Sahat kula Nevesinje

The clock tower is the landmark by which Nevesinje is recognized — whether on a postcard, in a photograph, or in the memory of a traveler who once passed through the town. Located in the very heart of the old Nevesinje čaršija, this square tower, with 3-meter sides, 80-centimeter-thick walls and a height of 16.5 meters, has stood motionless for more than three and a half centuries, and no one knows exactly when it was built, except that it was before 1664, when the famous Ottoman travel writer Evliya Çelebi first mentioned it in his renowned Travelogue.

It thus became the oldest clock tower of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina — and a national monument. The architecture is an interesting blend of influences: the late Romanesque tower, the Italian campanile and the Dubrovnik clock tower all left their mark in the square form, circular clock openings and the roof cornice decoration. In 1891, a new clock with three dials was installed — one with Turkish, one with Roman, and one with Arabic numerals — a living symbol of the era when civilizations met. Today, the clock tower still counts the hours of Nevesinje, and its image remains in the memories of everyone who has passed through this mountain town.