BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: The Una River Has Waterfalls, Recreation and Cultural Heritage

Bosnia is proud of their water and nature.

It is easy to see why.

The water is crystal clear and abundant running through beautiful forests, rolling hills, mountains and cities.

The Una River is a major river in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a total length of 212 km (132 miles). 

In some places it forms a natural border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.

The Una River is so clear.

The Una River with its rapids and pools is ideal for rafting and kayaking adventures.

We decided we’d give rafting a go.

Our raft companions from Germany were all aspiring engineers.

We had visited the park a couple of days earlier and admired these falls.

I was nervous when we put the raft in UPRIVER from the falls. There was absolutely NO way I was going over them!

Fortunately, our guide was in agreement. 

He pulled over before the falls to let us out. He worked with another guide who pushed the rafts over the falls and then our guide caught them below. (No photos of their skills– our phones were safely stored and not available.) We climbed back in after the big drop  to still experience some fun white water.

I have to wonder if these ladies would ever get to experience rafting or just see the advertising photos and watch from the sidelines.

The Una River has been an important transportation and trade route throughout history providing a rich cultural heritage with archaeological sites and monasteries along its banks

We discovered Ostrozac Castle which overlooks the Una River near the city of Bihac.

In the 13^th century it was a fortress  to protect the area from Turkish invasion. Three hundred years later, in the 16^th C, it fell to the Ottomans.

At the end of the 18^thC, under the Austro Hungarian Empire, the mayor of Bihac bought the property and added the castle. It was actually a passion project for his wife, who paid for it out of her dowry.  

The family only got to enjoy it until the end of WWII when it became national property of Yugoslavia. At one time it served as an orphanage, another time as an artist colony, and various other iterations over the years. 

It was heavily damaged during the Balkans War. 

It was fun exploring the deserted castle and imagining what it was like when it was a well-loved home.

 

I thought renovating it would be a great retirement project!

John was not in agreement.

 What does he know?!?