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Tourist potential of Nišići: Ethno Bey’s Village and Bijambare

Ethno Begovo selo/Bey’s Village is located on the Nišići Plateau, a location that was chosen because that mountain region with all its natural beauty and cultural and natural diversity represents Bosnia in miniature. The village was built from original materials, some of which are hundreds of years old, using techniques used in that period. A bazaar was built with many small houses and a village mosque right next to it.

This is an authentic Bosnian village located and tucked away in a deep forest, at an altitude of 1,400 meters above the sea level, in a region rich in natural and cultural diversity. Visitors who want, at least for a short time, to experience the authentic way of life of the villagers, can volunteer in various activities.

Village atmosphere

Ethno Bey’s Village offers a wide range of different activities that will greatly animate every guest, especially children who come with their parents – picking medicinal plants and mushrooms, tending sheep, mowing grass, visiting farms and participating in their work, fishing, knitting or participating in preparing for the winter.

The idea of building this village arose out of the desire to present the cultural heritage of Bosnia to the public in its original setting. The owner of the village realized the idea in the best and most beautiful way possible, because this is a Bosnian village that, with its magical, authentic, fairy-tale village atmosphere, pure beauty and beautiful landscapes, makes every visitor sigh.

After decades of collecting antiquities related to the cultural and historical heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the owner of this place, Mirsad Nikšić, had the idea to build a village that today covers 30 dunums of land.

Village offers an unlimited number of opportunities for relaxation, enjoyment of delicious traditional Bosnian cuisine, a visit to the nearby Bijambare Cave, accommodation in authentic village facilities. Etno Village has two-bed and four-bed apartments and rooms. The restaurant serves only original Bosnian food that has been prepared in an authentic way for decades. Home-made Bosnian drinks and products from the surrounding villages are served.

The biodiversity of this region is extremely rich and colorful. The Montenegrin forest hides many animal species, above all singing birds, several species of birds of prey, wild animals such as wolves, bears, foxes, rabbits, deer… Among the plant communities, there are medicinal plants such as yarrow, thyme, mint, chamomile and others, and what makes this area famous – a large number of edible mushrooms.

Only about two kilometers from the gas station where you turn towards Etno Bey’s Village is the turn to the parking lot at the entrance to the Protected Landscape of Bijambare, which covers an area of 497 hectares and consists of three protected zones.

Magnet for visitors

In addition to the eight caves that are the main “magnet” for most visitors, in the area of Bijambare there is also the necropolis “Mramorje”, a protected historical site, a precious testimony of the continuity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Visitors can go to the caves on foot, rent a bicycle or tour the area by riding a tourist bus that travels in two directions through the forest for about two kilometers. The Education and Information Center provides information to visitors and organizes various types of education and presentations. The area of the protected landscape “Bijambare” is equipped with hiking kit for staying in nature and has a playground for children (Wooden City). There is also a mountain lodge within which there is a restaurant with a diverse gastronomic offer.

Traces of human presence were found in Gornja Pećina – tools and weapons from the Stone Age, which are in the National Museum in Sarajevo. It is the first cave site from the Paleolithic era in the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is proof of the presence of prehistoric inhabitants.

Out of all these caves, only the Srednja cave is decorated, illuminated and open to visitors. It is about 500 meters long and consists of four halls, which can be viewed with a guide by moving along an asphalt path. Particularly interesting is the fourth hall, which is called the “concert hall” because of its exceptional acoustics, and a concert and a wedding were really organized here.

Author: Tarik Dreca