Bileća on Lake Bileća: Culture, Water and Regional Cuisine

The calm waters of Lake Bileća are suitable for boating, kayaking and rowing. Fishing is also possible in the lake. There are bays and beaches such as Čepelica along the shore. The hiking trails on Baba offer a different perspective, with views of Lake Bileća and the karst fields. South of Bileća, the Trebišnjica River flows partly through underground karst channels. In the surrounding landscape, the Fatničko and Dabarsko fields have also been designated as habitats for birds.

The annual Lake Tour is a cycling tour around Lake Bileća. Somovijada is another event, regarded as one of the region’s oldest competitive fishing events.

A Stećak necropolis with 462 tombstones is located directly on the shore of Lake Bileća at the southern entrance to Bileća. These were relocated in 1964 before the valley was flooded. The necropolis is easily accessible and a frequent stop on the road along the lake. The remains of Drakuljica Fortress lie on a hill above the lake; from there, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

In the center of Bileća stands the Cathedral Church of Saint Sava. It was built from stone sourced from the surrounding area and consecrated in 1896. As the city’s central place of worship, it hosts the annual Savindan celebration, the municipality’s patron saint’s day. At the same time, the Church of Saint Sava is listed as a historic building among the national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Sultan Mosque, also called the City Mosque, is likewise located in the center. It was built in 1895 on the foundations of an older mosque and is an important monument to Bileća’s Ottoman heritage. The status of the Hasan-paša-Predojević Mosque in Grabovice is different: it was listed as a cultural monument in 1952 and is currently not in use. Plana is home to the Avdić Mosque, which was built in 1617, reconstructed in 2013 and today once again serves as a meeting place for the village’s Muslim community.

Other religious buildings are located in the immediate vicinity. Dobrićevo Monastery is situated in the village of Orah, about 12 km south of Bileća and near Lake Bileća. Due to its architecture and frescoes, it is considered one of the most important Serbian medieval monasteries. In Trnov Do, the Church of the Holy Archangel Michael was declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006. The Church of Saint Lazarus, also called the “Little Church,” was built in 1938 in the Byzantine style and consecrated on Vidovdan. On an island in the middle of Lake Bileća stands the Church of Saint Elijah, built on pillars above the water level.

Bileća’s gastronomic offerings are particularly known for dairy products; honey products are also highly valued here. The Dželetović family farm in Čepelica is located about 10 km from Bileća, on a hill above Lake Bileća. Cheese, kajmak and butter are produced there daily according to traditional recipes. The farm is visited by tourists from the USA, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

For further orientation within the same higher-level area, you can also choose Trnovo, Ljubina, Pale, Karanovac, Šipovo, Bijeljina, Teslić and Vrhovina.

To the higher-level travel overview: Republika Srpska.