…Czech by birth, Sarajevan by choice…
Discover the architectural legacy of Karlo Paržik (Czech: Karel Pařík), a Czech architect whose remarkable influence shaped Sarajevo’s urban landscape. Born in 1857 in Veliš, Czech Kingdom, he became an integral part of Sarajevo for nearly 60 years. Paržik’s commitment to preserving the historical core and advocating for innovative expansions contributed significantly to Sarajevo’s development during Austro-Hungarian rule.
Some of his most notable works include the iconic Zemaljski muzej (National Museum), a stunning neorenaissance masterpiece, and Marijin dvor, a national monument recognized for its neorenaissance and classicist façade. Paržik’s talents extended to designing Sarajevska sinagoga (Sarajevo Synagogue), a unique example of pseudomoorish architecture, and Evangelistička crkva (Evangelical Church), demonstrating his architectural versatility.
Paržik’s creativity also graced Šerijatsko sudačka škola (Sharia Judges School) and the majestic Vijećnica (City Hall), initially conceptualized in the pseudomoorish style and later executed by Aleksander Wittek and Ćiril Iveković. He even envisioned Hotel Evropa, Sarajevo’s first modern hotel, which was resurrected in 2008 after a devastating fire.
Paržik’s diverse portfolio extends to Pravni fakultet (Faculty of Law), crkva sv. Josipa (St. Joseph’s Church), zemaljska banka (Land Bank), and Narodno pozorište Sarajevo (National Theater Sarajevo), among numerous other contributions that have left an indelible mark on the cityscape.