- Architect: Hasan-bek Rejepagic
- Year of construction: 1671 year
- Dimensions of the tower: 7x8 m
The Rejepagichi Tower is one of the most visited cultural and historical places in Plava County in Montenegro. It is a monument of Islamic housing-fortification architecture, dating from the 17th century.
Location:
The tower is located in the center of Plava, in the old part of the city, a little north of the main street, in close proximity to the remnants of a medieval fortress.
History of creation
According to the basic historical data, this fortification was erected in 1671 by the efforts of Hasan-Bek Rejepagich. The purpose of the tower was to strengthen the defensive forces of the city and protect against the attacks of the Banjani tribes that lived nearby. To do this, it was placed on a high place, from which it is convenient to control the neighborhood. According to other information, the Rejepagichi Tower exists since the 15th century, and its author Ali-Bek Rejepagic is the ancestor of Hasan-Bek.
In the XVI-XVII centuries. This tower was not the only defensive building in Plav. At that time, several fortifications were united and surrounded by a single wall, within which the economy was located. Unfortunately, to this day only the Tower of Rejepagic has survived, which has become a kind of symbol of the city.
What is interesting about the Tower of Rejepagic?
The most important feature of the structure is that the tower has a very high altitude and an original device of the upper floor, which emphasizes its defensive function. In the original version, the structure had only two floors, strong stone walls (their thickness is more than one meter), a watchtower and gun loopholes. Over time, the third floor was built, made of wood in a typical Turkish style. It was called "chardak" (čardak).
Under the tower there is a basement, which was used as an animal shelter, and also served as a repository for cereals and food supplies. On the first floor of the building there is a kitchen, a little higher - auxiliary rooms, and the upper floors are residential. On the sides of the Rejepagicha Tower, you can see the protruding wooden structures, called "erkeri" (erkeri), they store the stocks of bread, arrange Turkish baths (hamam) and organize waste disposal. For the ascent to the upper floors, two staircases were provided - the inner and outer steps. However, it is worth noting that the exterior was allowed to be used only in the daytime, so that at night the tower was impregnable.
How to get there?
The town of Plav, in which the Rejepagic Tower is located, is located far enough from the Adriatic coast and the main resorts of the country . But thanks to the well-developed highway system in Montenegro, you can easily reach your destination on a personal or rented car . You can also take a taxi or go with a tour group by bus.