Banja Luka

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Jump to: navigation, search
Banja Luka
Бања Лука
Mayor Dragoljub Davidović
Area
 - Total

93.2 km² (57.9 mi²)
Population


 - City (2002)
 - Metro (2002)



196,500.
220,000.

Time zone Central European: UTC+1

Latitude
Longitude

44°46′ N 17°11′ E

Coat of arms of Banja Luka
Coat of arms of Banja Luka

Banja Luka (Serbian: Бања Лука/Banja Luka, Bosnian: Banja Luka/Banjaluka, Croatian: Banja Luka) is the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a population of 196,500 (metro population 220,000). It is also the capital of the Republika Srpska entity and a major center of the region known as Bosanska Krajina. It houses the entity's government, while it is also the center of the Banja Luka Region, and a municipality of the same name. Banja Luka is famous for its culture and history, which dates back to the High Middle Ages. It is located in northwestern Bosnia, on both sides of the river Vrbas, which originates from a charming rock canyon and flows down into the Pannonian plain. The entire city area is full of tree-lined avenues, gardens and parks and resembles a green watercolor painting. The natural beauties of the surrounding area guarantee the city of Banja Luka a good position in tourism.

Contents

Geography and climate

Geography

Banja Luka covers some 93.2 km² (57.9 mi²) of land in northwestern Bosnia on the river Vrbas. The city is located at 44.78° N 17.19° E. Downtown is at 163 m above sea level, surrounded by hills.

The source of the river Vrbas is some 90 km. to the south, and the tributary rivers Suturlija, Crkvena, and Vrbanja flow into the Vrbas at Banja Luka. Banja Luka also has a number of springs close by.

The area immediately around Banja Luka is woodland, although a bit farther out there are a number of mountains. The city itself is built in the Banja Luka valley, which is located on the transition between high and low mountain areas. The most notable of these mountains are Manjača (1214 meters), Čemernica (1338 meters), and Tisovac (1172 meters). These are all part of the Dinaric Alps mountain range.

Climate

Banja Luka has a continental climate, with harsh winters and warm summers. The warmest month of the year is July, with an average temperature of 20°C (68°F). The coldest month of the year is January, when temperatures average a near freezing 0.6°C (33°F).

Annual precipitation for Banja Luka is about 988 mm. Banja Luka has an average of 143 rainy days a year. Due to the city's high latitude, it snows in Banja Luka almost every year as well. Strong winds come from the north and northeast.

History

Banja Luka at the turn of 20th century
Enlarge
Banja Luka at the turn of 20th century

The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document in 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is substantial evidence of a Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries AD, including an old fort "Kastel" in the center of the city. The area of Banja Luka was wholly in the Roman province of Illyricum, lying on important Roman roads between Dalmatia and Pannonia.

Slavs settled the area in the 7th century A.D., although the exact nature of their migrations remains something of a mystery. What is known is that the first mention of the city dates to 1494, by Vladislav II. The name means "Ban's meadow", from the words ban "a medieval dignitary", and luka "an area close to water". The identity of the ban and the meadow in question remain uncertain, and a popular etymology combines the modern words banja ("bath" or "spa"), and luka ("port"),

One of the first public structures after Kastel was a Franciscan monastery, built in 1378 in Banja Luka’s neighborhood of Petricevac by Bosnian Franciscans. It was the first of such buildings in Bosnia.

During Ottoman rule, Banja Luka was the seat of the Bosnian pashaluk, and the lords of the region built what is nowadays the main street of the city. Between 1566 and 1574 Ferhat Pasa Sokolovic, one of the founders of the Banjaluka’s town core, built over 200 projects ranging from artisan and sales shops to wheat warehouses, baths and mosques. Among his more important constructions were Ferhadija and Arnaudija mosques, during which construction a plumbing infrastructure was laid that served surrounding residential areas. All this stimulated economic and urban development of Banja Luka, that soon after became one of the leading commercial and political centers in Bosnia. In 1688 the city was set to the torch by an Austrian army, but it quickly recovered. Later periodic intrusions by the Austrian army stimulated military developments in Banja Luka, which made it into a strategic military center. Serbian churches and monasteries near Banja Luka were built in the 19th century. Around the same time Sephardic Jews and Trappists migrated to the city, which contributed to the early industrialization of the region by building mills, breweries, brick factories, textile factories and other important structures. For all its leadership to the region however, Banja Luka as a city wasn't modernized until rule by Austria-Hungary in the late 19th century.

Austrian occupation brought westernization to Banja Luka. Railroads, schools, factories, and infrastructure appeared, and were developed. This led to a modern city, that after World War I became the center of the Vrbas province of the 1st Yugoslavia.

During World War II, Banja Luka was occupied by the mostly native Roman Catholic Croatian Ustasha (pro-Nazi) regime. Most of Banja Luka's noble Sephardic Jewish families were deported to nearby concentration camps such as Jasenovac and Stara Gradiška. On February 7, 1942 the Ustasha forces, led by a Franciscan monk, Miroslav Filipović (aka Tomislav Filipović-Majstorović) killed 2,500 Serbs (among them 500 children) in Drakulici, Motike and Sargovac (part of the Banja Luka municipality). The town's Orthodox cathedral was razed to the ground. The city was finally liberated on April 22, 1945.

In 1969, a devastating earthquake damaged many buildings in Banja Luka. A large building in the center of the town called "Titanik" was razed to the ground, and the area was turned into a central public square. With contributions from all Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia regions, Banja Luka was repaired and rebuilt.

The city underwent considerable changes during the Yugoslav wars. Upon the declaration of establishment of Republika Srpska, Banja Luka became the de facto center of the entity's politics, and in 2003 it officially became the capital of Republika Srpska. It is estimated that about 70,000 Croat and Bosniak residents left or were forced to leave the municipality between 1992 and 1995. Some were taken to nearby detention camps, Manjaca and Omarska. Some Serbian Banjalukans also left for economic reasons or to dodge the draft, in the same period and years after it. Banja Luka's Bosniak and Bosnian Croat population is now much smaller than before the war. Many Serbian refugees who left or were forced to leave Krajina and the Bosniak-Croat federation (mostly from Sanski Most and Kljuc) moved to the city and its surroundings in the mid-1990s. Serbian economic migrants from neighbouring areas of the Republika Srpska also followed suit. As of 2004, many of its current inhabitants are said to be "refugees" or "displaced persons" - according to some as many as a third of them, even though the authorities have only registered some 18,000.

All 16 mosques dating from 15th and 16th century in the city were destroyed in the recent war between 1992 and 1995, by Serbs who were supported by the authorities of Republika Srpska as part of their ethnic cleansing campaign. Many Catholic churches also sustained damage or were destroyed during this conflict. Among the destroyed mosques was the Ferhadija mosque protected by UNESCO. Recent attempts to reconstruct the Ferhadija mosque resulted in mass riots by Serbian nationalists on May 7, 2001. Some 4,000 Serbian rioters beat and stoned three hundred Bosniaks, who were participating in a ceremony commemorating the laying of the cornerstone for the reconstruction. At least eight Bosniaks were taken to the Banja Luka hospital for medical treatment. One of them died on May 26, 2001, of head injuries.

Demographics

The population of the city of Banja Luka is about 196,500. Along with the metro area, Banja Luka's population reaches some 220,000 people. Although there is a lack of official statistics on ethnic distribution, there is little doubt that Serbs make up an overwhelming majority in the city. It is said that 65,000 of today's Banja Luka population are refugees or displaced persons.

According to the 1991 census, the municipality of Banja Luka had a population of some 195,692. Of these, 54.6% were Serbs, 14.8% were Croats, 14.6% were Muslims, 12.1% were Yugoslavs, and 3.9% registered as others. The City of Banja Luka had a population of 143,079. Of these, 49.0% were Serbs, 19.4% were Muslims, 15.8% were Yugoslavs and 11.0% were Croats.

Historical population

See also: Historical population of Banja Luka

At the first census, conducted by Austro-Hungarian authorities in 1879, Banja Luka had the following religious (ethnic) composition:

Banja Luka municipality - 86,209 citizens, Muslims 14.33%, Orthodox 74.46%, Catholics 10.52%

Banja Luka city - 13,566 citizens, Muslims 67.71%, 19.8% were Orthodox.

As the city was industrialized and wider urbanization of the surrounding areas took place, Orthodox Serbs that typically inhabited surrounding rural areas (due to Ottoman feudal system) were incorporated into the city's urban structure. Bosnian Muslims claim that their drop of percentage in the city's population was partly influenced by the Agrarian Reform of 1918, which ordered their land be given to Serbian families for symbolic reimbursement, which was never fully paid. They also claim that the reform was abused to change the ethnic makeup of the region in the long term. The Agrarian Reform was introduced as a means to dismantle the old Bosnian feudal system. Bosnian Serbs claim that Agrarian Reform was introduced to return the land stolen from the native Orthodox and Catholic people by the Ottoman Empire. The actual numbers of Bosnian Muslims were obscured since their nationality was not recognized after 1918, and they had to declare themselves either as Serbs, Croats or undecideds until 1961. Given these advantages, and because that city was in the center of the Bosnian Krajina region, with a predominant Orthodox Serb majority, the Serb population of Banja Luka has been steadily increasing.

Banja Luka is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Banja Luka and home to the Cathedral of St. Bonaventure. During World War 2 the-then Archbishop of Banja Luka, Ivan Saric, eagerly awaited and approved of thousands of Serbs being delivered by Ustasha troops for forcible conversion from Serbian Orthodoxy to Roman Catholicism.

During WWII most of Banja Luka's noble Sephardic Jewish families were deported to nearby concentration camps, such as Jasenovac and Stara Gradiska in Croatia. Today, Banja Luka's Jewish community is virtually non-existent. A spike in Serbian immigration was mostly noted after the earthquake of 1969, when the city has seen a boom in housing construction.

In 1991 the city of Banja Luka was still an ethnically mixed city, while on the municipal level there was an evident Bosnian Serb dominance of 54.6%.

Government

Banja Luka plays an important role on different levels of Bosnia and Herzegovina's government structures. Banja Luka is the center of government for the Municipality of Banja Luka and, in 2003, officially became the capital of Republika Srpska.

Economy

Although the city itself was not directly affected by the war in the early 1990s, Banja Luka's economy was. For four years, Banja Luka fell behind the world in key areas such as technology, resulting in a rather stagnant economy today.

In 1990, the Banja Luka region had exports worth 400 million US$. Although the economy today is a far cry from what it used to be, many of the industries are the same. Among the chief industries in Banja Luka are metal working, wood processing, leather, textiles, rubber processing, the tobacco industry, and food processing.

Culture

Due to its long history, Banja Luka has a rich culture. A number of museums can be found in the city, including the Museum of Republika Srpska also known as the Museum of Bosanska Krajina, and the Ethnographic Museum, established in 1930. Banja Luka also has a national theatre, and library, both dating from the first half of the 20th century. There are numerous other museums and theatres in the city including the Museum of Modern Art of Republika Srpska.

One of the most famous cultural sites in Banja Luka is the cultural centre "Banski Dvor" (Halls of the Ban (title)), built in the 1930s as a spot of residence for the Bans of Vrbaska Banovina. It is a beautiful building in the very center of the city. The National Assembly is inside, along with a concert hall, gallery, state television, and restaurant. Most of the main cultural and political leadership nowadays takes place inside of the building.

The well preserved fortress Kastel is found in the center of the city. This medieval castle is one of Banja Luka’s main attractions. Located on the bank of the Vrbas River, it gave specific charm to the city. During the summer some concerts took place in the fortress.

In the city there are many Cultural Artistic Associations. The oldest is RKUD "Pelagic" (1927), and it is the oldest institution of this kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tourism

Banja Luka has a number of hotels, the oldest one dating back to 1885. The city and surrounding area have a number of popular tourist attractions. Among the most famous are the pools, thermal springs, and spas in the region. The area is popular among nature lovers, while the city center is attractive to tourists due to its historical structures and many restaurants.

Rafting on the Vrbas (river) is an underappreciated local tourist attraction.

Miscellaneous

Banja Luka has one major football (soccer) stadium and several indoor sports halls. The local handball and soccer teams bear the traditional name Borac (fighter), though the basketball club was recently renamed to Banjalučka pivara, after the Banja Luka brewery.

The city was once nicknamed the "Green City", due to parks, and over 10,000 trees.

Getting there

Banja Luka has one International Airport, but there is only a flight to and from Zurich on Wednesday and Friday. During the summer of 2005, it has a flight to and from Antalya, Turkey, once a week. Note: data about flights are taken from the official airport site for the date June 30, 2005. International bus services are available to and from Austria, Croatia , Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia and Serbia and Montenegro. Trains are available to Zagreb, Croatia and Belgrade, Serbia, and from there on to the rest of Europe.

External links


Cities and towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina The flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Banja Luka | Bihać | Bijeljina | Bosanska Gradiška | Bosanska Krupa | Bosanski Brod | Bosanski Šamac | Bratunac | Brčko | Bugojno | Cazin | Čapljina | Derventa | Doboj | Donji Vakuf | Drvar | Foča | Gornji Vakuf | Gračanica | Gradačac | Ilidža | Jajce | Kakanj | Kalesija | Konjic | Livno | Lukavac | Ljubuški | Modriča | Mostar | Neum | Nevesinje | Novi Grad | Novi Travnik | Posušje | Prijedor | Sanski Most | Sarajevo | Srebrenica | Srebrenik | Stolac | Široki Brijeg | Teočak | Teslić | Tešanj | Tomislavgrad | Travnik | Trebinje | Tuzla | Velika Kladuša | Visoko | Vitez | Zavidovići | Zenica | Zvornik | Žepče | Živinice
Personal tools