Trebinje, Republika Srpska

While spending some of my summer vacation at the Montenegro coast, I made a daytrip to explore some parts of Hercegovina, not far away from the Montenegro and the croatian order.

The toponym Trebinje comes from a medieval term Travunia. Trebinje was probably built by Slavs on the site of a Roman town laid waste by the Saracens in 840. In the mid-10th century Constantine Porphyrogenitus mentioned it under the name of Terbunia. It commanded the road from Ragusa to Constantinople, Under the name of Tribunia or Travunja (the Trebigne of the Ragusans), it belonged to the Serbian Empire until 1355. Trebinje became a part of the expanded Medieval Bosnian stateTvrtko I in 1373. In 1482, together with the rest of Herzegovina it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire.

During the period of Austro-Hungarian administration (1878-1918) the several fortifications were built on the surrounding hills, and there was a garrison based in the town. They also modernized the town expanding it westwards, building the present main street, as well as, several squares, park, new schools, tobacco plantations, etc

The Arslanagica Bridge was built by Mehmed-pasa Sokolovic in 1574, during Turkish occupation. It has been his pious endowment to his son who was killed in fights with Venetians. When Turks were pushed out of Herceg Novi in 1687, many Turkish families from this town moved to Trebinje. Among them there was Arslan-aga. He got possessions in the east from Trebinje: on Zubci, Necvjece and Jasen, as well as the right to charge bridge-toll across the bridge on the Trebisnjica River. Since then, the bridge was named the Arslanagica Bridge after him. By building hydroelectric system on the Trebisnjica River, the bridge finished under water of storage lake in 1965.

At the request of Institute for protection of monuments of culture, the bridge has been dismantled and moved down the river in 1966. The new location of the Arslanagica Bridge has been between settlement Gradina (on the right shore of the river) and settlement Police (on the left shore). Since 1993, the bridge has also been called the Perovica Bridge.

Entering the old city center


The Osman Pasa Mosque
In the Old Town (Kastel)not far away from the westgate and town's walls, lays the Osman Pasa Mosque from 1726. The 16 meters high octagonal minaret was considered one of the most beautiful of Hercegovina and the mosque itself one of the most spacious.
The mosque was built by masters of Dubrovnik and by order of Osman-Pasa Resulbegovic. After being destroyed in the last war it has been renovated authentic to the original one from 2001 to 2005.


The old town is a lively place full with pleasant places and enough green spots.


The architecture of the old town shows austro-hungarian influence.

The town today is the economic, educational, cultural and spiritual center of East Herzegovina. Trebinje simply captures ones attraction with its nicely cared urban line, and harmonious natural environment .

With its climate Trebinje is entirely opened toward Mediteranean Sea. The climate dominates over the valley of the Trebisnjica river.

The river is heavily exploited for hydro-energy. After it passees through the Popovo polje area (South-West of the town), which always floods in winter, it naturally runs underground to the Adriatic Sea, near Dubrovnik in Croatia.

The Old Town-Kastel was built by Turks on location of the medieval fortress of Ban Vir, on the western bank of the Trebisnjica River.


Trebinje strongly grew in the era of Tito's Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia between 1945 and 1990. It especially developed its hydroelectric potential (Hydroelectricity) with its, dams, artificial lakes, tunnels, and several hydroelectric plants. This industrial development brought large increase in urban population of Trebinje.

The old town is pedestrian zone and has many cozy places under the shades of big trees to dwell and and enjoy a drink!

Also in the evening the city is busy and busting. Below you'll find some useful link if you plan to visit this charming city:

online Trebinje travel-guide here
here what to see and what to do in trebinje
In your pocket guide for Bosnia & Hercegovina here
City map of Trebinje (the only one on the internet) here