Srebrenik

Srebrenik is a little different to the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina. That shouldn’t be taken too dramatically, of course. You’ll still find the usual array of historical landmarks, attractions, restaurants, cafes and nature, but things run a little more smoothly here than elsewhere in the country. Maybe I’m biased because of the excellent bus station, but Srebrenik feels like a town that has got it right. That is somewhat befitting a place billed as the King’s Town (Tvrtko was thought to have been born in these parts), and the gorgeous Gradina high above is one of the country’s most impressive fortresses. Whisper it, but it might be the best. Surrounded by nature and packed with efficiency, Srebrenik is Bosnia as it could be. Radnička bb, +387 35 369 162, turizam@srebrenik.ba

TRANSPORT

Let’s not beat around the bush. Srebrenik has the best bus station (Bosanskih Branilaca bb, +387 35 644 676) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the peak of the genre, the pinnacle. Yes, it is a relatively new station, but that doesn’t always guarantee quality. In Srebrenik, you get it all. The staff are friendly, there is plentiful information, the place is clean, the cafe is decent, there are snacks at the kiosk, and the toilets are looked after. It is in the town centre. Srebrenik, your bus station is a national treasure. Srebrenik is connected to Tuzla and Brčko, with a couple of daily buses to Sarajevo and a night bus to Mostar.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO

© Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock.com

Gradina

Jewels in crowns don’t come much more sparkling than this. There are plenty of old fortresses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the stunning Gradina outside Srebrenik is arguably the finest. For one, the design is truly unique, with towers and turrets accentuating a stunning hilltop location. The views are everything you’d expect from a 14th-century castle, and practically the entire valley is visible from the walls. Gradina is 6km from Srebrenik and requires a car to reach unless you feel particularly energetic. The oldest castle in the country, Srebrenik’s Gradina might just be the most magnificent. Gornji Srebrenik, +387 35 645 822

Lake Ingram

If you didn’t know about it, you wouldn’t find it. That seems strange to say about a lake that magically appeared in a quarry, but this is Bosnia and Herzegovina. Named after the mining company that owns the quarry, Lake Ingram is a gorgeous body of water on the city’s outskirts, and there are few more joyful experiences than watching the sun set over this beaut. Yes, that is Gradina off in the distance. To get to the viewing point, head towards the village of Uroša, leave the car and wander through overgrown trees before you find nirvana.

Špionica and Ćojluk Mosques

A two-for-one here, although the two mosques in question are on opposite sides of the town. Plenty of similarities exist between the mosques in Špionica and Ćojluk, and both exude a serenity that can only be created by old mosques in small villages. Both villages developed around the mosques, which still function today and are fabulously photogenic.

Suljagić House Srebrenik

Myths and legends surround this once grand but now neglected house in Špionica. The prevailing opinion suggests it was constructed in the late 15th century under the auspices of Zajim-beg Babić, functioning primarily as a court and prison for those who failed to pay taxes to the Ottoman Empire. The house subsequently cycled through owners until the modern age arrived, and it settled into its current forgotten state, a whisper of old-fashioned Ottoman house-building that seems lost in the whirlwind of 21st-century life. Its original construction followed traditional three-section Bosnian ideas, although much of this text is superfluous due to its current state. The future of the house is uncertain, to say the least, so here’s hoping someone takes an interest in it in the future. Donja Špionica

Kusturnica Monument

Srebrenik’s central World War II monument isn’t of the other-worldly type found dotted around Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that is for the best. These monuments are to pay respect to the dead, not flood Instagram, right? The Kusturnica Monument is in the town centre, tucked away in a park close to the main square and directly next to the plot where Srebrenik’s first house was built (there is a remembrance plaque for that, too). 25. Novembra

Majevica

Majevica’s highest point might only be 916m high, but this low-lying mountain range northeast of Bosnia is an explorer’s wonderland. Majevica is fabulously accessible, thanks mainly to the efforts of Srebrenik’s fantastic tourist organisation, and ramblers will find everything they need for a day of rambling, from well-marked trails to food and drink options. A sports and recreation centre was constructed on an abandoned military complex, another example of the local team making sparkling lemonade from previously neglected lemons. Things continue to develop in the Majevica region as Srebrenik makes the most of this verdant heaven.

BREWS, BOOZE AND BITES

Srebrenik has several excellent food and drink options, with much of the focus on tradition and conversation. Čardak (1. Marta, +387 35 645 720) is the best of the town centre ćevabdžinicas, while Hotel Orion (Ormanica BA, Špionica Srednja, +387 35 650 035) and Šumski Raj (Gornji Hrgovi, +387 61 547 326) serve delicious food in gorgeous surroundings outside of town. Trocadero (Alije Izetbegovića, +387 35 643 431) is ground zero for coffee and conversation in Srebrenik, and Calypso (Alije Izetbegovića, +387 61 232 585) serves a great espresso.

SLEEPING

Hotel Orion (Ormanica BA, Špionica Srednja, +387 35 650 035) is a few kilometres outside the city and offers comfortable beds, excellent service and good food. Šumski Raj (Gornji Hrgovi, +387 61 547 326) is nearby and offers much of the same, just a little more in nature. If you are after something right in the heart of Srebrenik, Hotel Park (Magistralni Put, +387 35 645 820) is pretty much the dictionary definition of ‘right in the heart of Srebrenik’. Hey, I didn’t say I would write flowery descriptions for everything, did I?