Kozograd

Kozograd, also known as the Old Town of Kozograd, is a medieval fortress situated in the municipality of Fojnica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Perched on Zec mountain at an altitude of 1,431 meters, the site lies approximately three kilometers south of Fojnica and near the peak of Gruda. Constructed primarily from limestone, the structure functioned as both a residential castle and a military fortification. Although the exact year of its initial construction remains unrecorded, historical records indicate it was a multilayered development mentioned in Dubrovnik sources as early as 1434. The adjacent castle town, known as Varoš, expanded toward Fojnica by 1449, serving as a crucial refuge for merchants from Dubrovnik who sought safety for their valuables during times of regional instability.

The fortress holds profound historical significance due to its association with the Kotromanić dynasty and pivotal events in Bosnian history. In 1444, it temporarily housed the official chancery of King Stephen Thomas. Later, in 1463 following the Ottoman siege and arrival, Queen Katarina, the wife of King Tomaš, stayed at Kozograd before her eventual departure to Rome. Despite being one of the least explored fortresses in the country, the site contains remains of medieval ramparts, towers, wells, and ditches, particularly in its southern portion. Today, the fortress stands in a ruined condition but is accessible to the public as an important archaeological area.

Recognizing its cultural value, the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina designated Kozograd as a Category II National Monument on November 5, 2015. This official protection highlights the site's status as an unexplored yet vital link to the medieval past of the region. While much of its history awaits further archaeological investigation, the existing ruins provide tangible evidence of the strategic and political importance this stronghold held during the final decades of the medieval Bosnian state.