Banja Luka (Serbian Cyrillic: Бања Лука, pronounced [bǎɲa lǔːka] ) or Banjaluka (Serbian Cyrillic: Бањалука, pronounced [baɲalǔːka]) is the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the largest city in Republika Srpska. [2] Banja Luka is the traditional centre of the densely-forested Bosanska Krajina region of northwestern Bosnia. According to the 2013 census[update], the city proper has a population of 138,963, while its administrative area comprises a total of 185,042 inhabitants.
Banja Luka
Бања Лука (Serbian) | |
|---|---|
| Grad Banja Luka Град Бања Лука City of Banja Luka | |
Panoramic view of Banja Luka | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Location within Republika Srpska / Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
 | |
  Banja Luka Location within Bosnia and Herzegovina  Banja Luka Location within Europe  Banja Luka Banja Luka (Europe) | |
| Coordinates: 44°46′21″N 17°11′33″E / 44.77250°N 17.19250°E | |
| Country |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Entity |  Republika Srpska |
| Geographical region | Bosanska Krajina |
| Government | |
| • Body | City Assembly of Banja Luka |
| • Mayor | Draško Stanivuković (PDP) |
| Area | |
• City | 1,238.91 km2 (478.35 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 163 m (535 ft) |
| Population (2013 census)[1] | |
• City | 185,042 |
| • Urban | 138,963 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 78000 |
| Area code | +387 51 |
| Website | www |
The city is home to the University of Banja Luka and University Clinical Center of the Republika Srpska, as well as numerous entity and state institutions for Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively. The city lies on the Vrbas river and is well known in the countries of the former Yugoslavia for being full of tree-lined avenues, boulevards, gardens, and parks.[3] Banja Luka was designated European city of sport in 2018.
Name
editThe name Banja Luka was first mentioned in a document dated to 6 February 1494 by Ladislaus II of Hungary. The name is interpreted as the 'Ban's meadow', from the words ban (a medieval noble title), and luka ('valley' or 'meadow'). The identity of the ban and the meadow in question remains uncertain, and popular etymology combines the modern words banja ('bath' or 'spa'), or bajna ('marvelous') and luka ('port'). A different interpretation is suggested by the Hungarian name Lukácsbánya, in English 'Luke's Mine'. In modern usage, the name is pronounced and occasionally written as one word (Banjaluka).[4]
Geography
editOverview
editBanja Luka covers some 96.2 km2 (37.1 sq mi) of land in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is situated on both banks of the Vrbas in the Banja Luka valley, which is characteristically flat within the otherwise hilly region. Banja Luka's centre lies 163 m (534.78 ft) above sea level.
The source of the Vrbas River is about 90 km (56 mi) to the south at the Vranica mountain. Its tributaries—the Suturlija, the Crkvena, and the Vrbanja—flow into the Vrbas at various points in the city. A number of springs can be found nearby.
The area around Banja Luka is mostly woodland and acre fields, although there are many mountains further from the city, especially south from the city. The most notable of these mountains are Ponir (743 m), Osmača (950 m), Manjača (1,214 m), Čemernica (1,338 m), and Tisovac (1,173 m). These are all part of the Dinaric Alps mountain range.
Settlements
editThe city of Banja Luka (aside from city proper) includes the following settlements:
- Agino Selo
- Barlovci
- Bastasi
- Bistrica
- Bočac
- Borkovići
- Bronzani Majdan
- Cerici
- Čokori
- Debeljaci
- Dobrnja
- Dragočaj
- Drakulić
- Dujakovci
- Goleši
- Jagare
- Kmećani
- Kola
- Kola Donja
- Krmine
- Krupa na Vrbasu
- Kuljani
- Lokvari
- Lusići
- Ljubačevo
- Melina
- Motike
- Obrovac
- Pavići
- Pavlovac
- Pervan Donji
- Pervan Gornji
- Piskavica
- Ponir
- Potkozarje
- Prijakovci
- Priječani
- Prnjavor Mali
- Radmanići
- Radosavska
- Ramići
- Rekavice
- Slavićka
- Stratinska
- Stričići
- Subotica
- Šargovac
- Šimići
- Šljivno
- Verići
- Vilusi
- Zalužani
- Zelenci
Climate
edit
Banja Luka has a moderate humid subtropical climate with mild winters, infrequent frosts, and warm summers. The warmest month of the year is July, with an average temperature of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). The coldest month of the year is January, when temperatures average around 1.3 °C (34.3 °F).
The annual precipitation for the city is about 1,047.5 mm (41 in). Banja Luka has an average of 104 rainy days a year.[5] Due to the city's relatively high latitude and inland location, it snows in Banja Luka almost every year during the winter period. Strong winds can come from the north and northeast. Sometimes, southern winds bring hot air from the Adriatic sea.
Highest recorded temperature: 41.8 °C (107.2 °F) on 10 August 2017[6]
Lowest recorded temperature:−23.5 °C (−10.3 °F) on 15 January 2003[6]
| Climate data for Banja Luka (1991-2020, extremes 1973-2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 22.3 (72.1) |
25.2 (77.4) |
29.0 (84.2) |
31.8 (89.2) |
35.2 (95.4) |
37.9 (100.2) |
41.6 (106.9) |
41.8 (107.2) |
40.2 (104.4) |
30.9 (87.6) |
29.1 (84.4) |
23.2 (73.8) |
41.8 (107.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) |
8.9 (48.0) |
14.0 (57.2) |
19.0 (66.2) |
23.4 (74.1) |
27.3 (81.1) |
29.5 (85.1) |
29.8 (85.6) |
24.0 (75.2) |
18.6 (65.5) |
12.4 (54.3) |
6.7 (44.1) |
18.3 (65.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.3 (34.3) |
3.0 (37.4) |
7.4 (45.3) |
12.1 (53.8) |
16.7 (62.1) |
20.8 (69.4) |
22.5 (72.5) |
22.1 (71.8) |
16.7 (62.1) |
11.9 (53.4) |
7.1 (44.8) |
2.3 (36.1) |
12.0 (53.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.5 (27.5) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
1.8 (35.2) |
5.9 (42.6) |
10.3 (50.5) |
14.2 (57.6) |
15.8 (60.4) |
15.6 (60.1) |
11.3 (52.3) |
7.0 (44.6) |
3.1 (37.6) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
6.6 (43.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −23.5 (−10.3) |
−21.5 (−6.7) |
−18.2 (−0.8) |
−5.9 (21.4) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
3.0 (37.4) |
6.2 (43.2) |
5.6 (42.1) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−11.0 (12.2) |
−18.8 (−1.8) |
−23.5 (−10.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 73.3 (2.89) |
68.4 (2.69) |
80.0 (3.15) |
88.9 (3.50) |
104.0 (4.09) |
101.8 (4.01) |
81.0 (3.19) |
75.4 (2.97) |
107.9 (4.25) |
84.8 (3.34) |
90.3 (3.56) |
91.7 (3.61) |
1,047.5 (41.25) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 9 | 9 | 9.5 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 9.2 | 8.2 | 6.5 | 9 | 8.3 | 9.4 | 10.2 | 109.2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82 | 80 | 73 | 69 | 71 | 71 | 70 | 73 | 78 | 82 | 84 | 83 | 76 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 67.2 | 90 | 140.9 | 175 | 222.7 | 253.7 | 285.9 | 264.6 | 181.6 | 136.3 | 75.1 | 55.3 | 1,948.3 |
| Source 1: NOAA NCEI[6] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes 1973–2016, humidity, 1973–1991)[5] | |||||||||||||
History
editRoman times
edit
The history of inhabitation of the area of Banja Luka dates back to ancient times. There is substantial evidence of Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including the fort "Kastel" (Latin: Castra) in the centre of the city. The area comprising Banja Luka was entirely in the kingdom of Illyria and then a part of the Roman province of Illyricum, which split into provinces of Pannonia and Dalmatia of which Castra became a part. Ancient Illyrian maps call the settlement in Banja Luka's present day location as Ad Ladios,[7] a settlement located on the river Vrbas.
Middle Ages
editSlavs settled in the Balkans in the 6th century. Mediaeval fortresses in the vicinity of Banja Luka include Vrbas (1224), Župa Zemljanik (1287), Kotor Varoš (1323), Zvečaj (1404), and Bočac (1446). In one document written by king Vladislav II on 6 February 1494 Juraj Mikulasić was mentioned as castellan of Banja Luka. Below the town was a smaller settlement with one Catholic monastery.[8]
Ottoman rule
edit
Banja Luka fell to the Ottomans in 1527. It became the seat of the Sanjak of Bosnia some time prior to 1554, until 1580 when the Bosnia Eyalet was established. Bosnian beylerbeys were seated in Banja Luka until 1639.[11] Ferhad Pasha Sokolović, a relative of Grand Vizier Mehmed-pasha Sokolović, had upon his return to Bosnia in 1574, begun the building of over 200 buildings ranging from artisan and sales shops to wheat warehouses, baths and mosques. Among more important commissions were the Ferhadija and Arnaudija mosques during whose construction plumbing infrastructure was laid out, that served surrounding residential areas.[12] This stimulated the economic and urban development of Banja Luka, which soon became one of the leading commercial and political centres in Bosnia. It was also the central sanjak in the Bosnia Eyalet. In 1688, the city was burned down by the Austrian army, but it quickly recovered. Later periodic intrusions by the Austrian army stimulated military developments in Banja Luka, which made it into a strategic military centre. Orthodox churches and monasteries near Banja Luka were built in the 19th century.
In the 19th century, Sephardic Jews and Trappists migrated to the city and contributed to the early industrialization of the region by building mills, breweries, brick factories, textile factories, and other important structures.[13] The Trappist monastery built in the 19th century lent its name to the neighbourhood of Trappisti and has left a large legacy in the area through its Trappist cheese and its beer production.[14][15]
In 1835 and 1836, during Ottoman administration, numerous people from Banja Luka emigrated to Lešnica, Lipnica, and Loznica, the villages around Loznica, and to Šabac.[16]
Austro-Hungarian rule
editDespite its leading position in the region, Banja Luka as a city was not modernised until Austro-Hungarian occupation in the late 19th century. Railroads, schools, factories, and infrastructure appeared, and were developed, which turned Banja Luka into a modern city.
Yugoslavia
edit
After World War I, the town became the capital of the Vrbas Banovina, a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The provincial capital owed its rapid progress to the first Ban Svetislav Milosavljević. During that time, the Banski dvor and its twin sister, the Administration building, the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, a theatre and a museum were built, the Grammar School was renovated, the Teachers College enlarged, a city bridge was built and the park renovated. 125 elementary schools were functioning in Banja Luka in 1930. The revolutionary ideas of the time were incubated by the "Pelagić" association and the Students' Club. Banja Luka naturally became the organisational centre of anti-fascist work in the region.
World War II
editDuring World War II, Banja Luka was occupied by Axis troops and was included into the Independent State of Croatia, a Nazi puppet-state led by Pavelić's Ustaše. Most of Banja Luka's Serbs and Jews were deported to concentration camps such as Jasenovac and Stara Gradiška. The Jasenovac camp was one of the largest extermination camps in Europe, which was notorious for its high mortality rate and the barbaric practices which occurred in it.[17][18] On 7 February 1942, Ustaše paramilitaries, led by a Franciscan friar, Miroslav Filipović (aka Tomislav Filipović-Majstorović), killed more than 2,300 Serbs (among them 500 children) in Drakulić, Motike and Šargovac (a part of the Banja Luka municipality).[19]
The city's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and Orthodox church of the Holy Trinity were totally demolished by the Ustaše, as was the Church of St. George in Petrićevac. The Bishop of Banja Luka, Platon Jovanović, was arrested by the Ustaše on 5 May 1941, and was tortured and killed. His body was thrown into the Vrbanja river.[20] The city was liberated by the Yugoslav Partisans on 22 April 1945.
1969 earthquake
editOn 26 and 27 October 1969, two devastating earthquakes (6.0 and 6.4 on the Richter scale) damaged many buildings in Banja Luka. Around 20 to 23 people were killed, and over a thousand injured.[21] A large building called Titanik in the centre of the town was razed to the ground, and the area was later turned into a central public square.[22][23] With contributions from all over Yugoslavia, Banja Luka was repaired and rebuilt. During this period a large Serb population moved to the city from the surrounding villages, and from more distant areas in Herzegovina.
Demographics
edit
The 2013 census in Bosnia indicated a population of 185,042, overwhelmingly Serbs.[24][25][26]
Population
edit| Population of settlements – Banja Luka municipality | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1879 | 1885 | 1895 | 1910 | 1921 | 1931 | 1948 | 1953 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2013 | |
| Total | 158,736 | 183,618 | 195,692 | 185,042 | |||||||||
| Agino Selo | 1,106 | 429 | |||||||||||
| Banja Luka | 9,560 | 11,357 | 13,566 | 14,800 | 18,001 | 22,165 | 31,223 | 38,135 | 50,650 | 90,831 | 123,937 | 143,079 | 138,963 |
| Barlovci | 624 | 685 | |||||||||||
| Bistrica | 1,703 | 1,367 | |||||||||||
| Bočac | 1,685 | 836 | |||||||||||
| Borkovići | 976 | 585 | |||||||||||
| Bronzani Majdan | 1,019 | 590 | |||||||||||
| Debeljaci | 1,073 | 1,190 | |||||||||||
| Dragočaj | 2,578 | 2,273 | |||||||||||
| Drakulić | 319 | 1,262 | |||||||||||
| Goleši | 827 | 369 | |||||||||||
| Jagare | 1,269 | 1,291 | |||||||||||
| Kmećani | 458 | 205 | |||||||||||
| Kola | 2,241 | 1,212 | |||||||||||
| Kola Donja | 757 | 413 | |||||||||||
| Krmine | 980 | 546 | |||||||||||
| Krupa na Vrbasu | 1,858 | 1,199 | |||||||||||
| Kuljani | 1,207 | 4,126 | |||||||||||
| Ljubačevo | 663 | 453 | |||||||||||
| Melina | 1,260 | 739 | |||||||||||
| Motike | 2,009 | 2,475 | |||||||||||
| Obrovac | 1,046 | 469 | |||||||||||
| Pavići | 607 | 262 | |||||||||||
| Pavlovac | 1,522 | 1,825 | |||||||||||
| Pervan Donji | 672 | 261 | |||||||||||
| Piskavica | 3,798 | 2,617 | |||||||||||
| Potkozarje [Ivanjska] | 4,577 | 2,965 | |||||||||||
| Prijakovci | 576 | 832 | |||||||||||
| Priječani | 840 | 1,992 | |||||||||||
| Prnjavor Mali | 309 | 374 | |||||||||||
| Radosavska | 514 | 268 | |||||||||||
| Ramići | 1,035 | 1,739 | |||||||||||
| Rekavice | 2,679 | 2,105 | |||||||||||
| Šargovac | 1,313 | 3,014 | |||||||||||
| Slavićka | 985 | 682 | |||||||||||
| Stričići | 464 | 208 | |||||||||||
| Verići | 1,237 | 1,041 | |||||||||||
| Zalužani | 561 | 629 | |||||||||||
Ethnic composition
edit| Ethnic composition – Banja Luka city [27] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1991 | 1981 | 1971 | 1953 | 1948 | 1921 | 1910 | |
| Total | 138,963 (100%) | 143,079 (100%) | 123,937 (100%) | 90,831 (100%) | 38,135 (100%) | 31,223 (100%) | 18,001 (100%) | 14,800 (100%) |
| Serbs | 121,185 (87,2%) | 70,155 (49,0%) | 51,839 (41,8%) | 41,297 (45,5%) | 15,299 (40,1%) | 10,861 (34,8%) | 5,324 (29,6%) | 3,694 (25,0%) |
| Bosniaks | 7,573 (5,5%) | 27,689 (19,4%) | 20,916 (16,9%) | 23,411 (25,8%) | 9,800 (25,7%) | 9,951 (31,9%) | 7,201 (40,0%) | 6,588 (44,5%) |
| Croats | 4,205 (3,0%) | 15,700 (11,0%) | 16,314 (13,2%) | 17,897 (19,7%) | 10,810 (28,3%) | 8,662 (24,6%) | 4,718 (26,2%) | 3,930 (26,6%) |
| Unaffiliated | 2,520 (1,8%) | 2,226 (5,8%) | 1,749 (5,6%) | 672 (3,5%) | 366 (2,5%) | |||
| Jews | 222 (1,5%) | |||||||
| Others | 1,418 (1,0%) | 6,890 (4,8%) | 2,570 (2,1%) | 2,014 (2,2%) | ||||
| Yugoslavs | 615 (0,4%) | 22,645 (15,8%) | 30,318 (24,5%) | 4,606 (5,1%) | ||||
| Ukrainians | 396 (0,3%) | |||||||
| Montenegrins | 321 (0,2%) | 695 (0,6%) | 600 (0,7%) | |||||
| Unknown | 232 (0,2%) | |||||||
| Slovenes | 215 (0,2%) | 456 (0,4%) | 636 (0,7%) | |||||
| Roma | 129 (0,09%) | 499 (0,4%) | 59 (0,07%) | |||||
| Macedonians | 126 (0,09%) | 172 (0,14%) | 177 (0,2%) | |||||
| Albanians | 28 (0,02%) | 158 (0,13%) | 134 (0,15%) | |||||
| Ethnic composition – Banja Luka municipality | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1991 | 1981 | 1971 | ||||
| Total | 185,042 (100%) | 195,692 (100%) | 183,618 (100%) | 158,736 (100%) | |||
| Serbs | 165,750 (89,6%) | 106,826 (54,6%) | 93,389 (50,9%) | 92,465 (58,3%) | |||
| Bosniaks | 7,681 (4,2%) | 28,558 (14,6%) | 21,726 (11,8%) | 24,268 (15,3%) | |||
| Croats | 5,104 (2,8%) | 29,026 (14,8%) | 30,442 (16,6%) | 33,371 (21,0%) | |||
| Unaffiliated | 2,733 (1,5%) | ||||||
| Others | 1,521 (0,8%) | 7,626 (3,9%) | 3,370 (1,8%) | 2,275 (1,4%) | |||
| Yugoslavs | 648 (0,4%) | 23,656 (12,1%) | 32,624 (17,8%) | 4,684 (3,0%) | |||
| Ukrainians | 413 (0,2%) | ||||||
| Unknown | 337 (0,2%) | ||||||
| Montenegrins | 335 (0,2%) | 715 (0,4%) | 612 (0,4%) | ||||
| Slovenes | 230 (0,1%) | 495 (0,3%) | 685 (0,4%) | ||||
| Roma | 132 (0,07%) | 503 (0,3%) | 59 (0,04%) | ||||
| Macedonians | 130 (0,07%) | 189 (0,1%) | 178 (0,1%) | ||||
| Albanians | 28 (0,02%) | 165 (0,09%) | 139 (0,09%) | ||||
Government
edit
Banja Luka plays an important role on different levels of Bosnia and Herzegovina's government structures. Banja Luka is the centre of the government for the Municipality of Banja Luka. A number of entity and state institutions are seated in the city. The Republika Srpska Government and the National Assembly are based in Banja Luka.[29]
The Bosnia and Herzegovina State Agencies based in the city include the Indirect Taxation Authority, the Deposit Insurance Agency as well as a branch of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina (formerly the National Bank of Republika Srpska). Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Serbia, the United Kingdom and the United States maintain diplomatic representation through consulates-general in Banja Luka.[30]
As of 2021, the mayor is Draško Stanivuković of the Party of Democratic Progress, elected in 2020.[31]
Economy
edit
In 1981, Banja Luka's GDP per capita was 97% of the Yugoslav average.[32]
Although the city itself was not directly affected by the Bosnian war in the early 1990s, its economy was. In this period Banja Luka fell behind the world in key areas such as technology, with socially owned technology firms such as SOUR Rudi Čajavec collapsing, resulting in a rather stagnant economy. However, in recent years, the financial services sector has gained in importance in the city. In 2002, the trading began on the newly established Banja Luka Stock Exchange. The number of companies listed, the trading volume and the number of investors have increased significantly. A number of big companies such as Telekom Srpske, Rafinerija ulja Modriča, Banjalučka Pivara and Vitaminka are all listed on the exchange and are traded regularly. Investors, apart from those from Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia, now include a number of investment funds from the EU, and from Norway, the United States, Japan and China.
A number of financial services regulators, such as the Republika Srpska Securities Commission and the RS Banking Agency are headquartered in Banja Luka. This, along with the fact that some of the major banks in Bosnia, the Deposit Insurance Agency and the value-added tax (VAT) authority are all based in the city, has helped Banja Luka establish itself as a major financial centre of the country.[citation needed]
Economic summary
editThe following table gives a summary of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):[33]
| Activity | Total | % |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 12,579 | 18% |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 788 | 1% |
| Transportation and storage | 2,747 | 4% |
| Real estate activities | 318 | 0% |
| Public administration and defense; compulsory social security | 9,162 | 13% |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 3,900 | 6% |
| Other service activities | 1,968 | 3% |
| Mining and quarrying | 25 | 0% |
| Manufacturing | 8,972 | 13% |
| Information and communication | 3,567 | 5% |
| Human health and social work activities | 5,948 | 9% |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3,212 | 5% |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 817 | 1% |
| Education | 5,301 | 8% |
| Construction | 3,241 | 5% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 1,760 | 3% |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 586 | 1% |
| Administrative and support service activities | 1,368 | 2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,564 | 5% |
| Total | 69,283 | 100% |
Culture
edit
The Museum of Republika Srpska inherited the Ethnographic Museum established in 1930,[34][35] and broadened its setting with collections of archeology, history, art history and nature. The Museum of Modern Art of Republika Srpska, also called MSURS, the Museum of Contemporary Art, displays exhibitions of both domestic and worldwide artists.[36]
Banja Luka is home to the National Theatre[37] and National Library,[38][39] both dating from the first half of the 20th century, and of numerous other theatres. The headquarters of the Archives of Republika Srpska is situated in the building known as Carska kuća or Imperial House, built around 1880. It has been in continuous public use longer than any other structure in Banja Luka.
One of the best-known cultural sites in Banja Luka is the cultural centre of "Banski Dvor" (Halls of the Ban), built in the 1930s as the residence for the Bans of the Vrbas Banovina.[40][41]
There is a number of Cultural Artistic Associations in the city. The oldest is CAA "Pelagić" (founded 1927), one of the oldest institutions of this kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[42]
Sport
edit
Banja Luka has one major football stadium and several indoor sports halls. The local handball, basketball and football teams bear the traditional name Borac (fighter). There are sixteen football clubs in the city,[43] with the most notable being Luka are Borac Banja Luka (2020–2021 season champions of Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina), BSK Banja Luka, and Omladinac Banja Luka (both in the First League of the Republika Srpska), FK Naprijed Banja Luka and FK Vrbas Banja Luka
FK Borac Banja Luka is one of the most popular football club in the Republika Srpska. The club has won several major trophies in its history such as trophies as a champion of Mitropa Cup, Yugoslav Cup, Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Cup, First League of the Republika Srpska, Republic Srpska Cup. The club has participated in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.[44]
The city has a long tradition of handball. RK Borac Banja Luka was the European Champion in 1976, the European Vice-Champion in 1975 and the winner of the IHF Cup in 1991.[45]
The local tennis tournament, "Memorijal Trive Vujića", has become professional and has been awarded ATP status in 2001, with the rank of a Challenger. The Banja Luka Challenger takes place in September each year. In 2006, the Davis Cup matches of the Europe/Africa Zone Group III took place in the city. In April 2023, Banja Luka was host to the 2023 Srpska Open tournament, as part of the 2023 ATP Tour.[46]
Since 2015, the city hosts the Banjaluka Half-marathon.[47]
In 2005 and 2019 the European Championships in Rafting were held on the Vrbas river.[48][49]
Banja Luka was designated European city of sport in 2018.[50]
Transport
edit
Public transportation within Banja Luka is exclusively operated by the bus services. 23 bus lines[51] stretch across the city, connecting the downtown to the rest of the city and its suburbs. The oldest bus link in the city is line No 1. Taxis are also readily available. The expressway E-661 (locally known as M-16) leads north to Croatia from Banja Luka by way of Gradiška, near the Bosnian/Croatian border. A wide range of bus services are available to most neighbouring and larger towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to regional and European destinations such as Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, France, Italy, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary and Slovakia.
Banja Luka is a minor hub of the railway services of Željeznice Republike Srpske, which comprises one half of the railway network of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[52] Services operate to most northern Bosnian towns, and two modern air-conditioned 'Talgo' trains run to Sarajevo every day. However, services are relatively slow and infrequent compared with neighbouring countries.
Banja Luka International Airport (IATA: BNX, ICAO: LQBK) is located 23 km (14 mi) north of Banja Luka. The airport is served by Air Serbia, which operates flights to Belgrade and summer charters to Antalya and Athens, while Ryanair operates flights to Bergamo, Berlin, Brussels, Gothenburg, Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, Memmingen, Frankfurt–Hahn and Vienna. There is also Banja Luka Zalužani Airfield, a small airstrip.
Public transport
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Banja Luka overwhelmingly relies on a network of buses for its public transport. The following bus lines exist in the city:[51]
- 1 - Mađir - Ortopedija - Nova bolnica
- 3 - Centar (Vodovod) - Vrbanja - Zeleni vir
- 3B - Centar (Vodovod) - Debeljaci
- 6 - Autobuska stanica - Lauš - Saračica
- 7 - Lauš - Paprikovac - Centar - Obilićevo (TO Bema)
- 8 - Autobuska stanica - Podgora
- 9 - Česma - Centar - Desna novoselija
- 9B - Česma - Medeno polje - Centar
- 10 - Autobuska stanica - Obilićevo
- 12 - Centar - Paprikovac (vidik)
- 13 - Lazarevo - Obilićevo
- 13A - Nova bolnica - Centar - Zalužani
- 13B - Novo groblje - Lazarevo (Poslovna škola)
- 13C - Centar - Tunjice - Zalužani
- 13P - Obilićevo (Krfska ulica) - Petrićevac
- 14 - Starčevica - Centar - Starčevica
- 14B - Autobuska stanica - Borik - Starčevica
- 17 - Obilićevo - Nova bolnica
- 17A - Starčevica - Nova bolnica
- 19 - Šargovac - Centar (Vidovdanska)
- 20 - Autobuska stanica - Centar - Paprikovac (Ul. Ranka Šipke)
- 39 - Drakulić (Vrtače) - Centar
- 39A - Drakulić (avion) - Rakovačke bare - Centar
In addition to those, there are 34 suburban lines. A single-use bus ticket costs 2.3 convertible marks, while a day ticket that allows unlimited transfers costs 7.1 marks.[51] Pensioners and citizens older than 65 enjoy free transit.[53] The bus system faces several challenges, including the city government's debt to the private carriers[54] and the vehicles' advanced age.[55]
International relations
editTwin towns – Sister cities
editBanja Luka is twinned with the following cities:[56]
Belgrade, Serbia, since 2020[57]- Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia[56]
Patras, Greece, since 1995[56][58]
Moscow, Russia, since 2003[56]
Kaiserslautern, Germany, since 2003[56]
Lviv, Ukraine[56]
Kranj, Slovenia, since 1965[56]
Campobasso, Italy[56]- Bari, Italy[56]
- Bitonto, Italy[56]
Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, Israel, since 2010[56]
Graz, Austria
Västerås, Sweden, since 1969- Zemun, Serbia
Focșani, Romania, since 2012
Partner cities
edit- Novi Sad, Serbia, since 2006[56]
- Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia[59][60][better source needed][dubious – discuss]
Notable people
edit
- Gorica Aćimović, Serbian-Austrian handballer
- Srđan Babić, Serbian footballer, World U-20 champion
- Marijan Beneš, Serbian boxer and poet, European amateur and professional champion, Yugoslav Boxer of the 20th century[61]
- Mladen Bojinović, Serbian handball player, World Championship bronze medalist
- Nikola Ćaćić, Serbian tennis player
- Saša Čađo, Serbian basketball player, Olympic bronze medalist and European champion
- Adem Čejvan, Bosnian actor
- Radenko Dobraš (born 1968), Serbian basketball player
- Nela Eržišnik, Croatian actress and comedian
- Muhamed Filipović, Bosnian academic, philosopher and writer
- Slađana Golić, Serbian basketball player, Olympic and World Championships silver medalist
- Srđan Grahovac, Serbian footballer
- Anton Josipović, Serbian boxer, Olympic champion
- Božidar Jović, Serbian handball player
- Ivan Franjo Jukić, Bosnian writer
- Nasiha Kapidžić-Hadžić, Bosnian writer and poet
- Osman Karabegović, politician
- Milorad Karalić, Serbian handball player, Olympic champion
- Tomislav Knez, football player, Olympic champion and European Championship silver medalist
- Aleksandar Knežević, Serbian handball player, European Championship bronze medalist
- Petar Kočić, Serbian writer
- Franjo Komarica, Roman Catholic Bishop of Banja Luka
- Abid Kovačević, retired footballer
- Vladan Kovačević, footballer
- DJ Krmak, Serbian singer
- Ivan Ljubičić, Croatian tennis player, World No. 3 and Olympic bronze medalist
- Saša Lošić, Serbian singer and composer
- Darko Maletić, Serbian footballer
- Draženko Mitrović, Serbian athlete, two-time Paralympic silver medalist and European champion
- Ivan Merz, Catholic lay academic; beatified by Pope John Paul II
- Zlatan Muslimović, Bosnian footballer
- Mustafa Nadarević, actor
- Romana Panić, Serbian singer
- Nikola Pejaković, Serbian actor and musician
- Zlatko Saračević, Croatian handball player, Olympic and World champion
- Marija Šestić, Serbian singer
- Velimir Sombolac, Serbian football player and manager, Olympic champion
- Neven Subotić, Serbian footballer
- Ognjen Vranješ, Serbian footballer
- Oto Rebula, athlete
- Srđan Vujmilović, photographer
- Sredoje Zekanović, director of Bokserski klub Slavija Banja Luka, director of Yugoslavia national boxing team[62]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Preliminary Results of the 2013 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in Bosnia & Herzegovina Archived 2 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Banja Luka. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2019
- ^ Mihaylov, Valentin (2020). "Ethnoterritorial Divisions and Urban Geopolitics in Post-Yugoslav Mostar". Spatial Conflicts and Divisions in Post-socialist Cities. The Urban Book Series. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Verlag. p. 95. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-61765-3_6. ISBN 978-3-030-61765-3. ISSN 2365-7588. S2CID 234970806.
Bosniaks prevail in the capital city of Sarajevo, while Serbs are dominant in their entity and its capital, Banja Luka. Although Sarajevo is the capital of the entire multinational federation, Serbs and Croats often perceive it as a city governed by Bosniaks. Like many other cities, villages, municipalities and regions across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mostar underwent the period of national homogenization as a result of ethnic cleansing or forced migration in the face of extreme nationalism and violence. Unlike Sarajevo and Banja Luka, no ethnic group succeeded in achieving full supremacy in Mostar.
- ^ "АСБЛ >> GeFEneral information". www.banjaluka.rs.ba. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ Ivan Lovrenović, " 'Serb' towns in Bosnia" Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, BH Dani, 20 July 2001
- ^ a b "Klimatafel von Banja Luka/Bosnien und Herzegowina" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020: Banja Luka-14542" (XLSX). ncei.noaa.gov (Excel Workbook). National Oceanic and Atmosoheric Administration. p. 1. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "Ad Ladios: a Pleiades place resource". Pleiades: a gazetteer of past places. 23 October 2012. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- ^ HAMDIJA KREŠEVLJAKOVIĆ STARI BOSANSKI GRADOVI (VIEUX BOURGS BOSNIAQUES) https://www.fmks.gov.ba/download/zzs/1953/1-1953.pdf Archived 18 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine #page=26
- ^ Coward, Martin (30 September 2008). Urbicide: The Politics of Urban Destruction. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-46131-3.
- ^ "Razed ancient Bosnian mosque re-opens". BBC News. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- ^ Društvo istoričara Bosne i Hercegovine (1952). Godišnjak: Annuaire.
Бања Лука је постала сједиште босанског санџака нешто прије 1554 и остала то све до 1580 када је основан босански пашалук. У Бањој Луци су столовали и босански беглербези све до године 1639.
- ^ Kolovos, Elias (2007). The Ottoman Empire, the Balkans, the Greek lands: toward a social and economic history: studies in honor of John C. Alexander. Isis Press. p. 192. ISBN 978-975-428-346-4.
- ^ Teinović, Bratislav (2018). "Trapistička opatija „Marija Zvijezda" u Banjaluci (1869–2009)/The Trappist Abbey „Marija Zvijezda" in Banjaluka (1869–2009)". In Matijević, Margareta (ed.). Trapisti u Banjoj Luci – Europa u Bosni i Hercegovini (in Croatian). Zagreb: Croatian Institute of History. ISBN 978-953-7840-07-5. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ Teinović, Bratislav (2020). "Trapistička opatija Marija Zvijezda. Prosvjetno–kulturni svjetionik Banjaluke i Bosanske Krajine (1869–1946)". Bosna Franciscana (in Croatian) (52): 141–158. ISSN 1330-7487. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ Teinović, Bratislav (1 January 2017). "Privredna oaza banjalučkih trapista (1869/1878–1941.)/Oasis économique de Banja Luka trappiste (1869/78-1941)". Cleuna 2, Muzej I Galerija Gorica–Livno, Livno. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ Jovan Cvijić, Balkansko poluostrvo i južnoslovenske zemlje /Balkan Peninsula and South Slav Countries/ (Belgrade: Zavod za izdavanje udžbenika, 1966), pp. 151-152.
- ^ Pavlowitch, Stevan K. (2008). Hitler's New Disorder: The Second World War in Yugoslavia. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-85065-895-5. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ Levy, Michele Frucht (2009). ""The Last Bullet for the Last Serb": The Ustaša Genocide against Serbs: 1941–1945". Nationalities Papers. 37 (6): 807–837. doi:10.1080/00905990903239174. S2CID 162231741.
- ^ "Radio-Televizija Republike Srpske". Rtrs.tv. 29 August 2011. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- ^ "Svestenomucenik Platon". spc.org.yu. Archived from the original on 3 October 2006.
- ^ NOAA National Geographical Data Center, Significant Earthquake Database Archived 22 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine states that the 15:36 26 October 1969 earthquake was 6.0 magnitude (intensity 8 Mercalli scale) and killed 14 people and causing $50 million damage, whilst the 08:10 27 October 1969 earthquake was 6.4 magnitude (intensity 9 Mercalli scale) and killed 9 people. The earthquake location was 44.9 Lat 17.3 Long on 26 October, and 44.9 Lat 17.2 Long on 27 October. Both had a focal depth of 33.
Observing our environment from space: new solutions for a new millennium, proceedings of the 21st EARSeL Symposium, Paris, France, 14–16 May 2001, edited by Gérard Bégni, pub Taylor & Francis, 2002, p267 claims that the earthquake in the vicinity of Banja Luka in 1969 had a magnitude of 6.4. (Comparison of other earthquakes mentioned shows that this is 6.4 on the Richter scale.)
Chronology of Extreme Weather, by Ken Polsson, claims: "magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurs. 20 killed, 150 seriously injured, and 65,000 left homeless."
Sarajevo Rocked by Two Earthquakes BalkanInsight.com 31 March 2009 Archived 13 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine, which claims that: "The biggest earthquake in Bosnia and Herzegovina's history took place in 26 and 27 October 1969... That tremor measured 5.4 on the Richter scale and between 7 and 8 on the Mercalli scale."
Gymnasium Banja Luka History Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine claims that the 26 October 1969 earthquake had an intensity of 7.5 on the Mercalli intensity scale, whilst the 27 October 1969 earthquake had an intensity of 8.5 on the Mercalli scale. - ^ Milojević, Milkica (27 October 2016). "UKLETO IME Kako je potonuo banjalučki TITANIK". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ Banjaluka.com (28 October 2016). "Kako je potonuo banjalučki Titanik (Foto) (Video)". Banjaluka (in Bosnian). Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Popis 2013" (PDF) (in Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "War Crimes in Bosnia-Hercegovina: U.N. Cease-Fire Won't Help Banja Luka". UNHCR. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- ^ "OSCE Regional Centre Banja Luka: Fact Sheet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2006.
- ^ "Popis 2013 u BiH". www.statistika.ba. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "nacion po mjesnim.xls" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- ^ "About National Assembly | NSRS". www.narodnaskupstinars.net. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Konzulati". www.banjaluka-tourism.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Izbori u Bosni - kad ne dobiješ glas ni od sebe". BBC News na srpskom (in Serbian (Latin script)). 16 November 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ Radovinović, Radovan; Bertić, Ivan, eds. (1984). Atlas svijeta: Novi pogled na Zemlju (in Croatian) (3rd ed.). Zagreb: Sveučilišna naklada Liber.
- ^ "Cities and Municipalities of Republika Srpska" (PDF). rzs.rs.ba. Republika Srspka Institute of Statistics. 25 December 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- ^ "Музеј Републике Српске – Бања Лука". Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Музеј РС". Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "O muzeju". msurs.net. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Историјат". www.np.rs.ba. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ www.meliorsoft.com. "Biblioteka u Banjoj Luci". Upoznaj Srpsku. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Историјски преглед". nub.rs. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Novo ruho za simbol Banjaluke". N1 (in Bosnian). 26 July 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Banski Dvor - Nekad banov dom, danas dom kulture grada Banja Luka". BanjalukaTravel (in Serbian). July 2017. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "RKUD "Pelagić", Banja Luka". Rkud-pelagic.org. 13 August 2012. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- ^ "Sportske organizacije i klubovi u Banjaluci - Banjalukasport.com". banjalukasport.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "EVROPA NAKON 18 GODINA!". Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "FINALE KUPA I PRVI EVROPSKI NASTUPI". Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Serbia Open finds replacement location for 2023, Novak Djokovic intends to play". .tennisworldusa.org. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Vodič za učesnike – Participants Guide | Polumaraton - polumaraton" (in Bosnian). Archived from the original on 6 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "BANJALUKA IS READY FOR THE EUROPEAN RAFTING CHAMPIONSHIP 2015 | Rafting klub Kanjon – Banja Luka" (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ Welle (http://www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Banjaluka svjetski rafting centar | DW | 17.05.2009". DW.COM (in Bosnian). Archived from the original on 3 August 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "European Cities of Sport". Aces Europe. September 2017. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ a b c "Red vožnje gradskog prevoza". Grad Banja Luka. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Republika Srpska rail investment plan". Railway Gazette. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "Stanivuković najavio besplatan prevoz za sve penzionere u Banjaluci, evo kako da se prijavite (VIDEO)". RTRS. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Grad duguje dva miliona KM banjalučkim prevoznicima". capital.ba. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Banjalučani se voze autobusima starim 16 godina: Ne zna se ni koliko ih ima klimu". srpskainfo. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Градови партнери [City of Banja Luka - Partner cities]. Administrative Office of the City of Banja Luka (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ В, А. "Београд се побратимио са Бањалуком". Politika Online. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "e-patras.gr - Διεθνείς Σχέσεις". Archived from the original on 30 July 2012.
- ^ "Међународна сарадња". Град Бања Лука (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ Srna (22 April 2014). "Sporazum o saradnji Banjaluke i Kosovske Mitrovice". Nezavisne novine (in Serbian). Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Bokserski šampioni izabrali najuspešnije (AUDIO)". Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ "Istaknute istorijske ličnosti Banjaluke (XVI): Sredoje Zekanović". 27 July 2014. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
External links
edit
Banja Luka travel guide from Wikivoyage- Banja Luka City homepage
- Banja Luka City Travel Guide
- Banja Luka News
