Brčko (br-ch-ko) is a city located in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, bordering the Sava River. The photo above shows City Hall, created in 1892 and declared a Bosnian monument in the year 2004.
Because of its close proximity to Croatia and Serbia, Brčko has a diverse population of Bosnians, Serbians, and Croatians all living together. All signs found in the city are written in two alphabets: latin and cyrillic. It’s also not unusual to find a church facing a mosque across the street.
Cultural events of all kinds are abundant here, whether it be folklore, religious presentations, concerts, or local music festivals. Summertime brings in a wide variety of diaspora from all over the world, particularly from European countries and North America. The smoke-filled cafés and music-blasting clubs are filled as soon as you step downtown at night.
In Brčko, you’ll find a mix of cultural food (burek, ćevapi), typical fast food restaurants, and a tasty crêpe stop at the entrance of the city center. One thing you’ll never be is hungry.
The Sava River brings locals and tourists many leisurely activities: boating, swimming, concerts, grilling … the list goes on and on. My favorite part? You can see Croatia (Gunja) right across the river!
Compared to Sarajevo and Mostar, Brčko is less visited by tourists, but still offers equal beauty and culture. This colorful city is the 8th largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“We are trying to unite the three nationalities and to get young people to forget who they are, just be equal, and happy doing things together,” says Edina Vosanovic, a local co-ordinator at Svitac. “When we call them together in one place you forget who is a Serb, a Croat or a Muslim, it really doesn’t matter.”
Savcic still remembers his parents talking to him the night before his Serbian primary school became mixed. “My parents just said, ‘son, the people will come with different names but they are just like us. Don’t listen to what other people say about them”.
ST
