Embraceof the Magical Una

Bihać

Author: Semra Hodžić

/ Photo: TZ Bihać the Pearl of Krajina in the Embrace

of the Magical Una

ALONG THE BANKS OF ONE OF THE PRETTIEST BOSNIAN-HERZEGOVINIAN RIVERS, THE EMERALDCOLORED UNA RIVER, THE CITY OF BIHAĆ EMERGED A LONG TIME AGO, AS THE PEARL OF KRAJINA AND NORTHWESTERN BOSNIA; THE RESIDENTS OF KRAJINA, WHO ARE KNOWN FOR BEING CORDIAL AND HOSPITABLE, HAVE BEEN PROUD OF BIHAĆ FOR CENTURIES

LEGEND ABOUT THE FORMATION OF THE CITY

The legend about Krajina has been told for generations; namely that Bika, one of three sisters, the daughters of affluent Krajina resident Dobrica, ordered for it to be built, while her sisters had cities built in other places in the picturesque Bihać basin. The legend says that the city was named Bikće after Bika, and that it was later renamed to Bišće, and then finally it got the name that it bears to this day. The first written records about the city were found in the charter of Austro-Croatian king Bela IV from 1260, stating that it was a „city that already existed in that place“. Because its history dates back so far into the past, many peoples left their traces in it, which can be seen through the cultural and historical monuments that this city is full of. Whether you have decided to come for a visit because of its fascinating natural beauty or to see its sights, the time you spend here will be very fulfilled.

WELCOME TO THE CITY OF BIHAĆ

Bihać is a charming city surrounded by incredible nature, where during the summer season tourists from all over the world come to enjoy themselves.The Tourism Association has its role in the whole process. It is our wish that in the years to come guests recognize us as a city of friendly people where summer is – a summer of positive energy and smiling people, and the city itself during that time is one of the prettiest postcards of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Whether you enjoy the rich program of Bihaćko Ljeto (Summer in Bihać) or you just enjoy going for a stroll listening to the sounds of nature, we wish you a warm welcome and for you to take only the fondest memories from our city.

Armin Amidžić, director of the

Tourism Association of Bihać

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Most of the cultural and historical riches of Bihać are protected as national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among them, the most significant and best-known is the Kapetanova Kula (Captain’s Tower), which once served as a prison, and also the Fethija Mosque, the only European Islamic place of worship built in the Gothic style. Next to Kapetanova Kula, there is also the well-known Kameno Turbe (Stone Turbeh); for years, there have been numerous legends about how the Kameno Turbe came to be and who is buried there. Next to the turbeh, there is also the tower of the former Church of St. Anthony. Bihać is a city that is proud of its anti-fascist past to this day, and the memory of the fight against fascism is preserved by the Muzej Prvog Zasjedanja AVNOJ-a (Museum of the First Session of the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia). It should not be forgotten that this area is also known for several old towns, some of which have become tourist attractions. We would single out the medieval town of Sokolac,

with a location that brings a new view of nature and the city itself, and today, thanks to the newly-established walkway, you can reach it on foot from the center of the city in just half an hour. There is also the medieval Ostrožac, which consists of the medieval fort from the Otto-

man period, the castle of Lothar von Berks and a collection of sculptures.

UNA – A TREAT FOR FANS OF ADRENALINE

Apart from cultural and historical sites, Bihać can offer a great number of sporting and recreational activities. The Una National Park is quite special, as a natural reserve on the Una River; its waterfalls and rapids are a real treat for fans of adrenaline and extreme sports. Una is known for rafting, and anyone who has tried it will tell you that rafting on the Una is like nothing else, an amazing experience. The National Park also attracts fans of fly fishing, and the surrounding nature has been attracting more and more bicycle tourists, for whom, as we have found out, there are new trails that are currently being prepared. You will certainly not be indifferent to the magic of nature that you can see in this national park – like Štrbački Buk, which you will not be able to forget, and you should also not miss out on the medieval fortresses, the Martin Brod waterfalls that are exceptionally beautiful and protected by the UNESCO, Japod

SUMMER IN BIHAĆ

Apart from the natural beauty and adrenaline-filled activities that the City of Bihać offers, which are enjoyed by tourists from all over the world during the summer tourist season, the rich cultural and entertainment program should not be missed, as it is current in this city throughout most of the year, and especially in summer. There is a great network of organizations which make Bihaćko Ljeto a real tourist product, and to set the bar higher and higher each year, the Association of Tourism, which was recently formed in this city, has been working on the organization and branding of activities for the entire summer, and also on some new things through the project „Calendar of Events of Bihaćko Ljeto“, where in May you can already see what the residents of Bihać and their guests can expect when they visit this city during the summer months.

Islands, Čardaklije, Natur, and the many other wonderful places that the National Park is full of. In order to complete your experience, we recommend that you spend several days in Bihać. One thing is for sure, when you are leaving Bihać, you will feel enriched with another wonderful experience and you will fall in love with the charm of this beautiful city on the emerald Una.

Grad s manirima evropskog gospodina i šarmom autentičnog Bosanca

Autor: Semra Hodžić

NA RASKRŠĆU PUTEVA KOJI VODE OD BIHAĆA PREMA VELIKOJ KLADUŠI, U SRCU PONOSNE KRAJINE, JOŠ U ANTIČKOM DOBU SMJESTIO SE GRAD CAZIN.

Svakog onog ko se prvi put nađe u ovom izuzetno lijepom gradu na sjeverozapadu Bosne i Hercegovine oduševit će živopisni pejzaži, ukusno uređene gradske javne površine, čistoća gradskih ulica i svakako, srdačni i gostoljubivi ljudi.

HISTORIJA GRADA

O njegovom postojanju kroz historiju svjedoče ostaci prahistorijskog i srednjovjekovnog naslijeđa. Ostaci - stare tvrđave Ostrošca, Pećigrada, Radetine kule, Stijene i Tršca domii- niraju gradom i njegovom okolinom i nalaze se u sklopu zanimljive turističke ponude, no najljepši i najimpresivniji je zamak Ostrožac, izgrađen u neogotskome stilu, ujedno i jedna od glavnih turističkih atrakcija Unsko-sanskog kantona. Po svojim dimenzijama predstavlja jedan od većih utvrđenih gradova u BiH kojeg odlikuje očuvanost svih faza razvoja počev od srednjovjekovnog odbrambenog grada, preko znatno proširenog grada u osmanskom periodu, pa do grada s čisto rezidencijalnim karakterom kakav je bio u periodu austrougarske uprave. Godine 2013. proglašen je nacionalnim spomenikom Bosne i Hercegovine i daje poseban značaj razvoju turizma u ovom gradu. Mehmed-beg Beširević je kao posljednji kapetan Ostrošca grad prodao tadašnjem gradonačelniku Bihaća, grofu Lotharu van Berksu koji je tada započeo restauraciju grada, u kojem je u periodu između 1900. i 1902. godine sagradio i raskošni dvorac u neogotičkom stilu sa velikim brojem prostorija, salona za prijem i apartmana, koji još uvijek plijeni pažnju svojom ljepotom. Ovo je ujedno i jedini dvorac u Bosni i Hercegovini.

OSTROŽAC ŽIVI I DANAS

Posjeta Ostrošcu neizostavna je pri posjeti Cazinu – zbog njega se čak dolazi maksuz. Kako bi poboljšali turističku ponudu, Cazinjani su na području Starog grada osigurali toalete i vodu, te uredili šetnice. Posjetioci mogu besplatno koristiti wi-fi i počastiti se nekim originalnim poklonom iz suvenirnice. Oni koji su sanjali vjenčanje iz bajke, u dvorcu iz srednjeg vijeka, na Ostrošcu mogu svake subote organizirati vjenčanje, ali i samo photoshooting, uz prethodnu najavu Kulturnom centru Cazin.

Dvorac je i svojevrsni dom umjetnosti. U maju svake godine bude domaćin prepoznatljive manifestacije iz svijeta kiparstva koja je ušla u šestu deceniju postojanja - Kolonije skulptora “Ostrožac“, te tokom godine čuva vrijednu zbirku skulptura. Područje Starog grada idealno je za održavanje različitih događaja – poput koncerata, sajmova i festivala. Magičnu noć je na tvrđavi već u par navrata priredio i najpopularniji pjevač u regionu Dino Merlin, a po

KRAJIŠKA ZMIJA

Ljubitelji automobilskih sportova ne propuštaju svakog ljeta važan datum – onaj na koji se održava međunarodna brdska autotrka Great Pri Cazin, poznati sportski događaj u BiH i Evropi. Priliku da se provozaju izazovnom „krajiškom zmijom“ mnogi ne žele propustiti. Trka se tradicionalno održava od 1999. godine i predstavlja značajan segment u turističkoj ponudi grada, a važna je i za šampionat BiH.

sebnu notu dvorcu zbog raskošnog osvjetljenja i ceremonije dala je i lanjska modna revija bh. kreatora Adnana Hajrulahovića Haada, „Bosanska kraljica Elizabeta“.

KULTURNO-HISTORIJSKI SPOMENICI

U gotovo samom centru Cazina smještena je i kuća Nurije Pozj- derca, narodnog heroja iz Drugog svjetskog rata. Jedna od najstarijih autohtonih bosanskih kuća na ovom području proglašena je nacionalnim spomenikom Bosne i Hercegovine. Nadomak kuće Pozderaca nalazi se i prelijepa medresa koja nosi ime najpoznatijeg alima ovog područja i nekadašnjeg reisul-uleme Džemaludina ef. Čauševića. Zgrada stare medrese, smještena u staroj čaršiji, sagrađena je 1867. godine najprije od drveta, ali je nekoliko godina kasnije spaljena dolaskom Austrougara, a zatim obnovljena i ponovo sagrađena od kamena 1890. godine. Nova zgrada Medrese napravljena je krajem devedesetih godina ovog stoljeća s obzirom da je nešto ranije ponovo pokrenut rad ove srednjoškolske ustanove u Cazinu.

NACIONALNI PARK UNA

Prirodne ljepote i velika ulaganja u sportsko-rekreacijske kapacitete rezultiraju svake godine posjetom velikog broja gostiju i turista koji uživaju u bogatoj ponudi avanturističkih sportova: nezaobilaznom raftingu, paraglajdingu, biciklizmu u specifičnom prirodnom okruženju, outdoor turizmu...

Za posjetu Cazinu zaista ima mnogo razloga. Nekada je bio među najnerazvijenijim općinama u bivšoj Jugoslaviji, a danas možete posmatrati pravo privredno čudo, naročito u poslovnoj zoni Ratkovac. Projekat je to budućnosti, smješten na 50 hektara unutar gradskog područja, sa dobrom transportnom povezanosti i u blizini odličnih polaznih tački za aktivnosti prema tržištu centralne Evrope, što garantuje da će Ratkovac postati najpovoljnija poslovna zona u okruženju.

Cazin je najveći proizvođač mlijeka i mliječnih proizvoda, ali i meda – i to od pitomog kestena kojim obiluju cazinske šume. Kestenov med prvi je brendiran proizvod iz Bosne i Hercegovine sa međunarodnom oznakom kojom se garantuje njegova originalnost, a koji je osvojio svijet. Puno je razloga da posjetite Cazin. U ovom gradu ćete istinski i još više zavoljeti Bosnu i Hercegovinu jer on izgleda i diše upravo onako kako bi trebala cijela naša domovina.

Grad Cazin Telefon/Telephone:

+387 (0)37 515 300

A City with Manners of a European Gentleman and the Charm of an Authentic Bosnian

Author: Semra Hodžić

THE CITY OF CAZIN HAS BEEN SITUATED AT THE CROSSROADS THAT LEAD FROM BIHAĆ TOWARDS VELIKA KLADUŠA, IN THE HEART OF THE PROUD KRAJINA, SINCE ANCIENT TIMES

Anyone who finds themselves in this exceptionally pretty city in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time will be thrilled by the picturesque landscapes, tastefully designed urban public spaces, the cleanliness of the city streets and certainly by the cordial and hospitable people.

HISTORY OF THE CITY

Its existence throughout history can be seen through the remains of prehistoric and medieval heritage. The remains of the old fortress of Ostrožac, Pećigrad, Radetina Kula, Stijena and Tržac dominate the city and its surroundings, and they are part of an interesting tourist offer, but the prettiest and most impressive is the Ostrožac Castle/Fortress, built in the neo-Gothic style; it is one of the main tourist attractions of the Una-Sana Canton. Its dimensions make it one of the larger fortified towns in B&H, characterized by different phases of development, starting from a medieval fortified town, to a much larger town in the Ottoman period, to a town of a purely residential character, as it was during Austro-Hungarian rule. In 2013, it was declared a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, giving it more significance in the development of tourism in this city. As the last captain, Mehmed Bey Beširević sold the city of Ostrožac to the mayor of Bihać at the time, count Lothar van Berks, who then began the restoration of the city, where during 1900 and 1902, he built a luxurious castle in the neo-Gothic style with a large number of rooms, a reception lounge and an apartment, which still gets a lot of attention today because of its beauty. This is also the only castle in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

OSTROŽAC LIVES ON

You must visit Ostrožac when you visit Cazin – some people even come just to see Ostrožac. In order to improve the tourist offer, the residents of Old Town Cazin have ensured that there are public toilets and water available, and they have maintained the walkways. Visitors can use the free wi-fi and treat themselves to an original gift from the souvenir shop. For those who dream of a fairy tale wedding in a medieval castle, Ostrožac hosts weddings each Saturday, or even just a photo shoot, with a prior booking at the Cultural Center of Cazin.

The castle is also a house of art in itself. In May each year, it is host to a recognizable event in the world of sculptures, which has entered its

THE KRAJINA „SNAKE“

sixth decade of existence – the Colony of Sculptors “Ostrožac“, and during the year, it is home to a valuable collection of sculptures. The Old Town area is ideal for hosting various events – such as concerts, fairs and festivals. The most popular singer in the region, Dino Merlin, has performed here several times, giving visitors a magical night at the fortress, and last year’s show of B&H fashion designer Adnan Hajrulahović Haad made the castle even more special, due to the luxurious lighting and ceremony. Each May, the Ethno Festival of Traditional Music is also held at Ostrožac, and in August, a part of the program of the Krajina Film Festival is held there.

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

In the very center of Cazin, there is the house of Nurija Pozderac, a national hero from World War II. As one of the oldest autochthonous Bosnian houses in this region, it was declared a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Near the Pozderac family house, there is a beautiful madrasa, which bears the name of the most well-known religious teacher in this region and the former mufti Džemaludin Čaušević. The building of the old madrasa, situated in the out of wood, but several years later, it was burned down with the arrival of the Austro-Hungarians, and then restored and rebuilt out of stone in 1890. The new building of the Madrasa was constructed in the 90s, considering that sometime earlier this secondary schooling institution in Cazin resumed its work.

UNA NATIONAL PARK

Each year, due to the natural beauty and great investment in sports and recreational capacities, a large number of guests and tourists visit and enjoy the rich offer of adventure sports: the unmissable rafting, paragliding, cycling in specific natural surroundings, outdoor tourism... Fans of auto racing do not miss an important date each summer – the date when the international mountain auto race Cazin Great Prix is held, a well-known sporting event in B&H and Europe. Many do not wish to miss a ride on the attractive „Krajina snake“. The race has been held traditionally since 1999, and represents a significant segment in the tourist offer of the city, and it is also important for the B&H

old čaršija, was built in 1867, initially

championship.

There are many reasons to visit Cazin. It used to be among the least developed municipalities in former Yugoslavia, and today you can see a real economic miracle, particularly in the business zone of Ratkovac. It is a project of the future, located on 50 hectares within the city, with good transport connections, and it is situated near excellent starting points for activities leading to the market of central Europe, which guarantees that Ratkovac will become the most cost-effective business zone in the region. Cazin is the greatest producer of milk and dairy products, as well as honey – made from chestnuts, which the Cazin forests are full of. Chestnut honey is the first branded product from Bosnia and Herzegovina with an international label that guarantees its authenticity, that has conquered the world. There are a lot of reasons to visit Cazin. In this city, you will truly grow to love Bosnia and Herzegovina even more, as it looks and breathes exactly like our entire homeland should.