Borač Castle

Borač Castle, also known as Old Town Borač, is a significant medieval fortification located in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Situated on rugged slopes high above the Prača river canyon between Mesići and Brčigovo, near modern-day Rogatica, the structure was constructed around the year 1244. Built primarily from limestone, it served as the primary seat and noble court for the powerful Radinović-Pavlović family. The castle functioned as a residential fortification and remained in active use from its inception until 1485. During its operational history, control of the site shifted among various rulers, including specific members of the Pavlović lineage like Pavle Radenović, as well as broader political entities such as the Banate of Bosnia, the Kingdom of Bosnia, and eventually the Ottoman Empire.

The historical significance of Borač is deeply tied to the Pavlović noble family, who ruled the region from this strategic vantage point. It was the first of two major castles held by the family, with the second being Pavlovac, often referred to as New Borač, which was built nearby in the late fourteenth century. The original fortress played a central role in the administrative and military landscape of medieval Bosnia before its demolition in 1485. Today, the site exists in a ruined condition, yet it retains immense cultural value as a designated National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Protected by the government and its commission for preserving national monuments, the remaining walls stand as a testament to the region's complex feudal history and architectural heritage.