Holiday apartment in Brdo: Lakes, cycling routes and Balkana

Brdo is located near Lake Balkana, whose landscape comprises water, mountains and regional experiences. In the surrounding area, the Balkan Tourist and Recreational Center includes two oval artificial lakes at an altitude of 750 meters. Lake Balkana consists of a small lake and a large lake; the lakes are fed by the mountain streams Cjepalo and Skakavac, as well as by springs below the Great Lake. In summer, they are suitable for swimming.

Nature and activities

The lakes are a distinctive feature of the area around Brdo, while the slopes of Mount Lisina offer opportunities for walking and hiking. The area can also be explored on two wheels at different scales: the 88-kilometer Mrkonjić Region–Balkana–Stričići–Krupa cycling route, with 1,300 meters of elevation gain, runs through the area around Brdo. In the wider regional area around Brdo, the “Green Tour” association has also recorded more than 300 kilometers of cycling paths on paved and unpaved roads.

The seasonal variety also includes the TRC Balkana grounds, which feature a prepared ski slope in the area around Brdo. Thus, alongside water and trails, winter activities are also available in the geographical vicinity of the village. The various landscape elements remain clearly distinguishable: the lakes at the Balkan Tourist and Recreational Center, the slopes of Lisina and the cycling connections through the wider regional area.

Culture and crafts

A scythe-mowing festival is held annually at Balkana in the area around Brdo. It honors the art of scythe mowing and the best scythe mowers. In the wider regional area, blacksmith workshops in Mrkonjić Grad continue to produce traditional handmade tools, including the “Varcarka” scythe. This makes a living tradition and inherited craftsmanship part of the cultural points of reference around Brdo.

At the memorial site in the area around Brdo, there is a monument. A memorial service was held there for ten fallen soldiers of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) and four civilians; flowers were also laid. This site complements the landscape and craft-related themes with a place explicitly dedicated to remembrance.

Brdo and Balkana

Brdo is a weekend settlement near Lake Balkana, where overnight accommodation is available. A main road runs through the settlement and is used by thousands of people on foot in summer as they head toward Balkana. The connection between the settlement and Balkana is therefore evident both in the weekend settlement’s location near the lake and in the summer use of the road running through Brdo.

For further planning in the same broader area, you can also view Modriča, Sarajevo, Laktaši, Donje Vardište, Laminci Sređani, Doboj, Slatina and Srebrenica.

For the broader travel overview: Republika Srpska.