Sarajevo -Bjelašnica - Lukomir

Brajlović Restaurant

Vrelo Bosne

Vrelo Bosne The pearl of the Bosna river with invigorating air, pleasant atmosphere and a picturesque landscape. Vrelo Bosne, in the municipality of Ilidža, is one of the country’s popular natural landmarks and provides a quiet escape from an otherwise busy city life. A Roman Bridge is located not far from Vrelo Bosne on the Bosna river in the Ilidža municipality, which was built sometime between 1530 and 1550 from the original Roman stones and ruins of the bridge that stood there during the Roman period used to connect the Romans with the village of Aquae Sulphurae at the time. Ilidža is also known to have been an archaeological site dating 2400–2000BC. The spring water at Vrelo Bosne is drinkable, however not recommended. On a typical year more than 60,000 tourists visit the park. The park is usually entered by foot or, for a reasonable price, by horse-carriage via the 3 kilometer straight main avenue (Velika Aleja) leading into it. The avenue itself contains traditional buildings from the Austro-Hungarian-era offering a peek into the luxuries of the past. The paths and roads inside the park are ideal for walks and bicycle riding and give the visitors the opportunity to take a closer look at the bubbling streams and waterfalls. Outdoor cafés and restaurants are available offering drinks and food but opening times vary from season to season. Typical animals are ducks and swans among others. During the Bosnian War the park was not maintained and trees were chopped and used for heating by the local citizens. In 2000 the park was restored to its former look by local youths led by an international ecological organization. Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team is known to hold their training sessions at the Vrelo Bosne park. Team also stays at near by Hotel Hercegovina.

Roman bridge

The Roman Bridge (Rimski Most) in Ilidza spans the Bosna River and was built by Ottoman architects in the first half of the 16th century using the stones from the remains of the Roman settlement Aquae Sulphurae. It is one of the most beautiful preserved bridges in the BiH capital of Sarajevo and its surroundings. It is one of four old stone bridges in the area of ​​Sarajevo that have been preserved to date. He carried the name of the Roman bridge, but it was not built by the Romans. It was built by the Ottomans at the beginning of the 16th century. The Turks still called him the Ćuprija at the source of the Bosna River. He knows very little about him now and is under the protection of the BiH national commission. This is one of the four preserved bridges, It is known that in this area, after the conquest of Illyricum, in the first century of our era, the Romans formed a colony. “With the arrival of the Ottomans in these areas, they revive the thermal baths and the hamam and use the spa in today’s Ilidza area, According to him, it is called Roman by the fact that the builders or mimers of this bridge used the remnants of late antique monuments from this area. “The Roman Bridge was built, assuming we do not know the exact date, the writer Katrin Zenoga cites in 1530. It is highly probable that it was made in those years, not to rank it after 1550. It is mentioned again that the Ottoman rulers, the great vizier of Rustem-pasha Opukovic, originated from these areas, is being rebuilt. It is stated that he or Gazi Ali Pasha was renamed him in the 16th century, “It was made of late antique monuments and chalky stone. The length of the bridge is about 40 meters and the width is 4.5 meters. It consists of seven arches of which the center is the largest. He is a true representative of Ottoman architecture. It was built in the 16th century and was most likely to have suffered some damage, so there was a need to repair and reconstruct a bit. Later, it is assumed that less corrections were made, protective works, “By many historians, the Roman empire continues and continues with the Ottomans, because at that time the rule of taking over the title was maintained and the empire’s management continued. They did not have the problem of calling something Roman, and he himself called the Roman Bridge for the late-century stone monuments that were embellished in it, The Roman bridge has been known since the Roman period as an excursion site.

Igman road

The Mt. Igman plateau lies 24 km to the southwest of Sarajevo, and there are several settlements that lie at the base of the mountain – Ilidža, Hrasnica, Vojkovići, Hadžići.... Igman's highest point, Crni Vrh, is 1,510 meters above sea level, but is one of the lowest compared to Sarajevo’s other surrounding mountains. Yet, the lowest temperature in the region – an incredible -43oC (-45oC) – was recorded on Igman and it contains an exceptionally high concentration of good air, which is why this mountain is considered a fresh air haven and an ideal place for rest and recreation. On clear days, the view from the top offers fantastic views which can even take in Montenegro and the Adriatic Sea! During the XIV Winter Olympic Games, Igman, along with Jahorina and Bjelašnica, was one of the main Olympic venues, as this is where the Nordic Ski events were held. Today, Igman is one of the most popular excursion destinations around Sarajevo. During spring, summer and autumn it attracts those who love mountaineering and biking, and in winter it is an ideal spot for lovers of winter sports and activities. Malo Polje on Mt. Igman has a two-seater lift, and the futsal court, bocce field, volleyball court, ping pong tables and children’s fun park are open during the summer months. The tubing (sledding) lanes work year round. The restaurant, Malo Polje, is situated below the ski jump ramp, with the amphitheater near the ski lifts. You can play soccer, volleyball and basketball at Igman’s Veliko Polje, and there are also many marked mountain bike trails. Igman is a mountain with exceptionally high ozone concentrations, so is it is a sort of an air spa that is suitable for sport crew trainings. Together with Bjelašnica, it has app. 50km of ski trails for Nordic running and 160 marked trails for mountain biking. Its Malo polje is placed in a quiet valley, thus being an ideal location for children skiing schools. It offers 5 kid ski-lifts plus a two-seat chairlifts for bigger and more experienced skiers. Malo polje’s attraction are ski jumping hills where Olympic gold in 1984 was won by Matti Nykänen and Jens Weißflog. Ski jumping hills have not been operational ever since being severely damaged by 1990s war atrocities. The same happened to the bobsled trail in Trebević, another of the Sarajevo’s Olympic mountains.

Vrelo Bosne 2

Vrelo bosne 3

Brailović

Čudo neviđeno....

Short cut moderate

The Hut Malinovac

Hrasnički stan

Mount Igman Mousqe

Ruins hotel Igman

The Hotel Igman was constructed in preparation for the 1984 Winter Olympics, which were hosted by the nearby city of Sarajevo. The six-storey, 162-room property was totally destroyed when its fate became intertwined with events that took place during the Bosnian War (1992-1995).

Ravna vala

Ravna Vala is a primeval forest located on mountains Igman and Bjelašnica in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Babin Do

Babin Do is the largest ski area around Sarajevo and is located on the Olympic Mountain, Bjelašnica, about 30 kilometers from the center of town. This popular ski center is a favorite spot for both professional skiers and amateurs and has eight ski lanes, each with its own lift, some of which run all the way to the top of Bjelašnica, at 2,067 meters above sea level. You can have fun at Babin Do all day long during the winter period and parents can relax and do some skiing while the youngsters stay on at Baby Ski Park, where they can have their first ski lessons with professional instructors. After a busy day in the snow, visitors can catch their breath at one of the cafes or restaurants near the ski area. For those who are more courageous, there's night skiing, which will be organized on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. What's more, at Babin Do you can try out some extreme sports throughout the year, including paragliding, which is gaining in popularity.

Bjelašnica

Bjelašnica is a mountain in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is found directly to the southwest of Sarajevo, bordering Mt. Igman. Bjelašnica's tallest peak, by which the whole mountain group got its name, rises to an elevation of 2067 meters (6782 feet). Other notable peaks are Krvavac (2061 m), Mali Vlahinja (2055 m), and Hranisava (1964 m). The Bjelašnica range is bordered by the Rakitnica in the south, the Neretva in the west, Mt Igman in the north-east and Mt Ivan in the north-west. Only at 20 minutes distance of Sarajevo, it is a popular tourist attraction for hiking and skiing. Bjelašnica has been, in certain areas, the site of extensive combat during the 1992-’95 Siege of Sarajevo and particular areas pose a high mine risk. There are numerous trails set up and maintained by local mountain clubs that lead to the bald peaks higher up. The mountain is also popular with mountain bikers and has become recently a frequent base for paragliders.

Vrelo Stubo

Road 2 Umoljan

Road 2 Mostar, Boračko Lake, Konjic, Nertetva river

Studenca konak

Lukomir

Lukomir – the last Bosnian village The village of Lukomir is situated along the southern ridge of Bjelašnica and, at 1,495 m, it’s the highest inhabited settlement in BiH and the only one above 1,300 m. The village lies within Konjic Municipality and it can be reached from either Konjic (ca 30 km) or Sarajevo (45 km). A drive along the road from the center of Sarajevo, which passes over Babin Do to Bjelašnica, takes about 90 minutes. Most of the road is paved and the final stretch of 11 km is a windy gravel road that takes you through a barren karst region, as well as flowery meadows. Lukomir can also be reached via two mountain paths that lead from the village of Umoljani on Bjelašnica. A living ethnological museum Lukomir is like a living ethnological museum, where the customs of nomadic tribes and Dinaric highlanders are still practiced. It’s an important part of BiH’s historical, cultural and architectural legacy and provides a unique “heritage atmosphere”. Also, the stećci scattered about the village indicate that it was already inhabited by the 14th and 15th centuries. The residents of Lukomir come from Podveležje, an arid plateau in Herzegovina. The semi-nomadic tribe of shepherds would move here during the summers with their large flocks in search of water that could be found on Bjelašnica’s rich pastures. Most of them settled permanently in Rakitnica Canyon and then later in what is now Lukomir. With the establishment of a seasonal settlement, which would later grow into a proper village, most of the members of the Čomor and Masleša families relocated and they are now the only ones in Lukomir. At first there was only Donji (lower) Lukomir, which was about 3 km from the current village. At the beginning of the 20th century, Gornji (upper) Lukomir was mentioned as a summer village where residents of Donji Lukomir would bring their flocks to graze. Offering a better connection to the rest of the world, they had moved to Gornji Lukomir by 1950. The village is unique for stone houses that are covered in oak, fir and beech shingles. The homes have a place for a fire in the center and the stone walls have small windows. The residents built homes that were suitable to the special terrain and inhospitable mountain climate. Life on a seasonal basis For a few years now, the residents have been living here on a seasonal basis. From May to October the villagers work the land and tend their flocks, but they leave Lukomir during the winter because the meter-high snowfalls make it inaccessible. Of the 50 homes, 21 are inhabited during the summer and up to 4,000 sheep can graze in the surrounding meadows when the weather is good. They are kept in stone enclosures at night and guarded by Bosnian sheep dogs. The village has all of the necessary amenities – telephone, electricity, water and a sewage system. There is also a cemetery and the residents built a mosque in 1969, which was renovated in 2014. A vantage point above the village provides a view of the Visočica Mountain chain, which drops 800 m to meet Rakitnica Canyon, the deepest canyon in Europe after Tara River Canyon. Lukomir is now a top rural tourism destination. There are a few places where visitors can enjoy some hospitality and traditional specialties and they can also buy items made by the hard-working villagers as mementos of time spent in Bosnia’s last village.

Lukomir wiev point

Kanyon Rakitnica

Rakitnica, Europe's most unexplored canyon From the crystal-clear waters and dizzying heights to the breath-taking canyons & marvellous peaks, Bosnia & Herzegovina is a home of some of the best canyoning spots in Europe. Let’s assume that you are a passionate adventurer and looking for gorge walking at its best. In that case, you must discover Rakitnica, Europe’s most unexplored canyon. If you feel like testing your gorge walking skills, why not making Rakitnica Canyon your next destination? After all, high-thrills adventures are an excellent way to get to know the country of the untouched wilderness and heavenly beautiful sceneries. Perfect fusion of adrenaline and natural beauty Canyoning is an extreme sport that is suitable for well-prepared nature lovers only. Considered as an extreme adventure, it offers a perfect fusion of adrenaline and natural beauty. Usually, it is performed in remote and rugged regions, where water has carved out impressive patterns over millions of years. Instead of using just one activity, in this case, you will be trekking, climbing swimming, diving, jumping into the water and descending down the ropes. Gorge walking will make you feel the rush of adrenaline and experience nature in a totally new way. Second deepest canyon in Europe Located in the southern region of the country and stretched between Mt Bjelašnica and Mt Visočica, the Rakitnica River (the main tributary of the divine Neretva River) had created a spectacular 26 km long canyon. Only 20 km from the town of Konjic and 80 km from Sarajevo, blessed with turquoise water and lush greenery, this is one of the most beautiful canyons that you will ever see. Dropping up to the amazing 800 m, the Rakitnica Canyon is the second deepest canyon in Europe as well. As if this was not enough, one of the hiking trails will guide you to the village of Lukomir (1,500 m) the highest and the most isolated permanent settlement in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Koliba Umoljani