Spreča

GRAČANICA

Small Town

IN THE VALLEY OF THE SPREČA RIVER of Duke Radivoj, one of Kontromanić

Author: Semra Hodžić

IN THE ENCHANTING ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDING ZVIJEZDA (STAR) MOUNTAIN, JUST OUTSIDE OF VAREŠ, WHAT SEEMS LIKE AN ORDINARY BOSNIAN VILLAGE OF OĆEVIJA AT FIRST GLANCE IS SETTLED. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU SPOT “MEJDANI” OR BLACKSMITHS’

WORKSHOPS, IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS THE LAST PLACE IN EUROPE WHERE IRON IS MANUFACTURED USING THE IRON MANUFACTURE METHOD DATING BACK TO THE TIMES

PRIOR TO THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, I.E. JUST LIKE IN THE MIDDLE AGES, IRON IS SMELTED AND THEN SMITHED USING WATER ENERGY.

KOTROMANIĆ DYNASTY’S SEAT

A small town nestled in the lower valley of the Spreča River is said to have originated in the Middle Ages at the time when the town of Soko was built on a steep rock above Sokoluša Brook in the southern foothills of Mount Trebava. The medieval town of Soko lies six kilometres away from the centre of present day Gračanica, in a village bearing the same name, which used to be the largest settlement in the county, while the whole area was known for an iron ore mine. Ruins of a mediewhat it was like to be the seat of the Kontomanić dynasty which would later become a mining village and then a town. The earliest known historical reference to Soko dates from 19 June 1449—it was the town

val castle tell stories to the wind of dynasty’s most influential figures in the Medieval Bosnian state, and the brother of the Bosnian King Stjepan Tomaš. Soko was designated as a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Old Mosque in close proximity to Soko, which archaeologists believe was originally a feudal court, was also designated as a national monument.

ROYAL DECREE ISSUED BY SULEIMAN THE MAGNIFICENT

Gračanica was known as the place where diligent tradesmen and craftsmen had gathered since ancient times, which was confirmed by a royal decree issued by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. In 1548, during the Ottoman Empire, Gračanica had all the features of a basic urban, economic and cultural unit so it fulfilled the requirements to officially become a kasaba—a town neighbourhood. After receiving a document confirming this status, the town saw a rapid economic development in terms of service, craft and trade shops, and in 1572 it became the administrative seat of the kadiluk—a local administrative subdivision of the Ottoman empire, which was the territory of a kadi, or judge—comprising Gradačac, Sokol, Modriča, Orašje and Srebrenik counties. These historical facts speak of a continuous economic development and the entrepreneurial spirit of this municipality.

In Mara Popović’s House, members of the Association “Čračaničko keranje”, women who nurture the old traditional handcrafts—thread lace or crochet—busily crochet. The most popular item they craft is the “Srebrenica Flower” which is nowadays commonly worn on the lapel.

NINE NATIONAL MONUMENTS

Nine national monuments are a great source of pride in Gračanica. One of them is the town’s most iconic symbol which adorns the town centre—the seventeenth century, 27-metre high Clock Tower. Since the tower is leaning to one side, it is also goes by the name of “the Pisa of Gračanica”. Anyone who happens to visit Gračanica is in awe of an old Bosnian house situated in the Varoš neighbourhood which is also known as Mara Popović’s House dating back to the 19th century. Even though visitors associate it with the best developed type of traditional Bosnian house, those more familiar with this architectural style will tell you that it is “an aghan country house”. Other monuments worth visiting while in Gračanica are Mula Dedino turbe (tomb) dating back to the second half of the 15th century, Osman-kapetanova medresa drasah), Konak building or the City Hall, and within a 300-meter radius three gorgeous places of worship: Ahmed Pasha Mosque or the White Mosque which dates back to the 17th century, an Orthodox temple called the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, and a Catholic church called the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

HEALING WATERS

In addition to the rich cultural and historic heritage, Gračanica boasts healing thermal and mineral waters reaching 37 degrees Celsius at their springs, and 26 to 22 degrees Celsius in pools. “Terme” spa complex is within 500 metres of the Doboj-Tuzla road. Pools in this spa have been used for treatment of various medical conditions since the 19th century and they are the reason why Gračanica is a well-known tourist destination featuring spa and recreational facilities. Pool water is also used to obtain natural gas which is used in various industries.

VIS—THE MOST POPULAR PICNIC SPOT

When the people of Gračanica go to nature, they typically frequent Vis, a picnic spot situated above Babići Village eight kilometres away from town, on the highest point of Mount Trebava. Intact nature is drawing a growing number of visitors seeking to enjoy fresh air, hunt wild animals or simply take advantage of the views from Vis and Sijedi krš rock reaching beyond three different mountains—Vlašić, Konjuh and Majevica—and the lowlands of Posavina, and all the way to the town of Brčko and Sava River. Concrete dugouts built by the former Yugoslav People’s Army and two large artificial lakes in Šemunica forest attract particular attention. In warm weather, you can play futsal and sand volleyball in Vis too.

SAMIR ZAHIROVIĆ

TRI GODINE NAJUSPJEŠNIJI FOTOGRAF IZ BIH

TRI GODINE ZAREDOM NAJUSPJEŠNIJI FOTOGRAF IZ BOSNE I HERCEGOVINE NA INTERNACIONALNIM IZLOŽBAMA I PRVI GOOGLE TRUSTED PHOTOGRAPHER U NAŠOJ DRŽAVI JE SAMIR ZAHIROVIĆ IZ TUZLE.

UMJETNIČKO ZVANJE EFIAP

Asocijacija za umjetničku fotografiju BiH svake godine pravi listu najuspješnijih klubova, pojedinaca i radova. Samirova fotografija i ove i pretprošle godine proglašena je najboljom, dok je prošle godine bila na drugom mjestu. U ovoj godini okitio se i međunarodnim umjetničkim zvanjem EFIAP/b (bronze) za doprinos umjetničkoj fotografiji, odnosno počasnom nagradom za izvrsnost Međunarodnog saveza fotografske umjetnosti (FIAP). Iako je 2020. godina mnogima bila teška, Samiru je donijela još mnogo priznanja. Bio je i učesnik najvećeg festivala u Evropi - Bursa Photo Festa u Turskoj. Osvojio je i bronzanu medalju na tradicionalnom trijenalu pozorišne fotografije u okviru nagradnog konkursa Sterijinog pozorja u Novom sadu za njemu dragu fotografiju iz predstave „Crkva Bosanska“.

IZLAGAO NA SVIH ŠEST KONTINENATA

Ljubav prema fotografiji otkrio je još u osnovnoj školi, u dobi od 12 godina. Na početku karijere najviše je radio na polju fotoreportaže i ratne fotografije, a danas njegov umjetSamir Zahirović je član Fotografskog saveza Bosne i Hercegovine (AUFBiH), Foto-kino kluba Tuzla i Art grupe Lucido iz Lukavca.

nički izričaj pokriva mnoge teme, žanrove i tehnike, ali uglavnom se fokusira na portrete i arhitekturu. Kao rezultat njegovih prvih radova, 1995. godine u Aachenu je organizirao svoju prvu samostalnu izložbu „Tuzla - Grad u Evropi“. Na njoj je tada izložena i jedna od njegovih prvih novinarskih fotografija, crno-bijela fotografija na kojoj su prve izbjeglice iz Srebrenice koje je UNHCR dovezao u Tuzlu, a koja se našla i na plakatu te izložbe. Njegova druga izložba „Lica Shiraza“ prikazana je 2017. godine, nakon čega su ubrzo uslijedile još dvije: „Portreti“ i „Pogledi“. Petu izložbu fotografija “Retrospektiva” održao je u Ljubljani, u galeriji Šolt, u januaru 2019. U mei đuvremenu, pokazao je svoj rad na više od 250 zajedničkih izložbi širom svijeta na svih 6 kontinenata.

PRVI GOOGLE TRUSTED PHOTOGRAPHER

Za svoj umjetnički rad nagrađen je s više od 250 različitih nagrada, 45 zlatnih, 16 srebrenih, 18 bronzanih medalja i 160 počasnih priznanja na izložbama FIAP-a. Na nacionalnim izložbama FOTO BiH 10 puta je osvajač prvog mjesta. Asocijacija za umjetničku fotografiju BiH dodijelila mu je zvanje kandidata Majstora fotografije, kao i naslov Instruktor fotografije. Posljednjih godina specijalizirao se za panoramske fotografije od 360 ° i tako je postao prvi Google Trusted Photographer u Bosni i Hercegovini.

SAMIR ZAHIROVIĆ

The Most Successful Photographer from B&H for Three Years in a Row

SAMIR ZAHIROVIĆ FROM TUZLA HAS BEEN THE MOST

SUCCESSFUL PHOTOGRAPHER FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW AND HE IS THE FIRST GOOGLE TRUSTED PHOTOGRAPHER IN OUR COUNTRY.

EFIAP ARTISTIC DISTINCTION

Every year, Photographic Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina makes a list of the most successful photography clubs, photographers and photographs. Samir’s photo was proclaimed as the best photo of 2020 and 2018, whereas it was the runner up in 2019. This year, he also received the FIAP/b (bronze) international artistic recognition for his contribution to the artistic, i.e. the “Excellence for Services Rendered” distinction awarded by the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP). Moreover, he partook in the largest international photography festival—the Bursa Photo Fest in Turkey. He also won the bronze medal at the international triennial of theatre photography for one of his favourite photos he had taken during the production of the “Bosnian Church” as part of an award competition organised by Sterijino pozorje in Novi Sad.

EXHIBITED ON ALL THE SIX CONTINENTS

graphy in elementary school at the age of 12. Early on in his career his main focus was on photographic reporting and war photography, portraits and architecture more specifically. He exhibited his early work in the “Tuzla—A City in Europe” exhibition, his first solo exhibition organised in Aachen

Samir Zahirović is a member of the Photographic Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AUFBiH), Tuzla Photocinema Club, and Lucido Art Group from Lukavac.

in 1995. That is when one of his first photojournalism stories, the black-and-white photo depicting the first Srebrenica refugees that were moved out of Srebrenica to Tuzla by the UNHCR, which was also featured in the exhibition poster, was put on display. His second exhibition, “Faces of Shiraz” was held in 2017 and was soon followed by two more exhibitions, “Portraits” and “Views”. He had his fifth exhibition, “The Retrospective”, at the Šolt Gallery in Ljubljana in January 2019. Meanwhile, his phonographs were displayed in more than 250 joint exhibitions around the world on all the six continents.

THE FIRST GOOGLE TRUSTED PHOTOGRAPHER

He received more than 250 different awards for his artistic work, 45 gold, 16 silver, and 18 bronze medals as well as 160 honorary mentions in FIAP exhibitions. He placed first 10 times in national FOTO BiH exhibitions. The honorary title of Master of Photography Candidate and the title of Photography Instructor were conferred on him by the Photographic Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In recent years, he specialised in 360° panoramic photography and became the first Google Trusted Photographer in Bosnia and Herzegovina.