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A City Fortress (Bedem) and a Watchtower (Kula Motrilja)
Altun – alem Mosque (mosque with golden alem – the precious stone)
About Pazar
Novi Pazar is surrounded by the peaks of Golija, Rogozna and Pešter. It is located in the valley bearing the same name whose geographical set of river valleys and canyons have natural advantages with its environment. An exceptional geographical position predetermined population to be engaged in trade as a primary occupation by which the city got its name. As per the Census 2011, a total population is 109.327 inhabitants. According to the unofficial data it counts over 120.000 inhabitants.
Mountain centers
Golija is one of the most beautiful and forest-rich mountains in Serbia. It is located 32 kilometres north of Novi Pazar and it is an ideal place for holiday and leisure activities in the midst of almost intact nature. The highest peak of Golija Mountain is Jankov Kamen (1833m high). The slopes of Golija are suitable for skiing. Since 2001, Golija Mountain has been under state protection as the Golija Nature Park, which was placed in a category I as a natural resource of exceptional importance. Because of the exceptionally well-preserved natural environment, but also because of its cultural resources, the committee of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve Programme set up the Golija – Studenica Biosphere Reserve within the Golija Nature Park. Total area of Golija Mountain is 75.183ha and it is located between Ibar and Moravica Rivers and the middle course of Studenica River and mountains of Radočelo and the Pester Plateau, covering the territory of Municipalities of Kraljevo, Raška, Novi Pazar, Sjenica and Ivanjica. This area is predicted for setting aside land for tourism and recreation.
MOUNTAIN RESORT ODVRAĆENICA — PLANINSKI CENTAR ODVRAĆENICA
Rogozna Mountain
Mountain is located 12 km south-east of Novi Pazar. Rogozna Mountain range spreads along the south-west to north-east course on 20 km. It is situated in the triangle formed by Raška River and the upper and the middle course of Ibar River.
Hamam
Hamam is an old Turkish bath. It is very close to the old town on the right bank of the river Raška in the center of the city. It was built in the other half of the 15th century. It had double bathroom which was separated for women and men. There were many rooms and each of them was covered with dome. There were eleven domes. On the north side of Hamam there was spacious šadrvan which was designated as a waiting room and a changing room. On the south side there was hazna – so called room for heating water. Hamam was founded by Isa-bey Ishakovic.
A City Fortress (Bedem) and a Watchtower (Kula Motrilja)
Novi Pazar Fortress was built by the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century while Novi Pazar was founded by Isa-bey Isakovic. The fortress was situated on the crossroad of routes connecting Bosnia, Dubrovnik and southern Adriatic coast with Constantinople and Thessalonica. The fortress was built pursuant to basic principles of bastion artillery fortifications. At first, military fortification was built of wood construction at the bank of Raška River. After the Turks were defeated in 1683 and after Austrians breached in Skopje, The Ottoman Turks replaced a wooden construction with the one made of stone. Some works were done in 1692 but the major works were carried out until 1750. During the Reign of Sultan Abdul Azis, two new parts were built, a storehouse for weapons and ammunition, a mosque and new barracks.
Altun – alem Mosque (mosque with golden alem – the precious stone)
Altun – alem Mosque is one of the oldest and most beautiful mosques in Balkan. It is in the middle of Prvomajska Street in old part of the city. A mosque was built in the 16th centuty and it was established by Muslihedin Abdul Gani known as Mujezin hodža Al Medini. He was well educated man and thus known as mavlan – Muslihedin efendy, which as the honorable rank was used only for the highly distinguished Islamic scientists and philosophers. In the Turkish archives (vakufnami) from 1550 these Muslihedin – efendy’s objects are mentioned: Altun-alem Mosque, Mekteb in the yard of the mosque, three households for the imam, the famous han, six shops next to the hamam, six tanner shops and seven watermills next to the bridge, on the banks of Raška River.
It was common to tell stories about magnificent buildings so; therefore there is a legend about Altun-alem Mosque.