Novi Pazar Fortress

Raški okrug

Novi Pazar Fortress, locally known as Bedem, is a significant medieval Ottoman fortification situated in the heart of Novi Pazar, Serbia. Constructed in the 15th century by Isa-beg Isaković, the founder of Novi Pazar, it was strategically placed at the crossroads of caravan routes connecting Bosnia, Dubrovnik, the southern Adriatic, Constantinople, and Thessaloniki. The fortress originally consisted of earthworks, wooden palisades, and watchtowers, later evolving with stone walls and three strong corner towers built in the mid-18th century. It played an important military role throughout Ottoman rule and was reinforced during the 19th century, including the addition of a barracks capable of housing multiple infantry battalions. Inside the fortress, a military mosque was built, which was later destroyed during World War I. Today, the fortress grounds include a city park and remain a key historical and cultural monument, protected since 1990. Archaeological excavations in recent decades have uncovered foundations of the barracks, the prison, powder magazine, and the destroyed Jephana tower, shedding new light on the fortress's phased construction and defensive importance. The fortress, along with the nearby Motrilja Tower and the old bazaar, forms a vital part of Novi Pazar's heritage and identity.