Atik mosque serves as a cultural landmark in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Photographer Boris Trogrančić visited and photographed the Atik mosque in Fojnice, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to collect material for a documentary film.

He received permission from Ahmed ef. Vukovića to access the site, which is the oldest mosque in the city and one of the oldest in the country. The mosque was founded in 1551 by Mustafa Hadr, a resident of Fojnice. It represents the first mosque and the first recorded waqf, a religious endowment, in the town.

The mosque is situated in the Hadrovići neighborhood, an area that developed around the site and continues to bear its name. The building is known by three names. Atik means old, Srednja refers to its location between other mosques, and Djevojačka refers to a local legend. According to this tradition, three unmarried girls donated their dowries to fund the renovation of the mosque when funds were scarce.

The mosque also underwent a major renovation in 1820 with contributions from the local residents. The mosque contains historical artifacts, including a manuscript of the Quran copied in Fojnice in 1749. It also features a historical inscription composed by the spiritual teacher and poet Abdurrahman Sirrija. While the building has modest dimensions and a traditional wooden structure, it remains a central part of the local spiritual and educational life.