What to see if the road takes you to Travnik?

Positioned in the Lašva Valley, which connects the Bosna River Valley with the Vrbas River Valley, Travnik is a small town located in the very heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, about 100 kilometers northeast of Sarajevo.

Due to its favorable position, the natural wealth of the valley, and the river Lašva (read: also gold), it has been inhabited since ancient times, when the Celts, Illyrians, and Romans ruled these valleys, and it is known for being the capital of the Bosnian kings and Ottoman viziers in its Middle Ages.

Travnik, Photo: Dudlajzov, Depositphotos

All of them influenced its current position, so the city can boast of a rich history, cultural heritage, and of course Vlašić, the mountain that surrounds it and whose ski resort is one of the most popular in the country.

However, even though winter tourism is its strong point, the city does not lack sights or places that you can see if you happen to be in its vicinity. So, here’s what you can visit in Travnik!

• TRAVNIK OLD TOWN FORTRESS

The fortress of the Old Town of Travnik, also known as the Travnik fortress, is considered one of the most beautiful and best-preserved fortified buildings in medieval Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It dates from the era before the Ottoman Empire, when the former Christian Kingdom ruled this area, and today it is a real historical gem and a witness to the turbulent history of this country.

The Old Town of Travnik, Photo: Mhphotographybih, Dreamstime

• Plava voda

A river barely visible on maps runs through the Old Town, at the foot of the fortress, attracting the attention of travelers. Springing from a large slot at the foot of Vlašić, the mighty Plava Voda found its way through the old settlement, traveling approximately 350 meters before reaching the Lašva River.

With its speed, it produced the first electricity in Travnik, and today you can enjoy its murmur from the small cafes that surround it.

Plava voda, Photo: Europemaster, CC BY-SA 4.0

• Sujemanija MOSQUE

Also known as the Ornamented Mosque (Colorful Mosque), Sujemanija is a true example of Ottoman architecture in Travnik. Built in the 18th century on the foundations of an older mosque, Sulejmanija is known for its striking minaret and the colors on the interior and exterior walls.

What is very interesting is that, in addition to serving sacred purposes, it was also used for commercial purposes, so in its underground, you can also see an bezistan, that is, a kind of shopping center.

Ornamented Mosque, Travnik, Photo: Dudlajzov, Depositphotos

BIRTHHOUSE – IVO ANDRIĆ MUSEUM

In the birthplace and memorial museum of one of the most famous writers and Nobel laureates of the former Yugoslavia, Ivo Andrić, who gained recognition for his novels and short stories mostly from the period of the Ottoman Empire, you can get to know all his literary works and life.

The permanent exhibition consists of the birth room, a room dedicated to the novel “Travnička hronika“, a photo gallery, and a library with Andrić’s works.

Ivo Andric Museum,  Travnik, Photo: Kondephy, CC BY-SA 4.0

• NATIVE MUSEUM TRAVNIK 

In order to get to know Travnik and the life of its people even better, you must visit the Native Museum of Travnik, which will surely amaze you with its archaeological, naturalistic, and cultural-historical collections.

While walking around the city, you will best recognize it by the Ćiro locomotive, a reminder of the former railway traffic that was of great importance for the development of industry and the transport of goods and passengers.

Native Museum Travnik – Ćiro, Photo: Michal Gorski, CC BY-SA 3.0

• Necropolis for the Victims of Fascism – Monument on Smrika  

Located on the road from Travnik to Novi Travnik, the Smrika Necropolis for the Victims of Fascism is a monument that was erected in 1975 in memory of the 700 victims of the fascist terror of 1941. It is recognizable by its interesting appearance, which Bogdan Bogdanović, a well-known regional builder of memorial architecture, designed.

Necropolis of victims of fascism, Travnik, Photo: Wirestock Depositphotos