Novi Travnik: Stećci, Rostovo and Culture

The Opara stećak necropolis is also part of Novi Travnik’s historical heritage. It is listed on the national monuments list of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a historic site in the municipality of Novi Travnik. The necropolis comprises 42 stećci, including 10 ridge stones, 29 chests and 3 slabs. Its three cross-shaped tombstones are 1.80 m high and date from the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Sebešić stećak necropolis comprises 13 stećci, 5 anthropomorphic tombstones and one tumulus. On 11 September 2007, it was declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bistro stećak necropolis is located about 10 km from Novi Travnik in the direction of Gornji Vakuf (Uskoplje), comprises 26 stećci and is situated on the Grlonica River.

The Maculje – Kameni svatovi necropolis contains 101 stećci, including chests, slabs and ridge stones, as well as 16 anthropomorphic cross-shaped tombstones. According to legend, these represent petrified wedding guests. The Old Mosque in the village of Šenkovići, 8 km from Novi Travnik, is also located in the surrounding area. It is considered the oldest surviving example of architecture from the period of Ottoman rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 14 November 2005.

The Smrike memorial necropolis was built in 1975 to commemorate around 700 civilians who were killed at this site in 1941. It was designed by the architect Bogdan Bogdanović. In the center of Novi Travnik are the main square, promenades and industrial heritage architecture.

Completed in 1956, the Radnički dom workers’ center is now the Dom kulture Novi Travnik cultural center. The workers’ center contained a library, rooms for various social activities, a cinema and a catering establishment. The cultural center hosts the inBox Festival and Rujanski susreti, as well as theater performances and exhibitions. It is located in the city center and can be reached on foot from the main square.

At Rujanski susreti, a traditional ring game took place on 5 September at 6 p.m. at the old school in Rankovići. On 6 September at 7 p.m., the cultural center hosted a performance of traditional folk dance featuring cultural associations from Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad. On 7 September at noon, the folklore concert “Moja zemlja, moji ljudi” was held at the Drina Martyrs’ Square, featuring KUD Dinara from Kijevo in Croatia and the host organization KUD Stari Hrast 2000.

Vilinska pećina is located below Vilinska kosa. It was recognized as a natural rarity of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1954 and features a steep entrance, spacious chambers and numerous formations of stalagmites and stalactites.

Rostovo is a mountain plateau in the area of the municipality of Novi Travnik in central Bosnia. Its elevation ranges from approximately 998 to 1,100 meters. The landscape consists of meadows, pastures and forests and is rich in spring water. As a high plateau and mountain landscape, Rostovo offers opportunities for hiking, cycling and photography, as well as for visiting the Maculje stećak necropolis.

The more challenging version of the Sebešić–Novi Travnik hike takes about 9 hours and is approximately 30 km long.

From Novi Travnik, the route leads to Maculje in the direction of Gornji Vakuf. After about 21 km, a 1.5 km gravel stretch branches off toward the hamlet of Seona. The Smrike memorial necropolis is located on Čamića Brdo and can be reached from the center of Novi Travnik in a few minutes by car via the road toward Vitez or Travnik. The entrance is on the main road and is signposted.

When comparing a hotel or other accommodation in Novi Travnik, check the exact location and type of accommodation on the respective offer page before booking. Also check which occupancy the offer applies to, which services are included and what components make up the price. The booking and cancellation conditions are also relevant. Such a comparison makes the differences between individual offers clearer. You can then compare the points that are important for your household side by side and decide for yourself which offer meets your expectations.

Other destinations in the canton include Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje, Travnik, Fojnica, Bugojno, Busovača, Kiseljak, Nova Bila and Vitez.

For the higher-level travel overview: Central Bosnia/Central Bosnia Canton.