EXPLORING VRTAČE AND VISITING VRTAČE

Bosanski Petrovac is situated in the western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, between the Osječenica, Klekovača, and Grmeč mountains, at the intersection of the Bihać–Jajce–Knin road.

If you visit this region, make sure to stop by Vrtoče, a place that conceals a combination of natural wonders and traces of human history.

Ammar Selmanović

Today, there are approximately two hundred residents living here. Nevertheless, the town is vibrant, thanks to the ethno villages where travelers and wanderers find shelter or refreshment, along with researchers drawn to this area by caves with intriguing names — from Mala (Little) to Avdija’s and Gaćina’s pits. If you toss a stone into the opening of the Mala pit, the echo will reverberate for up to 30 seconds.

However, the most fascinating phenomenon of this region is the sinkholes or vrtače. Science tells us they can be bowl-shaped, saucer-shaped, or funnel-shaped, and we maintain they should be on every “What to see in Bosnia and Herzegovina” list.

Kapljuh village is full of these circular hollows with steep sides, formed in tectonically fractured areas due to the dissolution of limestone and dolomite. Their diameter ranges from a few meters to over a hundred, and they can be as deep as ten meters.

The sinkholes around the Bosanski Petrovac are summed up in one word: spectacular. The only thing missing is a consensus on whether they are more beautiful in summer or winter.

Find this QR code on the location: