Visiting Bobovac

What a great weekend!

Feeling tired, but filled with pleasure. The weather was great for walking. We started our visit to Bobovac in the Kraljeva Sutjeska village.

There was the great mood among everyone. Perhaps strange, but all participants of our tour were interested to know more about all the places which we have visited on this beautiful day. And as we approached Bobovac there were so many questions to answer. 

First we visited a mosque in the Kraljeva Sutjeska. Not such a big building but it says so much and provides such a wonderful relaxing feeling, just standing nearby. According to legend, it was built by Sultan Mehmed II El-Fatih, in 1463, during the conquest of Bobovac. Mosque was built in three days.

Then we continued towards the monastery. On the road to the monastery we stopped to old Bosnian house. I think that life in this house was very happy, quiet but also with plenty of excitement. I feel like that because the house itself reveals a multitude of feelings, even to this day.

Then we came to monastery.

Peace, respect, indeed it is what is felt.

Near the monastery, there was the summer residence of Bosnian kings called the Palace. Some years ago, in archaeological excavations in that place was found a lot of glass. A glass at that time was very rare. There, among the remains of the church, you should wish for something good. The legend says that kind of wishes will be realised.

With best wishes, we continued toward the goal. Today our goal was to arrive at Bobovac, and enjoy its charms. I will say immediately that we have succeeded. 

On the way to Bobovac we went through the canyon of the river Bukovica. River and its sound,  flowers along the path, people one after the other, easy motion, all that was an excellent introduction to the royal city.

The city was first mentioned in a document dating from 1349. Bobovac was a seat of the rulers of Bosnia. It is the most important and best fortified city of medieval Bosnia. The city was raised by the ban Stephen II Kotromanić. Despite all the kings, I will write something about a queen. 

Queen Katarina Kotromanić. She was the last Bosnian queen. Queen Katarina was born in 1424, as a member of Herceg-Stjepan Kosača family in Hum, today´s Herzegovina. She got married for king Stjepan Tomaš and became the Bosnian Queen. When Bobovac fell into Ottoman hands, she managed to escape to Dubrovnik. Her children Sigismund and Katarina were taken into Ottoman slavery. She died on 25th October 1478 in Rome.

We heard a lot about the Bobovac and its history. I think that facts and everything that happened do matter, but what I find interesting is daily life at that time. While I was there, I imagined people at that time, what kind of clothes they wore, what they ate, what they were interested in. 

Indeed, the idea of one day in the year 1353, among the walls of Bobovac. Imagine!

The Ottoman garrison have abandoned Bobovac in 1626, because of their conquest further to the north, and the city remained deep in the background. 

Since then, many visitors have come to royal city, but every time they continued their conquest. As we have done, too.

We went back to the Kraljeva Sutjeska. And once again the city remained deep in the background.

Lukomir

When my friend said it was like a place on another planet I did not belive. And indeed, it is necessary to go to Lukomir to experience it all. Untouched nature, a wonderful blue sky, cold clear water, landscapes like a fairytale. The people we met up, natives, they are so friendly and traditional dressed up. They are ready to tell all about the way of life in the village. There can be heard a lot of interesting stories.

Lukomir is Bosnia´s highest and most isolated mountain village. This nomad village sits at an altitude of 1498 m on the Bjelašnica mountain. For that reason, access to the village is impossible from the first snows in December until late April, except on foot or by skis. More information about hiking tour you could find here. 

Everything about this village is so charming. I´ll try to show all that beauty through a few random photos. Enjoy! 

Spring afternoon walk

Springtime. The sun. Nature. First flowers. Trees without leaves. The sludge. Lake. Hike. Lot of photos.

We first saw this beautiful violets.

I love violets. Their bionomal name is Viola odorata. Their flowers are usually dark violet or white. The flowers are really aromatic. I was so happy when I saw this white violets. I think that they are less likely to see.

Primula vulgaris. The common name is primrose. The primrose is one of the earliest spring flowers. 

Helleborus, on the next photo, comprise approximately 20 species of herbaceous or evergreen perennial flowering plants. Many species are poisonous.

Vrtlisko lake. It is 5-6 km far from Kakanj. It is a part artificial , part natural lake. The lake was made on the surface burrow after the mineral exploatation. It is about 100 m long and 40 m wide.

First time eating pizza in nature. Fed and happy.