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Karađoz-bay's mosque in Mostar was built in 965 AH (1557/58 CE). It is the endowment of the greatest benefactor of Mostar and Herzegovina - Mehmed-bay, also known as Karađoz-bay, originally from the village of Potoci, near Mostar. Karađoz-bay occupied a prominent position in the Ottoman state administration during the second half of the 16th century. Within the same mosque complex, the same benefactor had a madrasa (institution of higher education) built, that began its work some time before 1570. In addition to these, Karađoz-bay made many other important endowments in Mostar and other parts of Hercegovina.
The mosque was built further to the design of famous Ottoman architect Koça Mimar Sinan. It falls under the category of domed mosques with a porch situated under three small domes. It is among a small number of mosques that have preserved the original paintings. Painted layers often overlap, ranging from the original arabesques to the late ottoman baroque.
Karađoz-bay's mosque is the most important Ottoman mosque in Mostar and Herzegovina. Ottoman travel writer Evliya Çelebi wrote: Hadži-Mehmed-bay's mosque is very spacious, artistic, and bright. (Çelebi, 1996, pg. 473)
Since its construction until the present day, the mosque has continuously been in use in its original purpose. It benefited from some conservation interventions, although it has never been repaired or restored in detail.
During the last war, from 1992 to 1995, the Karđoz-bay's mosque suffered severe destruction. It was repaired in 2002/2004 as part of the project of reconstruction of the Old Bridge and the old town of Mostar. (Source: Commission to Preserve the National Monuments http://old.kons.gov.ba/main.php?id_struct=6&lang=1&action=view&id=2424)
