Banja Luka trip
Most people will known Banja Luka because it is a rather popular packaged tourist destination. It is a rather picturesque city in the western part of the city and the administrative capital of RRepublika Srpska, as well as the second largest city in the country.
Many travelers who do visit see this place as something of a pit-stop while going towards Belgrade, Zagreb or Sarajevo, but there are some things to be seen and done here as well.
The place could’ve been so much more than what it is today, but it went through an unfortunate chain of catastropheut 80% of the city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1969, and then the city saw some bombings during the war. It is unfortunate that this lead to the destruction of the famous 1580 Ferhadija mosque.
Despite the destruction however, and the apparently lack of interest, there are quite a few things to see in Banja Luka.
There’s the Cathedral of Saint Bonaventure which has a very interesting history, it was built in 1887, then destroyed by the aforementioned earthquake, the current building was built in 1974.
s; first, aboThen there’s the Banski Dvor or Governor’s Palace which you can’t miss since it’s in the center of the city. This was built in the 1930’s and it acts as a concert hall and gallery being the main cultural center of the city.
Banja Luka is a great place to take in the local culture in a very quiet way, there are of course souvenir shops and the like but this is a great place where you can enjoy the local cuisine. Let’s just say that Banja Luka is a great place for those who are fond of meat. It is advisable to try as many local dishes as possible, just to get the full experience.
Those who are into an active and outdoorsy lifestyle will also enjoy the city, with its many climbing and rafting opportunities.
A Banja Luka trip might be more than you expect it to be, or might just be exactly what you need, you’ll not know for sure until you get there and see it for yourself.
