- Address: Sarači 77, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- Phone: +387 33 236-119;
- Working hours: from 8:00 to 22:15.
On important roads in any country are built holiday homes, restaurants, motels, caravanserais - in different languages, these institutions are called in different ways, but the essence remains the same - a place for travelers to rest. Bosnia and Herzegovina was no exception, especially on its territory was the Great Silk Road. Moricha Khan was the place where tired travelers and traders could find shelter, starting from the end of the 16th century. Today it is one of the popular attractions of Sarajevo , and the only surviving caravansary in this region.
A bit of history
Morich Khan was built in 1551 in the center of Sarajevo in accordance with all the rules of the caravanserais of that time: a large enclosed square courtyard with warehouses for goods and stables on the ground floor, and comfortable rooms decorated with long wooden beams on the second . By the standards of the Middle Ages, this hotel was large - in 44 rooms could accommodate 300 people, and the stable was designed for 70 horses. The manager's room was just above the gate so that he could see who was coming and who was leaving the hotel.
Initially, this caravan-sara was called Haji Beshir-khan - by the name of the owner of the tavern of that time. But in the first half of the 19th century the hotel changed its name to Moricha Khan in honor of its tenants Mustafa-aga Morich and his son Ibrahim-ag Morich. Although some sources claim that the hotel was named after the Morich brothers, who actively participated in the liberation movement against the Ottoman Empire in 1747-1757.
Morich Khan was so big by the standards of the time that it served as a meeting place, and many merchants, when they arrived with the goods, sold it right there, and left with money, leaving their cargo to the buyer. And it is not surprising that it was here on July 29, 1878, the People's Assembly of the inhabitants of Sarajevo, protesting against the Austro-Hungarian occupation, took place.
During his centuries-old history, Morich-khan burned several times, but each time was rebuilt almost in its original form. After the last fire, which happened in December 1957, it was completely reconstructed in 1971-1974, at the same time all the rooms on the first floor were decorated with quotes from the poems of Omar Khayyam.
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The Modern Morich Khan
Today, Morich Khan is open to visitors, both tourists and local residents, its premises are actively used by businessmen, which corresponds to the original purpose of this place. The caravanserai numbers serve various companies for activities in the field of accounting and financial transactions, as well as for law firms. In addition, there are several religious associations.
If you went inside and were confused, then we will try to clarify what and where is located. So. The right part of the yard and the nearby storage facilities are occupied by the Persian carpets shop "Isfahan", in which tourists can buy original Persian carpets and other original handmade products. The northern part of the ground floor with the adjacent territory uses the national restaurant "Damla", which offers Bosnian cuisine, serves as a place for weddings, and also during the month Ramadan organizes Iftar - an evening meal after sunset. It will be pleasant to try national dishes here . And if you just want to drink a cup of coffee or tea in the shade of spreading trees, then you should visit Divan Cafe, located on the left side of the yard.
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In addition, in Moricha-khan you can find a travel agency BISS-tours, known for its well-organized bus and individual tours. And for the tourist, Morich Khan can become a starting point for further research of the country with qualified guides.
How to find?
Morich Khan is located in Sarajevo , not far from the Ferhadiya Street, within the Bashcharshy area . It is open daily from 7.00 to 22.00. If you are interested in some specific information (suddenly you want to rent several rooms for rent), you can specify it by phone +387 33 236 119