Hercegovina, surrounded by white stones on the Mediterranean sun is one of the latest oasis of the Old Continent where you can escape from everyday life or have a break and enjoy the fresh air. No matter which way you take to come here, you will always come across magnigicent genuine nature and hospitable people.
Herzegovina is, without any doubt, the latest secret of Europe and Bileća is one of the places which offer you during the whole year ideal conditions for an active holiday and pleasure.
Bileća enjoys a hot-summer, Mediterranean/Mild Continental climate, with short winters and long summers.
Bileća is situated in the East Herzegovina at the crossing of the roads that lead from the south, Adriatic coast and Dubrovnik (60 km), Trebinje (30 km) to the north (Gacko), east (Nikšić) and west (Mostar). It is mainly hilly, karst and toward the north mountain area. Bileća is a town of rich and interesting cultural – historic past.
Below the town itself, there is an origin of Trebišnjica river, where a concrete dam – 105 m high – is erected such creating a huge artificial lake, one of the largest and most beautiful in the world, known as Bileća Lake. From the lake, there is an excellent view on the Red Cave (there is a geological exploration campaign ongoing and some Neolithic findings have already been discovered, and it is considered that there will be some Palaeolithic findings, too), that lies below Kosijerovo Monastery on the Montenegrin side, at the very confine with the municipality.
Baba Mountain is very suitable for the excursion and hunting tourism (Koritnik with 11 sources at the foot of the mountain). There are many religious buildings: Dobrićevo Monastery from the 13th century (with very valuable frescos), a church dedicated to St Lazarus the Martyr and the Heroes from Kosovo, a church dedicated to St Sava, a church dedicated to Holy Archangel Michael in Trnov Dol, a church dedicated to St Đurađ in Dlakoši and a church dedicated to St Elias the Prophet on the small island in Bileća Lake.
H I S T O R Y
The first traces of civilization in Bileća date from the Neolithic period, although archaeological sites are insufficiently explored. The first written documentation of Bileća as an inhabited place can be found in Dubrovnik archive documents dating from 1286, when it is mentioned under the name Bilechia. Bileća is mentioned in the 14th and 15th century as an important cross road town in caravan routes.
A document dated 8 September 1388, mentions that the army of duke Vlatko Vuković defeated the Turkish army at the Battle of Bileća. In the period from 13th to 16th century in the history of this area is a large number of the “stećci” monolith markers which weigh up to 5 tons. Bileća was held by the Turks from 1466, although this was a rebellious area difficult to control. Nearby lies the town of Vučji Do, in which the Battle of Vučji Do took place in 1876.
The Berlin’s Congress included Bileća in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which brought economic development to the region. The first primary school in Bileća was opened in 1880.