MEHMED-PASHA KUKAVICA’S CLOCK TOWER IN FOČA

Author: Ekrem Tucaković, PhD, Riyasat of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Photo & video: Mirza Hasanefendić

Mehmed-pasha Kukavica was a Bosnian regent in two periods (1752-1756 and 1757-1760, respectively). He distinguished himself through determined measures for strengthening the country. He commissioned many buildings in Foča, Goražde, Prijepolje, Sarajevo, Visoko and Travnik, including mosques, maktabs, madrasas, bridges, fountains, caravanserais, hammams, bezistans (domed markets) and a clock tower. For history of Bosnia, he is also important because he drew origin from a local environment.

At Gornja čaršija in Foča, Mehmed-paša Kukavica commissioned a clock tower. Since there are no written traces of its building, it can be assumed that it happened after 1758, since it is not mentioned in his waqfname from this year. The clock tower was certainly built before 1761, when Mehmed-pasha was banished from Bosnia.

The ground plan of the building forms an irregular square measuring 3.10 x 3.20 m with a height of about 20 m. Below the low hipped (polygonal) roof, clad with hollow tiles, is a string course, below which are four window openings on each side terminating in pointed arches, in which the clock is mounted. The clock mechanism is located between the apertures and is linked to the bell. It is not known exactly when the bell for this clock tower was purchased, but it is known that it was after 1878, and that it came from Vienna.

Other apertures resembling loopholes can also be seen on the Clock Tower. They are disposed on the main surfaces of the structure, faintly lighting the interior. The clock is accessed up a wooden staircase built against the walls with small landings at each inner corner. The Clock Tower has an entrance door at ground level, which is the smallest of all clock-tower doors in BiH.

In 2005, Commission to Preserve National Monuments made a decision to designate the Clock Tower of Mehmed-pasha Kukavica in Foča as a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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