At nearly 1,500 meters above sea level lies the highest and most isolated village in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Lukomir. This village belongs to the Municipality of Konjic and is approximately 50 kilometers away from Sarajevo. It symbolizes the historical, cultural, architectural, and environmental heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Lukomir is unique for its stone houses that are up to 200 years old, covered with shingles made of cherry wood, and its traditional clothing, with women still wearing woven garments similar to those worn centuries ago.
Rakitnica Canyon
According to local stories, the village is over 300 years old, but the origin of its name is not known. It is speculated to be a combination of the words “luka/port” and “mira/peace,” which describe the village perfectly. However, stećci (medieval tombstones) at the village’s edge indicate that it was settled as early as the 14th and 15th centuries.
One version of Lukomir’s history provides ample evidence that the local population originates from Podveležje in Herzegovina. These semi-nomadic tribes migrated to Bjelašnica during the summer months due to a lack of water. Podveležje, a dry plateau above Mostar, did not provide sufficient pasture for these pastoral tribes to survive during summer.
For reasons that are not entirely known, many residents of Podveležje permanently settled in the canyon, and later at the site where Lukomir is located today. Primarily, people from the Čomor and Masleša families settled here and are still the most numerous families in Lukomir.
Between the Bjelašnica and Visočica mountains lies the Rakitnica Canyon, and Lukomir is situated right on the edge of this canyon, with an abyss of 800 meters dropping down from the village. At the village’s edge is a viewpoint overlooking the Rakitnica Canyon, offering views to the east toward the start and to the west toward the end of the canyon.
Bosnian Highlanders
The traditional way of life of the Bosnian highlanders is still practiced here. The ingenuity and courage of the inhabitants of this village is Robinson like. They built mills on the streams and flows of the Rakitnica. The grassy slopes were so steep that they would cut the grass by tying themselves to trees, then unrolling the rope from the trees and conquering the meadow meter by meter.
The road from the village of Šabića to Lukomir is paved, while the last 11 kilometers is a winding dirt road that first leads through barren karst landscapes and later through scenic areas with blooming meadows. Hiking through the high-altitude pastures beneath the highest mountain peaks is a unique experience.
Today, Lukomir is inhabited seasonally. From late April until September, the locals engage primarily in livestock farming and agriculture. When winter arrives, most of the residents leave for lower areas. In the village, in addition to the houses of the locals and the idyllic living conditions, there is also an ethnographic house where visitors can stay overnight.
Every year, more and more tourists visit the village, and the residents of Lukomir are known for their kindness and hospitality. They will offer you coffee or homemade tea, prepare Bosnian pie, share legends and folklore from the region, and introduce you to their daily lives, which have remained the same for several centuries.
