deep mark on the city. With the capture of Jajce in 1528, the city lost its strategic importance and followed a centuries-long period of stagnation. In the Ottoman period the city and its fortifications were not maintained for a long time. During the XVIII. and XIX. century major fortification expansions and modernization were made. The reason for the aforementioned is the increased danger of the penetration of Christian forces. During the period of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, typical Austro-Hungarian buildings were built in the very core of the city, as well as the expansion of the city to the north. In the mentioned period, the Dark Gate is demolished, the Banja Luka Gate is expanded, and a water supply station is built in the Citadel itself