Tjentište isn’t rich in historical sources that tell of its genesis, but is nevertheless rich in historical content, as well as in the many natural wonders that surround it or that are located not too far away. If by chance you find yourself travelling toward Foča, and you start going towards Tjentište, you will be greeted by the untaimed natural beauty of the Sutjeska River valley. The scenery looks like an image from a postcard, truly marvelous.
Does the scenery we have described to you look like the setting of the last bloody battle of World War Two in Europe. The story of this bloodshed will take us back 77 years.
What exactly happened in 1947?
Case Black, or the Battle on the Sutjeska, lasted between 15th May and 16th June, 1943. The event was retold by almost every history book in Yugoslavia. The battle was a joint-effort of the Axis powers with the aim of destroying and utterly decimating the Yugoslav Partisans near the Sutjeska in south-east Bosnia. The Partisans’ victory in this battle proved to be a turning-point for Yugoslavia in World War Two.
The German Army was around 127 thousand strong, and with considerable armed vehicles ready for battle. Their army consisted of Germans, Italians, Bulgarians, the units from NDH (Croatia), and around 300 airplanes. On the opposing side stood the Partisans, with around 18 thousand soldiers. After rallying their troops, the Germans started their offense, using their advantageous position at the onset of the battle to surround and isolate the Partisans from the Durmitor region, between the Tara and Piva rivers, in the mountain region of Montenegro, forcing them into intense gunfire in the difficult stone terrain.
The Yugoslav Partisan Army managed to escape their position, even though they were facing an enemy that had six times more manpower, but with around 7 thousand casualties.
The battle itself inspired many to write songs and poems about it. One of the most famous songs that tell the story of this battle is “Sivi Sokole“, which depicts the heroic death of Commander Sava Kovačević, who led the Partisans during the afore-mentioned escape. In 1973, a movie was made about the event which is available on Youtube.
We can safely say that Case Black made its way into the minds of the people of Bosnia, as well as into its culture as a whole. It was, and still is, a symbol of a grand battle that took many, but left the ones still living with a duty never to let the story of the famed battle be forgotten.
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.
