MAGICAL HOUSE
Trebević
It’s known that nowhere else does the scent of pine trees fill the air quite like it does on Trebević.
MAGICAL HOUSE
ASCENT TO THE PEAK OF TREBEVIĆ SOFE (1629m)
Trail length: 10km
Hiking time: 3-4hours
Altitude difference from starting point to summit: 491m
It’s known that nowhere else does the scent of pine trees fill the air quite like it does on Trebević. One of the easier ascents to the summit begins on a trail branching off from the old road towards Sarajevo, near the Čelina mountain lodge, where we leave our car and embark on our adventure. The trail leads through Upper and Lower Međuše to Puhovo Polje, a spacious meadow with a spring of fresh water. From there, we continue our ascent along the mauntine crest that leads to the summit of Sofe (1629m). Along the ridge, you’ll be captivated by views of the surrounding mountains. It takes about an hour of easy walking to reach the summit, where any effort goes unnoticed because you feel like you’re in a true mountain fairy tale, surrounded by wildflowers and medicinal herbs. From the summit, the view extends on one side all the way to Jahorina, and on the other side to Bjelašnica, as well as over the city of Sarajevo below. From there, we can descend via forest paths and serpentines to Dobre Vode, and then either to Brus or to the Pino Nature Hotel. Additionally, from the summit, it’s possible to continue along the western ridge to the Jure Franko mountain lodge, built in authentic mountain style and open to visitors.
Departure
from Hotel Pino Nature
Tour length
9km
Tour duration
4h 20min
VISITING THE BOBSLED TRACK ON TREBEVIĆ
From Hotel Pino Nature, we embark on a scentic journey along the forest trail leading to astunning viewpoint where the Trebević gondola glides ovrhead. From there, the trail continues to the end of the gondola and to the start of the Olympic bobsled track. Along the way, we visited Čolina Kapa, where the once-famous Sarajevo observatory was located, and Bistrik Tower also.
We continued our journey to the peak of Velika Čolina Kapa, famous for its magnificenta panoramic view of the city from above. We returned along the bobsled track from the finish to the starting point. The track is now adorned with mesmerizing and imaginative graffiti, as can be seen in the pictures.
The Olympic bobsled and luge track in Sarajevo on Trebević was built for the 1984 Winter Olympics. During the Games, the luge competitions were watched by 20,000 spectators, while the bobsled events were slightly more attended with 30,000 spectators. After the Games, the track was used for competitions in the World Cup circuit. Today, the track is largely preserved and has also become a popular spot for graffiti art.
“The bobsled track is notable for being designed for combined use for bobsled and luge. This would become a standard in construction worldwide after Sarajevo,” said Garibija. The start of the track is at 1,108 meters above sea level, the finish was at 982 meters, and its length is 1,570 meters. The construction of such a track required seven million dollars and was the most complex construction project at the time.
The Trebević track was one of the more challenging ones globally, and the difficulty of creating a good track is evidenced by the fact that there are only 13 licensed bobsled tracks in the world today. Despite its challenges, it was also considered safe.
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THE RAILWAY THAT NO LONGER EXISTS
Once a famed railway of yesteryears, it has now vanished, leaving behind only tunnels and bridges – The famous ‘Ćiro’. This full-day, moderate, hiking tour takes us through the history of one of the most famous railways in the former Yugoslavia, namely the narrow-gauge railway from Sarajevo to Višegrad, which continued through Užice to Belgrade. Built during Austro-Hungarian rule, from Sarajevo to Višegrad in 1906, and finally connected via Užice to Belgrade in 1928, spanning 405 kilometers, it was the lifeline of eastern Bosnia and western Serbia, especially the Drina Valley.
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The famous 'Ćiro'
Trail length
approximately 12 km to Sarajevo
Elevation at the starting point
840 m (Pale)
Elevation at the destination
540 m (Sarajevo)
Tour duration
4 hours to Sarajevo
This adventure, through 11 tunnels and across three bridges, begins at the Old Station in Pale. Along macadam road beside the Miljacka River, which locals still call the ‘railway.’ We pass through the first and second tunnel, after which we come across A bridge where only the skeletal iron structure and wooden sleepers remain. The bridge takes us over a fascinating canyon.
We continue through forested paths and tunnels to a second, smaller bridge. The third bridge no longer exists, so we take a detour. There, on the walls of the third bridge, with its stunning views, we stop for coffee and a snack.
However, “Ćiro” ceased operations in the 1970s, specifically on August 1, 1978, which deeply saddened the residents of the areas it passed through. This inexplicable act by the authorities impoverished some parts of both Bosnia and Serbia, and time showed it contributed to population migrations, due to the loss of connection with other parts of what was then still one country and poor road infrastructure. We continue along the path, which becomes increasingly well-maintained and transforms into a promenade towards the city. We continue to Bistrik Station in Sarajevo, then descend to the starting point of the Trebević gondola.”
Afterwards, a return trip via the Trebević gondola is planned, with an additional 2 km trail offering an impressive view of the city. We will then proceed to Brus, where lunch is scheduled at one of the national restaurants. From Brus, transportation will be arranged to Jahorina for accommodation.”
