OLYMPIC MOUNTAIN
Bjelašnica, along with Jahorina and Igman, is a favorite mountain in Bosnia and Herzegovina for winter sports enthusiasts. The Olympic Center Bjelašnica-Igman, just 25 kilometers from Sarajevo, encompasses three skiing areas: Babin Do on Bjelašnica, with slopes that rank among the best in Europe, and Veliko and Malo polje (Big and Small Field) on Igman.
Emira Azganović
The Babin Do Ski Resort features eight ski slopes and five children’s slopes, three chairlifts, and five ski lifts that lead to the summit of Bjelašnica at 2,067 meters. Skiers can enjoy 14,000 meters of alpine skiing trails on Bjelašnica and 2,000 meters on Igman. Positioned amidst a pine forest, Veliko polje on Igman is renowned for its excellent air quality, considered one of the best in Europe.
Nevertheless, Igman and Bjelašnica are not only attractive in winter — hikers and mountain bikers enthusiasts love them just as much, as do people who simply enjoy taking a stroll in the fresh air.
Those who seek a more challenging alternative to traditional hiking can try climbing the via ferrata on Bjelašnica. The new via ferrata, Kotlovi, spans a vertical distance of 150 meters, providing breathtaking views of the Visočica, Igman, and Trebević peaks.
UMOLJANI VILLAGE
LEGEND OF THE DRAGON
The flourishing of rural and eco-tourism has brought mountain villages into the spotlight on tourist maps. Among them, the village of Umoljani on the Bjelašnica Mountain particularly stands out. With its tasty cuisine, fresh air, legends, stećci, and an intriguing wooden mosque, it attracts tourists, day trip lovers, and hikers.
Studeni potok (the Cold Stream) behind the village, seen from afar, resembles a snake. Legend has it that a dragon emerged from the Rakitnica canyon to attack the villagers. Winding its body, it left behind a stream, reminiscent of a snake’s movement through the sand. The residents of Umoljani fled to Posiljak Hill and prayed for the dragon to petrify. Their prayers were answered, and the dragon turned into a rock, which still stands on the hill today.
The shortest way to the stream from Umoljani leads through the pastoral settlement of Gradina. The stream culminates in the Rakitnica Canyon, forming a several hundred meters high waterfall, accessible only to the most daring and agile. A hiking trail from Umoljani to Lukomir runs alongside the Rakitnica Canyon.
Dženad Džino
Within the village stands a wooden mosque, recognized as a national monument in 2008. It features a stone minaret built without a pulpit — a balcony from which the muezzin calls to prayer.
Six locations near the village of Umoljani host protected national monuments, including remnants of an old church, 11 old tombstones, and the Dolovi necropolis with 53 stećci tombstones. This is another one of the 20 medieval stećci necropolises from our country listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Find this QR code on the location:
