Hotel Sarajevo

Bjelašnica is a mountain in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is found directly to the southwest of Sarajevo, bordering Mt. Igman. Bjelašnica's tallest peak rises to an elevation of 2067 meters (6782 feet).

Only 20 minutes outside of Sarajevo, it is a popular tourist attraction for hiking and skiing. During the 1984 Winter Olympics, Bjelašnica hosted the men's alpine skiing events, where brash Bill Johnson (USA) won the downhill after boldly predicting victory. American twins Phil and Steve Mahre took gold and silver in the slalom at Bjelašnica as well. The base area has several structures dating from that time, including hotels and skiing areas.[1] The women's alpine events were held at Jahorina.

Bjelašnica's base is largely forested, however there are no trees above the 1500 meter (4921') tree line. There are numerous trails set up and maintained by local mountain clubs that lead to the bald peaks higher up. The mountain's name stems from the root bijel, which means "white".

 

Jahorina

Vrelo Bosne (English: Spring of Bosna) is the spring of the River Bosna located in the central region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, southwest of Sarajevo. It is one of the country's top natural landmarks and is one of the most famous scenes of natural beauty in the region.[citation needed]

The park is usually entered by foot or, for a reasonable price, by horse-carriage via the main avenue leading into it. The avenue itself contains traditional buildings from the Austro-Hungarian-era offering a peek into the luxuries of the past.

 

The paths and roads inside the park are ideal for walks and give the visitors the opportunity to take a closer look at the bubbling streams and waterfalls. Outdoor cafés are available offering drinks and snacks but opening times vary from season to season. Typical animals are ducks and swans among others.

 

During the Bosnian War the park was not maintained and trees were chopped and used for heating by the local citizens. In 2000 the park was restored to its former look by local youths led by an international ecological organization.

Baščaršija is Sarajevo's old bazaar and the historical and cultural center of the city. Baščaršija was built in the 15th century when Isa-Beg Isaković founded the town.[1] The word Baščaršija derives from the Turkish language. The word "baš" which is "baş" in Turkish literally means "head", in some contexts however also "primary", "main", "capital" and "čaršija" which is "çarşı" in Turkish means "bazaar" or "market".[2] Due to the large fire in the 19 century, today Baščaršija is twice smaller than it once was.

Baščaršija is located on the north bank of the river Miljacka, in the municipality of Stari Grad. On Baščaršija there are several important historic buildings, such as the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and sahat-kula. Today Baščaršija is the major tourist attraction of Sarajevo.

 

History

Before the arrival of the Ottomans in the largest settlement on Sarajevo field was the village square Tornik, which was located at the crossroad of the roads where today is the Alipašin's mosque. Baščaršija was built in 1462 when Isa-Beg Isaković built the Ishaković han, in addition to its many shops. At that time, most of the inhabitants of Sarajevo lived in the vicinity of the Emperor's Mosque. Therefore, Isa-Beg Isaković built a bridge across the Miljacka to resolve the main Sarajevo suburb and a new economic center of the city, Baščaršija.

Around the main entrance, the Bazerdžani čaršija was formed. To the west, the čaršija Kazaz occurs and on the north the čaršija Sedlar and Saraca (today's the street Sarača). Perhaps the most significant buildings that were constructed during this period are the mosques. Baščaršija's famous mosque was built by Havedža Durak in the 1528th year.Gazi Husrev-Beg built his mosque 1530th year.

 

 

One of the entrances to the Gazi Husrev-Beg's Bezistan

Gazi Husrev-Beg raises a madrassa, a library, a haniqah, the Gazi Husrev-Beg Hamam, the Gazi Husrev-Beg bezistan, the Morića Han, sahat-kula and other tourist attractions in Baščaršija. Gazi Husrev-Beg was buried in the harem of his mosque, beside the harem is the Türbe of his freed slave and the first mutevelija of his vakuf Murat-beg Tardić.

At this time a number of commercial facilities was built, such as bezistans, hans, and caravanserais. Sarajevo was an important center of trade in the Balkans and had three bezistans (today there are still Gazi Husrev-Bey bezistan and Brusa bezistan). There were colonies of the Venetians and Dubrovnik. Baščaršija at that time had approximately 12,000 commercial and craft shops. After the earthquake in 1640 and several fires in 1644 and 1656, Sarajevo was 1697 burned and devastated by the troops of prince Eugene of Savoy. Travel writer Evliya Çelebi wrote:

" The čaršija has in everything, one thousand and eighty stores that are a model of beauty. The čaršija is very attractive and built according to plan."

To the 19th century, the area of Sarajevo doesn't spread. With the Austro-Hungarian occupation in the 1878th year, foreign architects have wanted to make Sarajevo into a modern European city. A great fire helped them, it destroyed the Stari Grad except the part that is still there. That is how today's well-known boundary between Baščaršija and the street Ferhadija was made. With the liberation of Sarajevo in 1945, a new city people's vommittee has decided that the čaršija should be gradually destroyed, believing that the old shopping center has no role in the modern city.

Sarajevo is capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is its administrative, economic, cultural, educational and sport center. The city of Sarajevo is unit of local self-governance, which consists of four city municipalities: Old City, Center, New City and New Sarajevo.

 

Geographical position:

Sarajevo is situated in the area of Sarajevo plain, which is surrounded by mountains Bjelašnica and Igman from the Southwest, by Trebević from the Southeast, middle-range mountains and inter-valley headlands on the North and Northwest.

 

Average height above sea level of Sarajevo plain is 500m.

 

The most distant western point of the plain is at 180 16' eastern geographic longitude. The most distant eastern point is at 180 27' eastern geographical longitude, the most distant northern point is at 430 53' northern geographic latitude while the most distant southern point is at 430 47' southern geographical latitude.

 

Time zone: 

CET - Central European Time (Europe)

GMT + 01:00

 

Climate: 

medium continental

average summer temperature 19,1 C

average winter temperature – 1,3 C

average annual temperature 9,5 C

 

Population: 

The city of Sarajevo in (the area of) four municipalities (Old City, Center, New City and New Sarajevo) has 297,416 residents.

 

Surface: 

141,5 km²