Cultural TourismAttractionsEthno Villages

Ethno Villages

Possibly the best way to experience life as it used to be in Bosnia...

By Nino Last updated Nov 12, 2022

Ethno Villages

In the past decade or so, many so-called ethno (ethnic) villages have spring up around Bosnia and Herzegovina. These villages are typically authentic replicas of architecture or whole villages that also feature cultural heritage of one of the three main ethnic groups in Bosnia: Catholics (Croats), Orthodox (Serbs) and Muslim (Bosniaks). Some of these villages have instantly become attractions for the locals, as well as the foreign visitors. The villages are typically set in the countryside featuring clean air, beautiful natural scenery and countless ways to relax while going back in time, learning about how old Bosnians used to live and eating traditional foods. Visitors can often engage in various activities, such as collecting medicinal plants and mushrooms, taking care of sheep, cutting grass, fishing, knitting, preparing pickled foods for winter.

Some of the more popular villages are:

Andrić Town, Višegrad – Andrićgrad (also known as Stonetown) is a project of a famous film director Emir Kusturica, the stone town inspired by the literary works and characters of Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andrić. It’s architecture is a mix of different eras and styles that passed throughout Višegrad history: the Byzantine style, the Ottoman period, the Renaissance, and the Classicism. Andrićgrad is located near the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is located at the confluence of Rzav and Drina Rivers. Andrićgrad was built to be used as the filming location for Kusturica’s film Na Drini ćuprija, based on The Bridge on the Drina novel by Ivo Andrić.

Ethno Village Stanišić – Located near the city of Bijeljina, ethno village “Stanišići” takes the visitors back to the time of Bosnian ancestors and awakens the nostalgia for the simplicity of the former way of life. The village showcases two components, one presenting the secular life, built out of wood, featuring chalets with antique traditional furniture. The second component is of a spiritual character and it features medieval architecture built in stone, a set of replicas of historical and religious significance. All components are linked by stone paths, around centrally located twin lakes. The village features several mills, dairies, blacksmith shops, a stone well, a barn, etc.

Ethno Village Mačkovac – Etnno village Mačkovac, is a unique concept, a replica of traditional way of life in northern Bosnia. It features many traditional houses, workshops, mills and other buildings set in a natural ambiance. Contains a museum with over 3,000 wood and ceramic artifacts and over 1,500 books and manuscripts, all more than 200 years old.