Historic Places And Monuments
Mile, near Visoko, was the residence of Bosnian kings and the royal place where the King Tvrtko Kotromanić was crowned. In 1189 Kulin Ban signed the trade agreement between Bosnia and the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) in Mile. This is the oldest preserved Bosnian document written in bosančica (Cyrillic) known as the Charter of Kulin Ban.
Kraljeva Sutjeska was the residence of King Stjepan Tomaš, King Tvrtko Kotromanić and Queen Katarina, also known as the last Bosnian queen. Katarina is still mourned here and in Central Bosnia, where Catholic women wear black scarves in memory of the Queen. The early 14th century Venetian style Monastery, which stands to be a guardian of B&H history, comprises of a church, a museum and a library with a great collection of valuable paintings, an incunabula collection (31 books dating pre-15th century) and an ethnographic collection as well.
Bobovac Fortress built in the 14th century as a royal fortress is located a 30-minute ride from Kraljeva Sutjeska. At the site three Bosnian kings are buried: Stjepan Ostoja, Tvrtko II Kotromanić and Stjepan Tomaš.
Kozovgrad, the Fortress of Fojnica, was the last asylum of Queen Katarina on her escape from Bobovac to Dubrovnik, and then to Rome. The legend says that the Queen ordered to have the horses’ shoes nailed on in reverse so to mislead the enemies. Traces of horseshoes leading towards Zenica are still visible in Kozovgrad. The Monastery in Fojnica dates back to the 14th century and its museum and library have over forty thousand titles and a significant incunabula collection. Ahdnama, the oath decree, which provided independence and religious freedom to Bosnian Franciscans as declared by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in the 16th century, is still kept at the museum.
Drvar is famous for a victory of Tito and his brave partisans over an elite unit of German paratroopers. The partisans were hiding out in a cave called Tito Cave which has become a famous tourist attraction. The area is surrounded by untouched wildlife and moving northwest you will come across beautiful waterfalls in the town of Martin Brod and an impressive 15th century Rmanj Orthodox Monastery.
Gradačac Fortress is one of the most precious cultural and historical gems of Gradačac. Captain Husein Gradaščević fought for Bosnian autonomy during the Ottoman rule and his headquarters remained as one of the most important legacies of the time. The Fortress is open to visitors. Indulge your senses at the top floor restaurant serving a mouthwatering traditional dish called Gradačačka kutija.
Jablanica – Battle on the Neretva River is a monument dedicated to the strategic battle designed by Tito and the Partisans to defeat Axis powers and save over 4.000 wounded soldiers in 1943. This battle, known as the Fourth Enemy Offensive, was later adapted to a famous film (1969, directed by Veljko Bulajić). The famous stunt included demolition of four bridges and break from the direction of the Neretva River. The enemy troops were expecting the Partisans to come from the direction of the Vrbas River, and were defeated by weakened and much less armed Partisan soldiers. Next to the demolished bridge, there is also a Museum dedicated to the Battle on the Neretva River.
One of the great attractions is Tito’s Shelter (Titov bunker), venue of the Contemporary Art D-o ARK Underground. It was built as one of the strongest shelters in the ex-Yugoslavia for Tito, his family and associates in case of the nuclear war. This strong labyrinth-like edifice has more than a hundred rooms and was designed and equipped to provide accommodation to 350 people for a period of six months. Nowadays, this spectacular structure still surprises with state-of-the-art technology and is open to visits on appointment. If you are interested in visiting this site, and other WWII monuments, contact us at info@beinbosnia.com.
Monument of the Revolution in Kozara is a memorial to the victims of the Second World War from this region. It is located at Mrakovica, the highest mountain peak of the Kozara Mt., within the Kozara National Park. The 34-meter high monument was designed by Dušan Džamonja in 1972, who through interplay of light and dark, created the symbols of many lives lost in the war, and victory and life as well. The monument is built in concrete and stainless steel. Next to the monument, there is a permanent display of the Battle on Kozara, as well as the memorial wall with the names of 9,921 Yugoslav partisans killed in battles on Kozara.
The Old Bridge in Mostar (Stari most) is a 16th-century masterpiece designed by the famous Turkish architect Mimar Sinan. The bridge was destroyed on November 9th, 1993 during the 1992-1995 war. It was rebuilt in 2004, and once again stands as one of the world’s most famous monuments. The single-arched stone bridge spans over the Neretva River and connects the two parts of the old town. It extends in the bridge towers, Halebija Tower on the northeast and Tara Tower on the southwest.
The bridge is 30 meters long, and 24 meters high and hosts centuries old festival – Diving-Off the Old Bridge event.
Stećci, the ancient tombstones, often referred to as “stone sleepers,” are one of the oldest witnesses of the B&H history. Throughout the country you can come across a single stećak or collections of monoliths, often decorated with engraved ancient symbols all connected to earth, family, sun, moon, tribal warriors, dance and praise to the gods. For example, some of the most interesting tombstones are found in Radimlja, near Stolac, the country’s largest necropolis.
Srebrenica today resembles a monument to all victims of the 1992 – 1995 war. It is a memorial visited by people from all over the world especially on July 11, dedicated to over 8000 people killed.
Srebrenik nests in the valley of the Tinja River, near Tuzla. This is a medieval town first mentioned in 1333. It was a residence of the royal family Kotromanić. It is now a well preserved fortress hosting the Artistic Colony called “Srebrenik – the City of Art”.
Memorial Complex at Sutjeska is a masterpiece of Miodrag Živković that dots the perfect landscape of the Sutjeska National Park. The monument consists of two symmetrical fractal walls made of bleak grey cement (in the shape of the wings) reaching the height of 19 meters. It is dedicated to partisans and lives lost in the battles for liberation. This monument too symbolizes life and victory over the fascists’ forces. Next to the memorial, stands the Museum-Memorial House designed by Ranko Radović in 1974. Walls of the museum are inscribed in names of the fallen partisans.
Tešanj was put under the spotlight with the Gold Medal to the local mineral water won at the Berkley Springs Mineral Water Contest in the United States and as a setting for an Oscar Nominated film “Gori Vatra” (Pjer Žalica’s 2003 film “Fuse”). Tešanj also has a spectacular medieval fortress, a 17th c. clock tower, one of the four still operating clock towers in the country and a town museum displaying cultural, historical and natural heritage of the city.
Nobel Prize winner for Literature Ivo Andrić’s famous book the ‘Bridge Over the Drina’ takes place in the town of Višegrad. The town is a home to a spectacular Mehmed-Pasha Sokolović’s Bridge, which was built during the Ottoman period. This 16th century monument was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List on June 28th, 2007.
Zavidovići is located in the valley of the Krivaja River great for fishing, kayaking and rafting. In and around Zavidovići you will find mysterious stone spheres dating back 20.000 BC rarely found elsewhere (in addition to Zavidovići, they are to be found only in Costa Rica and Mexico). When in Zavidovići, you can visit Nature Park Tajan with amazing canyons and caves, as well as excellent trails for biking, hiking and climbing.
Once a King Stjepan Tomaš’ Residence, the medieval fortress “Vranduk” is now a renovated heritage with a tiny ethnographic museum collection, a small café, Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s Mosque and a nearby old mill, located outside the urban area of Zenica in the hills above the Bosna River.