The name “Jajce“ is first mentioned in 1396 in the title of Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinića, who called himself “Conte de Jajce“ (Count of Jajce). There are numerous legends about the origin of the town’s name. Some say that it was sitauted on an egg-shaped stone, which gave the town its name (Jajce literally translates as “little egg“). There is another traditional legend that say that the masons who constructed the city used eggs to make the mortar in the walls stronger. Every legend has its own charm, and it is our right to chose the one we ourselves think is the most true.
The most popular origin story among the natives of the town is that Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić ordered the town to be based on the Naples Castello del Uovo (literally translates as “Egg Castle“). Hrvoje Vukčić was a vassal of the King of Naples, which is why he chose this particular castle to build his own after. It’s safe to say that Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić gave the town a spirit which has been built upon and developed over time.
The fortresses of the town whisper to you their interesting, vivid and rich stories. The most important part of the town is hidden deep inside its historical district. The last King of Bosnia, Stjepan Tomašević, was crowned in Jajce in the Church of Saint Mary, the church whose 23,15m belltower is the only preserved medieval belltower in the Balkan region. Today, years after the event, the people of the city are keeping the bones of this king safe in a Franciscan monastery. The Ottoman Empire has also left a deep impression on the town, most famously through the converting of the aforementioned church into a mosque, which was called The Mosque of Sultan-Sulejman.
Jajce has another mystic secret hidden not too far from the Church of Saint Mary. The Medvjed Kula, according to stories, used to be inhabited by bears, and it was used as a place for prisoners and rebels to be imprisoned in. It was built in the 15th century, and its walls are 6-meters thick.
The most recent historical event that took place in Jajce, as well as one that is very significant for the people of Bosnia, takes us back to November 29th and 30th 1943, when, at the second meeting of AVNOJ, the National Comittee for the Liberation of Yugoslavia, and the exiled government and King Peter II were forbidden from returning to the country before the end of the war.
The town of Jajce tell a story with its walls, legends, its tower, as well as its overall uniqueness. The royal town of Jajce is worth a visit if you want to step back in time, if only for a brief period of time
photo credit: Samed Žužić - fb page
Sarajevo or Sheher, as it used to be called is located in the heart of the Balkan, so it is an ideal starting point for those who want to visit this region. Due to the strategic and geografical position of the city, Sarajevo was occupied by many rulers: the Ottomans, the Austro-Hungarian empire and the Germans during the World War II. Sarajevo is popularly called the European Jerusalem. Today, in its new-old attire, it welcomes every well-meaning traveler and is a real treat for both the eyes and the soul of all who wish to visit Sarajevo.
Mostar is a beautiful city on the river Neretva. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located 80 km southwest of the capital Sarajevo. It has 105,797 inhabitants. The largest city in Herzegovina, with a total area of 1,175 km2, was named after the guardians of bridges. Mostar can be described as a junction of northern, western and eastern Herzegovina. Mostar was once an important center of textile industry, tobacco and mining (bauxite). Mostar stretches in three valleys: in the north (Bijelo Polje), in the center Mostarska kotlina (where the city itself is located) and in the south Bišće Polje. Velež and Prenj are mountains located near Mostar and Bunica, Jasenica, Buna and Neretva (whose beauties we will get to know in detail), are the rivers that flow through Mostar. The Old Bridge is the most important sight of Mostar known for the jumps that have been organized here every year.
The name “Jajce“ is first mentioned in 1396 in the title of Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinića, who called himself “Conte de Jajce“ (Count of Jajce). There are numerous legends about the origin of the town’s name. Some say that it was sitauted on an egg-shaped stone, which gave the town its name (Jajce literally translates as “little egg“). There is another traditional legend that say that the masons who constructed the city used eggs to make the mortar in the walls stronger. Every legend has its own charm, and it is our right to chose the one we ourselves think is the most true. The most popular origin story among the natives of the town is that Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić ordered the town to be based on the Naples Castello del Uovo (literally translates as “Egg Castle“).
Some would call this town Tjentište, but many more would call the area The Valley of Heroes. The heroism of the area’s inhabitants has been talked of by many, and so, an old saying goes: Where a man falls, a hero arises. Tjentište is a historican and archeological locality in Bosnia and Herzegovina located in the east, not far from the city of Foča. It is a valley-like area on the Sutjeska river that measures around three kilometers in length and about a kilometer in width. The valley is situated around 540 meters above sea level. It is located between the Prosječnica and Ćurevska Chines and is part of the Sutjeska National Park. Tjentište isn’t rich in historical sources that tell of its genesis, but is nevertheless rich in historical content, as well as in the many natural wonders that surround it or that are located not too far away.
Trebinje is a city of 35,000 inhabitants located in the very south of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city is located in the valley of the river Trebisnjica, on the border between Bosnia, Montenegro and Croatia. Trebinje has a rich cultural and historical heritage, which is why the development of tourism in this area was inevitable. The temperate climate and extremely mild winters due to the proximity to the Adriatic coast also contribute to this. Special attention should be dedicated to the Old Town, the park of the famous poet Jovan Dučić as well as the sixteen hundred-year-old plane trees that adorn the main square.
