Travnik
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| Mayor | Besim Halilović |
| Area - Total | 35 kmē (21.7 mi²) |
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| Time zone | Central European: UTC+1 |
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Travnik is a city in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, 90km west of Sarajevo. It is the capital of the Central Bosnia Canton, and is located in the Travnik Municipality. Travnik today has some 27,000 residents, with a metro (municipality) population that is probably close to 70,000 people. It is famous for being the seat of the governors of Bosnia from 1686 to 1850, and its cultural heritage dating from that period.
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Geography and Climate
Geography
Travnik is located very close to the geographic center of Bosnia and Herzegovina at Template:Coor dm. The river Lašva passes through the city, flowing from west to east before joining the Bosna. Travnik itself is built in the large Lašva river valley, which connects the Bosna river valley in the west with the Vrbas river valley in the east.
Travnik is found 514 meters above sea level. Its most distinguishing geographic feature are its mountains, Vilenica and Vlašić. Vlašić, named after the Vlachs, is one of the tallest mountains in the country at 1933 meters (6342 feet).
Climate
Travnik has a continental climate, located between the Adriatic sea to the South and Pannonia to the North. Average summer temperature is 18.2°C (64.8°F). Average winter temperature on the other hand is a cold .5°C (33°F). It snows in Travnik every year.
History
Although there is evidence of some settlement in the region dating back to the bronze age, the true history of Travnik begins during the first few centuries AD. Dating from this time there are numerous indications of Roman settlement in the region, including graves, forts, the remains of various other structures, early Christian basilicas, etc. etc. In the city itself, there have been found Roman coins and plaques. Some writing found indicates the settlement is closely connected to the known Roman colony in modern day Zenica, a mere 15 kilometers or so away.
In the middle ages the Travnik area is known as the župa Lašva province of the medieval Bosnian kingdom. The area is first mentioned by Bela IV of Hungary in 1244. Travnik itself was one of a number of fortified towns in the region, with its fortress Kaštel becoming today's old town sector. The city itself is first mentioned by the Ottomans during their conquest of nearby Jajce.
Following the Ottoman conquest of Bosnia, much of the local population converted to Islam. The city quickly grew into one of the more important settlements in the region, as authorities constructed mosques, marketplaces, and various infrastructure. In 1699 when Sarajevo was set to the torch by the infamous Eugene of Savoy, Travnik became the capital of the Ottoman province of Bosnia and seat of the Bosnian viziers. This period is generally thought of as Travnik's golden age. The city became an important center of government in the whole Western frontier of the empire, and consulates were established by France and Austria-Hungary, leading some to label it, "The Bosnian Istanbul".
The period of Austrian occupation brought westernization and industry to Travnik, but also a heavy decline in importance. While cities such as Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Tuzla, and Zenica grew rapidly, Travnik stayed behind so much that in 1991 it had a mere 30,000 or so people, with 70,000 in the entire municipality. During the Yugoslav Wars, the city was heavily damaged by Serb attacks. Following this, conflict arose between the area's Bosniaks and Croats, which has led some to accuse the Bosnian army of ethnic cleansing. Following the war, Travnik was made the center of the Central Bosnia Canton.
Demographics
Demographic statistics for Travnik are scarce. According to the 1991 Yugoslav census, the area had a population of 70,747. Of these, 31,813 were Bosniaks (45%), 7,777 were Serbs (11%), 26,118 were Croats (37%), and 5,039 "others" (7%). It can probably be safely assumed that the Bosniaks, more than the other three groups, were urbanized and found mostly within the city itself. Following the war came great population shifts, as well as possible ethnic cleansing in the region. Thousands of Croats and Serbs left the area, while thousands of Bosniak refugees flooded in. By December 1997, the area's population was down to 59,367. Of these, 48,861 were Bosniaks (82%), 539 Serbs (1%), 9,144 Croats (15%), and 823 others (1.4*).
Latest population figures are mostly estimates. It is assumed that since 1997, a combination of returning refugees and steady birth rate has resulted in the area climbing back up to around 70,000 residents. As for the city itself, international organizations estimated that by 2004 there were 26,510 people within the city itself.
Government
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, very few cities actually have what would be considered "city governments". Instead, the country's municipalities are essentially based from chief settlement to chief settlement. Thus, though Travnik doesn't really have a city government of its own, it is part of "Municipality Travnik" which for all practical purposes is the de facto city government since its area of jurisdiction covers Travnik and the outlying villages and small towns. An exception to this rule are cities so large they cover more than one municipality (for example, Sarajevo).
Asides from being the obvious center of municipality government, Travnik is also the center of the Central Bosnia Canton, one of the 10 Cantons of Bosnia. Its current mayor is Mr.Besim Halilović. The municipality government has various bureau's dedicated to help in the running of the region, ranging from the bureau of urbanization and construction, to the bureau of refugees and displaced persons.
Economy
The economy of the Travnik region, which was never anything truly extraordinary, suffered greatly during the war period of the early 1990s. Today, most of the region deals with typical rural work such as farming and herding. As far as urban industry is concerned, Travnik has several factories producing everything from matches to furniture. Food processing is also a healthy industry in the region, highlighted by meat and milk companies.
Culture
Travnik has a strong culture, mostly dating back to its time as the center of local government in the Ottoman Empire. Travnik has a popular old town district however, which dates back to the period of Bosnian independence during the first half of the 15th century. Numerous mosques and churches exist in the region, as do tombs of important historical figures and excellent examples of Ottoman architecture. The city museum, built in 1950, is one of the more impressive cultural institutions in the region.
Tourism
Like many Bosnian towns, Travnik's tourism is largely based on its history and geography. Nearby Mt.Vlaišić is one of the tallest peaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and an excellent spot for skiing, hiking, and sledding. Though tourism isn't very strong for the city, Vlaišić is probably its chief tourist attraction. The city itself is also of interest. Numerous structures dating to the Ottoman era have survived in near perfect conditions, such as numerous mosques, oriental homes, a clock tower, and fountains. The city's old town dates back to the early 15th century, making it one of the most popular widely accessible sites from that time.
Miscellaneous
Nobel Prize for literature winner Ivo Andrić (http://www.plavavoda.com/nobelovac.htm) was born in Travnik on September 10 1892. The Bosnian Tornjak, one of Bosnia's two major dog breeds and national symbol, originates in the area, found around Mt.Vlašić. The local football (soccer) team is NK Travnik, established in 1922
External link
- Official page (http://www.travnik.net/)
- Everthing about Travnik in Bosnian (http://www.plavavoda.com/)
- page on Bosnia and Herzegovina tourism site (http://www.bhtourism.ba/cities/travnik.htm)
- Travnik tourist guide (http://www.plavavoda.com/napisano_monografija_eng_1.htm)
- News from Travnik (http://www.eni-news.com)