Zvijezda mountain, Oćevija village and Orlja springs in one day

Print
E-mail

Zvijezda mountain, Oćevija village and Orlja springs in one day

(2 votes)

font size decrease font size increase font size

It was May 1. International Workers day. Some people used holiday for resting, but we chose to spend that day on our bicycles visiting the symbol of socialists workers - blacksmiths. Not any blacksmiths - but the last in Europe!

Awakening of the nature

The day was beautiful May day. The sun came after weeks of rain and nature was full of freshness, flowers and bird songs. There is no better day for having a bicycle ride. We decided to start with our ride on Nišići heights that is located near the main road that connects Sarajevo and Tuzla regions. At the approximate altitude of 950 meters above sea level air freshness was amazing. We decided to make our ride easier so we left one car in Olovo city that will be the finishing point of our tour. That way we avoided cycling on the fast and dangerous main road from Olovo to the Nišići heights, but also we speared ourselves of 15 kilometers long ride with 500 meters of uphill at the end of the tour.

Ideal summer destination

Beginning of the tour was on Nišići heights through the village of Crna rijeka. The view become more amazing when we climbed to the top of the village. Trees was in full blossom and everything was enjoying May's first sun beams. After passing by Ravne village we came to the Doli resort on Zvijezda mountain.

The place was crowded with people who enjoyed traditional holiday atmosphere with also traditional meat grilling. We filled our bottles with cold water and headed to the heart of Zvijezda mountain which is famous for it's evergreen forests, nice shadow that protects the traveler from the heat and even nicer smell of tree resin. On the top altitude of some 1270 meters we find some traces of last winter snow. Nice opportunity to take some pictures with snow in May.

Oćevija - the last blacksmiths in Europe

After that we started our downhill of nearly 20 kilometers. First stop was in Oćevija village - the last place in Europe with active blacksmith shops that use water power for shaping of hot iron. Water give power to the simple system that pounds hot iron with different hammers.

This system worked for centuries and now it is on the verge if extinction, so who would like to visit and see that place better hurry. Iron workers and blacksmiths was a symbol of workers in socialist system that ruled this country in the past century, so this was a best way to spent this holiday.

Orlja - river with two springs

After taking some photos in the village we continued out ride down the Oćevica river and in Ligatići village we turned right up to the Orlja river to see and visit it's magnificent canyon, famous Roman bridge and it's source.

The source of Orlja river is very specific because only 50 meters divide two wells - one has a very cold and fresh water and second one has a hot thermal water with a temperature of 24 degrees Celsius. We had our lunch there and after that there was a great downhill beside Orlja river untill we came out on the road between Olovo and Zavidovići. After a short ride through the Krivaja river canyon we came to the Olovo - our finish line.
This was definitely a special day

Go 2 Bosnia

Bosnia... the best adventure destination in 2012!

Screen

Profile

Menu Style