Holiday apartment in Vlasenica between Javor and history

Vlasenica is a hilly mountain town at an altitude of around 688 metres and lies on the northern slopes of the Javor Mountains at approximately 680 metres. To the west is the Sokolina mountain range, reaching 1,314 metres. To the north and east, gently rolling uplands extend with deciduous and coniferous forests, pastures, arable land, rivers and streams.

Landscape and nature

Along the main road through the municipality of Vlasenica, Javor and its unspoilt landscapes offer picturesque viewpoints with far-reaching vistas. One of the distinctive landscapes is Ružnavoda, a mountain plateau at around 1,130 metres, characterised mainly by coniferous forests, green meadows and cold, clean water. Around 250 kilometres of hiking trails are marked in the Vlasenica area. The Studeni Jadar, Zeleni Jadar, Tišča and Drinjača rivers are also part of the local natural environment; their fish stocks attract certain groups of visitors for fishing.

Hiking and winter sports

The annual Pohod u Pjenovcu has been organised since 1972 by the Acer mountaineering and ecology association from Vlasenica. The 15-kilometre route leads through the landscapes of the Javor Mountains near Vlasenica. The Igrišta ski centre has a red ski run measuring 1,900 metres and a blue ski run measuring 2,000 metres. Javorova poljana in the Igrišta ski centre is suitable for beginners and the youngest skiers.

History and culture

Vlasenica is considered one of the oldest settlements in Republika Srpska, as the town was mentioned as early as the 13th century under the name Birač. The remains of the medieval town of Veledin lie around 10 kilometres southwest of today’s town centre, near the villages of Grabovica, Djurici and Misari. On Rudište Hill in Cikot, on the right bank of the Drinjača towards Vlasenica, visible traces of a mining settlement have been preserved.

One of the distinctive buildings is the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Vlasenica. It was completed in 1889 and built from reddish mountain stone from the Romanija region. Another historic memorial site is the Ruzina Voda monument, featuring a memorial fountain made of pink limestone. The fountain commemorates two battles that took place on 23 September 1914 and 15 June 1942.

Cultural life also displays several different facets. The Vlasenica Cultural Centre has a cinema hall with 365 seats, as well as smaller halls for cultural programmes, seminars, presentations and workshops. The Vlasenica National Library is open to readers; its reading room is suitable for literary evenings and other events. A folklore group also operates under the auspices of Prosvjeta and takes part in folklore events in Serbia and abroad.

Routes and connections

Vlasenica is located on the Belgrade–Sarajevo and Novi Sad–Sarajevo main roads. It is also a road junction connecting to Han Pijesak, Šekovići, Tuzla and Zvornik. The area’s importance as a transport region dates back to Roman times: even then, important roads ran from Dubrovnik towards Srebrenica, Zvornik and Sirmium, today’s Sremska Mitrovica.

Further destinations:Zidine, Karanovac, Mišići, Tjentište, Dera, Rudo Polje, Bijeljina, Ograde

To the main travel overview: Republika Srpska.