You don’t count as having been to Sarajevo if you haven’t set aside at least half a day to visit the site called Vrelo Bosne. It is one of the most popular picnic spots near Sarajevo…
Vrelo Bosne is a protected monument of nature, cultivated and arranged, so that it provides the visitor with great comfort and invigoration, which is very pleasant, especially in summer.
How to get to Vrelo Bosne?
Vrelo Bosne is about 18 km from the center of Sarajevo and is located at the foot of the Igman mountain. It will take you less than half an hour’s drive from the city to get there. In addition to driving, you can also travel this distance by bus or taxi.
When you get out of the vehicle, you are at the beginning of Aleja Platana. It was planted at the end of the 19th century and is said to consist of 726 sycamore trees.
Velika Aleja is a green tunnel where, in addition to plane trees, chestnut leaves also provide shade. It also helps to make summer here very pleasant.
You can cross the alley, which is a true concentrate of oxygen and phenomenal shade, in two ways. On foot or by these picturesque carriages, which have been transporting visitors since 1895.
The first carriage arrived with the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand.
Of course, the carriage option is completely inaccessible for people in wheelchairs, so we sharpened our soles and started walking. The track is flat and ideal for other rollerbladers and cyclists.
That’s not so bad, because it’s rare that I can walk through such dense trees and enjoy the natural beauty. The only thing that can be a difficulty is that the trail is 3.5 km long, and that’s a lot on the way back.
That’s why, when we arrive at our destination, we need to rest and relax a lot, because it’s a long way back to the car.
On one part of the path, you can see very beautiful villas, whose appearance suggests that they are from the time of the Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here in the summer months was the center of social life in Sarajevo.
But before the people of Beč, the ancient Romans, as well as the Ottomans, who built spas at these springs, were aware of the local beauty.
This little stream follows us all this time as a hint of what is to come.
Park
As we approach the location, the temperature is getting more pleasant. We arrive at the park.
Vrelo Bosna consists of several smaller islands, connected by wooden bridges.
It is a park, interspersed with lakes and streams, between which there are numerous springs and islands.
It covers an area of 603 hectares and is a habitat for various animal species. Especially trout, ducks, swans and squirrels.
The Bosna River, 270 km long, passes through Bosnia and Herzegovina throughout. Due to the small average depth of 1 to 3 m, it is not navigable and rather boring, but that is why it does not leave anyone indifferent at this spring.
Here, all the streams and rivers flow into each other, creating a network of watercourses of crystal clear and arctic cold water, which cuts through meadows and forests.
They say that you can drink water from all sources, so it’s no wonder that the people of Sarajevo have excellent beer. The water is unusually cold, as the people say, “your teeth will tingle from the cold”.
The source of the Bosnia river is decorated with beautiful lakes, where fish and swans swim. The islands are covered with greenery.
The complex is landscaped, fenced, the path is paved and passable for people in wheelchairs. You can’t go to every corner of this big park, but this is enough for you to enjoy.
If you get tired, there are plenty of benches to sit on. If you get caught in the rain, there are covered rest areas, children’s playgrounds, and things like this can be found.
In the central part there is a restaurant where you can eat fresh trout, caught on the spot.
If you only want to have a snack, there is boiled corn here.
Conclusion
Vrelo Bosna is open to all visitors every day from 09:00 to 21:00. It is the favorite excursion site of the locals and is visited by almost 200,000 tourists annually. I was one of them. I can confirm that you should come and get acquainted with these natural beauties, which are located so close to Sarajevo.
Have you been to Vrelo Bosne?
Did I miss something?
Traveled and enjoyed,
Marko Veličković
