A group of ambassadors accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense Zukan Helez, paid a working visit today to the municipality of Kupres and the Franciscan Monastery of Šćit in the municipality of Prozor-Rama.
During the visit, the delegation visited significant natural and cultural sites, the Church of St. John the Baptist in Otinovci, including the geological phenomenon of Japage, Mount Stožer, Lake Kukavičko and the village of Donje Ravno. The tour program concluded with a visit to the museum of the Franciscan Monastery in Šćit, in the municipality of Prozor-Rama.
The first destination visited by the ambassadorial delegation was the Church of St. John the Baptist in Otinovci, municipality of Kupres — a unique site where as many as four churches were built in different historical periods. One of them was built by the Bosnian Queen Katarina Kosača-Kotromanić.
The geological phenomenon of Japage, located in the western part of the Kupreš plain, attracted special attention from visitors. It is a unique complex of five sinkholes, among which there is a small lake, and the most impressive of them – Kotlić – reaches a depth of as much as 97 meters.
The ambassadors then visited the Stožer mountain, which stretches between the municipalities of Kupres and Bugojno, with the highest peak at 1,758 meters above sea level. Stožer is known for its attractive ski resort, which attracts a large number of visitors during the winter, but also for its springs of high-quality mineral water, of which there are, according to estimates, more than 365.
Among the must-see points of the visit was the Kukavičko Lake, hidden only eight kilometers from the center of Kupres. This natural lake, which the locals proudly call a local secret, delighted the ambassadors with its untouched nature and diversity of ecosystems, which is why it is considered one of the most valuable natural lakes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As part of the visit, the delegation also visited Donje Ravno – one of the oldest and most authentic villages in the Kupres region. On that occasion, they visited the tombstones and a mosque that is still under construction, the construction of which was jointly financed by citizens of all three confessions. This visit was also an opportunity to better learn about the cultural identity and rich tradition of this area.
The two-day tour of the group of ambassadors accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina ended with a visit to the museum of the Franciscan Monastery in Šćit, Prozor-Rama municipality. The delegation was welcomed by the guardian of the monastery, Fr. Andrija Jozić, who welcomed the guests with the words: “Welcome to the most beautiful country in the world.” During the visit, the ambassadors had the opportunity to tour the monastery, learn about its rich history, and gain insight into the cultural and spiritual heritage of this region.
At the end of the visit, Minister of Defense Zukan Helez emphasized: “Today’s guests were delighted with the natural beauties they saw. The tourism potential of our country has not yet been fully utilized. I hope that this visit will contribute to more significant investment in the tourism sector of this region.”
Minister Helez’s initiative aims to promote the economic, commercial and natural potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with special emphasis on strengthening international cooperation and attracting foreign investments to this part of the country, the Public Relations Office of the Ministry of Defense of BiH announced.
