13162

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Cycling from Umoljani to Konjic

PD Tržič (Alpine Association Tržič) organized mountain bike expedition around Bjelašnica and today was our second cycling day (First day - 13161). After the breakfast in our Pansion Umoljani, we started riding. Quick descent from Umoljani was followed by a nice warm up uphill cycling to village Sinanovići and then we continued on an unpaved road to our highest point, Visočica pass near Baturak at 1650 m. On the way down to our Konjic, with a vertical drop of more than 1000 meters we cycled by the Neretva river and on the way we stopped by Boračko jezero.

Start of the day 2 cycling in front of our Pansion Umoljani.

Warming up with my Black Mamba

Road towards the pass in Visočica

Our highest point is just a couple of minutes away

Short break on the top, cca 1650 m

Hajr-česma - fresh water fountain just below the pass.

Stećaci at Poljice necropolis. Stećak is a type of tombstone. These monuments were built in Middle Ages and they show a way of life of that period. They are usually decorated witih scenes of daily life, hunting, knight tournaments or inscriptions written in Bosnian style Cyrillic (Bosančica). They were created in the period from the second half of XIV until mid-XVI century. There are two types of tombstones: laid (trunks, panels and sarcophagi), and vertical (poles, stone crosses). In BiH there are about 60,000 tombstones. Out of total number in municipality Konjic is located about 4,160 tombstones. Tombstone decoration becomes more popular in early XIV or late XV century. Decoration style definitely depended on terrain, as well as geological structure of stone used for tombstones. Inscriptions on tombstones are of special value. Bosnian tombstones are the most powerful cultural and artistic phenomena of medieval Bosnia, marking that period and the area.

Better to stay on the road. Mines!

 

Next time we have to to some rafting on Neretva river. 

Snake on the road

The bike, that I provided for Nada, wasn't very good. The tyres were more than 10 years old and the rear one started to bulge. Therefore I swapped the rear and front tyre and hope that they will be good for another 30 kilometres.

Chillin' next to Boračko lake.

Before the last downhill

Our destination - Konjic. The Old Stone Bridge, from the Turkish period, connected the banks of Neretva river for centuries, since 1682. Until March 3rd 1945, when it was destroyed by retreating German troops. It was a rare example of classical Turkish Bridge building. The Old Stone Bridge was reconstructed 16.06.2009.

Amazing 12: Standing: Marinka, Nada, Tona, Janez, Tuši, Slavc, Nadja Sitting: Uroš, Uroš, Janez, Daša, Mateja

The Franciscan monastery

We wanted to return to Sarajevo by train, but it wasn't operating, so we called the owner of the place, where we were staying, and he picked us up.

Only people with special haircut can sit in front row of the van

This is one of the oldest mosques in Bosnia. It has specific minaret and roof design adapted to high snows in winter season. During the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia the whole village was burned down by Serbian forces except for this mosque. The legend says that imam of the mosque cured a child of one Yugoslav People’s Army officer, who was among forces which captured and burned the village and he allegedly didn't allow for mosque to be burned.

 

After the whole day cycling trip everything was more than delicious.

Another day on the bike

GeoCaches found (all received a visit by trackable item "Teddy #250", TB2RTEH):
- Konjic - The Spot, GC4PGP5
- Konjic-bridge, GC2HKX8