THE ROYAL TOWN
Enhad Goralija
On the banks of the Vrbas and Pliva rivers stands one of the most beautiful towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina — a town of light, stone, and water, known as the seat of the Bosnian kings, a town with 30 national monuments, and an open-air museum — the town of Jajce.
By many qualities, it is a world-class place and yet uniquely ours — Bosnian-Herzegovinian. Warm, green, embraced by water and stone, cradled among the hills. It was the royal seat of the last Bosnian king, Stjepan Tomašević, and the birthplace of the great poet Nikola Šop, in whose honor the town hosts Šopovi dani na Plivi (Šop’s Days on the Pliva River).
This is the town where the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was “conceived”, during the Second Session of the AVNOJ (Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia). The museum where history unfolded is now a preserved national monument. In front of it stands a well-kept steam locomotive on four wheels that once pulled a train, including Josip Broz Tito’s personal car. It, too, is a national monument and a fantastic backdrop for photography.
Enhad Goralija
Jajce proudly boasts one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world, located right in the town center. Every year in August, the Pliva Waterfall becomes a stage where the bravest divers compete for the title of the best among the best. Standing beneath this 20-meter-high waterfall, admiring its natural beauty and listening to the sound of the rushing water is an experience you don’t want to miss!
In addition to taking fantastic photos in front of the waterfall, you can also witness this wonder of the water from a bird’s-eye perspective by soaring above it on an incredible zip line. You’ll descend along the cable that stretches over the Vrbas Canyon to an observation point across from the Pliva Waterfall; and then from that spot over the waterfall to the Town Park. The view of this magnificent waterfall can be appreciated from all sides, but those who have descended the zipline say that the view from there is priceless.
PLIVA LAKES
If you have an adventurous spirit, a love for sports, and wish to spend an active vacation — the swimming areas at the Pliva Lakes are the ideal place for you. These are the largest natural lakes in the country, located just five kilometers from Jajce. The most famous swimming spot among them is Brana Beach, composed of three cascades that calm the green river and create swimming pools with warm and tranquil water.
On the sedimentary dam between the Malo (Small) and Veliko (Large) lakes, there is a collection of wooden watermills with high ethnographic value, known as mlinčići. Once upon a time, all of them used to grind wheat, while today, only one mill continues this tradition. As one of the most iconic symbols of the town on two rivers, they are featured on postcards and tourist souvenirs. The Pliva Lakes, along with this watermill complex, were declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2009.
Sandro Nuhanovic
Exploring the Jajce fortress provides a unique vantage point to appreciate the town with the most stunning panoramic view. This view also reveals some buildings situated a bit farther from the town center, including the Orthodox Church of the Holy Mother of God and the Franciscan Monastery, which preserves the remnants of the last Bosnian king, Stjepan Tomašević.
The town has a vibrant cultural scene. The most famous cultural event is Pozorišne igre (the Theatre Games), an international theater festival with a decades-long tradition.
Find this QR code on the location:
