BANJA LUKA

Banjaluka is the biggest town, economical and cultural center of the Republic Srpska and the second biggest town in Bosnia and Hertzegovina. The area of Banjaluka covers 1239 sq. kilometers, has poOpatijation of 250.000 - 300.000. Banjaluka spreads over both banks of the Vrbas River, in the tectonic valley that spreads NorthEast - SouthWest. The city itself covers approx. 150 sq. kilometers and coordinates are 44°44'27"" LAT. and 17°11'44'' LON. The average atitude is 164m. The climate is continental moderate with average 143 rainy days in a year. Banjaluka also has 1821 sunny hours during the year, average annual temperature is 12°C. The lowest ever recorded temperature was 27.4°C, and hottest was 41.1°C. Banjaluka is also well known by the nickname "the green town" as this town has over 2400 acres of green areas out of which 1000 acres are located through the town. The zone of the Vrbas River, one of the most beautiful mountain rivers, beautifies everything around. Before its entering in Banjaluka the river is passing trough the nature masterpiece, the Canyon of Vrbas. In the Vrbas River and other Banjaluka rivers swimming and fishing is possible. There are many hunting areas near the town, so hunters and fishermen are on their field here.

If you want to see Banjaluka clearly, you need to climb on the hill called Banj brdo. That is the only spot from which you can see not only the town, but its surroundings too. In the town itself, you can distinguish its streets, nice and big houses and buildings. Divided into two halves by the fast and green river Vrbas, Banjaluka is spread mainly on the southern side of the Banjaluka plain.
Until Austro-Hungarian occupation, Banjaluka was a spitting image of a typical Muslim-Balkan type of town. Every house was property for itself, and because of careless placing of tall buildings made from boards, all the houses looked as if they were "brought from woods and fields." One would say that this town which did not pay any attention to time, did not pay any attention to space either. That is how Banjaluka developed far and wide. In the gardens, wide squares and streets, rather distant from each other, stood the houses lit by the sunshine, and wrapped with the fragrance of gardens. Austro-Hungarian occupation brought noticeable changes. Many old buildings were removed, in order to make space for constructing the new ones. Because of this, the unique oriental image of the town changed. Needs for administrative offices, school buildings, Christian churches, apartment houses could have been satisfied only by erecting new buildings. That was how the contrast between low and ramshackle houses and new buildings was created. However, in the course of time, the new and old buildings mixed with each other, and the image of the town gradually acquired a new look.

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