FROM EXTINCT BEARS TO STONE SPHERES

At the crossroads of Zavidovići, Zenica, and Kakanj, you’ll find the Tajan Mountain. Its wider area, covering 50 square kilometers, has been protected as a natural monument since 2008.

Nature here has been imaginative and generous, adorning Tajan with natural stone bridges, draping it in greenery, sketching watercourses, and gifting it with the Mašica Canyon. The lake of the same name, located on the fringes of the protected area, freezes over in winter; and during heavy rains, when Mašica cannot contain all the water, the Suhodol stream emerges.

Canyon caves are the winter hibernation sanctuaries for bears, while Tajan’s forests are home to various wildlife species, as well as endemic flora such as the Bosnian endemic lily and the endangered Gregersen’s spurge. In one cave, along the Suha stream, a new animal species was identified, an amphibian called Cyphonetes tajanus. Additionally, the bones of extinct cave bears, cave hyenas, and red deers, dating back 15,000 years, have been found.

Dado Ruvić

Worth a visit is the Srednja stijena (Middle Cliff) Cave, discovered in 2003 and renowned for its cave formations, especially a stalagmite that resembles a mother with a child.

Tajan is an appealing spot for hiking, biking, and mountaineering. You can also rent speleological equipment for cave exploration on-site.

The pride of Zavidovići, aside from the Krivaja River where rafting races take place, are the mysterious stone spheres whose origin remains a mystery. With more than 20 spheres hidden in the forest, the village of Grab boasts the largest collection in Europe. In the village of Podubravlje, you’ll find a massive sphere weighing around 30 tons.

Find this QR code on the location: