Aladža Mosque

The Aladža Mosque in Foča, Republika Srpska, is an Ottoman-era mosque originally built in the 16th century and notable for its historic polychrome decoration. The mosque was destroyed during the 1990s conflict and subsequently the subject of a reconstruction project.

The restored building comprises the main domed prayer hall and a reconstructed minaret, with decorative elements recreated from photographs and surviving fragments. The mosque’s name is commonly translated as “colorful” or “motley,” a reference to its historic painted decoration.

The original mosque served the local Muslim community from the Ottoman period until its destruction in 1992. The recent reconstruction aimed to replicate its historical appearance and returned the building to use as a place of worship and a cultural landmark.

The mosque is located within the town of Foča in eastern Bosnia, close to the Drina River and the surrounding mountainous landscape of southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Name origin: The mosque’s traditional name reflects its polychrome exterior and interior decoration in earlier centuries.
• Destruction and reconstruction: The original Ottoman-period mosque was destroyed during the 1990s conflict and has been reconstructed and reopened to the public after restoration work.

What to See#

• Main prayer hall and minaret: A single main prayer hall topped by a dome and a reconstructed minaret, rebuilt using archival photographs and documented fragments after wartime destruction.
• Decorative elements and polychrome ornamentation: Decorative interior and exterior elements restored to approximate the mosque’s historical appearance, including painted motifs and stonework that gave the building its historic name.

• Confirm local access before visiting-administrative control and conservation status can affect opening times.
• Respect adjacent cultural properties and any local signage-this mosque's historical role differs by locality.