Dragovic Monastery

Dragovic Monastery is an Orthodox monastery founded by a group of Serbian monks dating back to the 13th century. The monastery has changed location several times during its history, finally ending up on a hill next to the lake Peruca.

About this building

The monastery was founded in 1395 by a group of Serbian monks who came from Bosnia. During the first centuries of its life, it was abandoned on several occasions due to war or famine. In 1777 the monks decided to rebuild the monastery in a new location, due to the instability of the land where it had been built centuries before. The monastery was finally rebuilt once again in 1959, as the previous building disappeared under the waters of the artificial lake Peruća following the installation of a hydroelectric power station.

Key Features

  • Architecture
  • Monuments

Other nearby buildings

Church of St. Nicholas

The Serbian Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas was built in 1618. A bell tower was added in 1801. The church has been a target during the world wars and the Yugoslav Civil War. The building was also gravely damaged in 1972 after Croatian nationalists set fire to it during the Croatian Spring crisis. The building was restored two years later, but Croatian nationalists planted several explosives around the church between 1990 and 1991, which damaged the building again. From 2015 onwards, the church underwent several renovations: new doors, new windows, and a metal staircase to the bell tower were added. The facade has also been restored. The Serbian Orthodox community celebrated the 400th anniversary of the church in 2018.

Wikimedia Commons/Anto

Lala Paša Mosque

Lala Paša Mosque is a domed mosque built in 1577-78. It has a sundial, the work of the famous muezzin, travel writer and astronomer Hadži-Jusuf Livnjak. Next to the mosque is a spacious harem with rarely preserved tombstones. In 2003, in addition to the renovated and restored mosque, an abdesthana (small closed room for ablutions) was built.