For the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 100 bicyclists from different parts of the country participated in an unique event titled ”Tour de Culture BiH“, organized on the 24th May. The purpose of this bicycle tour was to promote the rich and common cultural heritage of BiH, as well as non-motorized transportation and environmental protection.
This event was organized by the Foundation Cultural Heritage without Borders (CHwB) in the framework of the project titled ”Make It Yours!“. Funded by the European Union, the “Make It Yours!“ project is part of the ‘Sarajevo 2014’ programme. This programme incorporates a series of projects implemented in and around the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, in order for Sarajevo to send messages of peace, reconciliation and solidarity to the world.
Participants of the first ”Tour de Culture BiH“ were female and male bicyclists from Sarajevo, Zavidovići, Mostar, Konjic, Čapljina, Stolac, Jablanica, Istočno Sarajevo, Hadžići and other cities across BiH, and abroad. During the tour, participants visited several cultural and historical sites in Herzegovina region, and learned more about tangible and intangible heritage which equally belongs to all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I find it important that my children know about our cultural heritage. I have to admit that I haven’t visited before few of the locations that were part of the tour, so I am very happy to have had the opportunity to do so now,” stated Haris Jordamović who, together with his wife and sun took part in the first ”Tour de Culture BiH“. “We were given an opportunity to enjoy heritage of all communities in BiH, and we believe that getting to know common values we can move towards mutual respect and appreciation”, added Haris.
The tour started in Počitelj, one of the most beautiful towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the participants where present with the traditional music of this region through the performance of the tamburitza (string instrument) band. The bicyclists then continued to the distinctive archaeological site of Mogorjelo, in Čapljina municipality, and visited a village and a catholic church in Šurmanci.
During the tour, participants visited the Monastery of Žitomislići, which dates from the 16th century and is one of the most significant orthodox monasteries in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The tour stopped in the hometown of the Bosnian queen Katarina Kosača – the town of Blagaj, where participants tasted traditional food and drinks, before spending some time in the 16th century tekke at the spring of Buna river. In the afternoon, bicyclists arrived at the Old bridge in Mostar, where the Mostar Majorettes and the City Brass Band of Stolac performed in the final ceremony of the „Tour de Culture BiH“.
“We like sports and we have been for the first time on some of the sites. Taking part at this event we had the opportunity to enjoy riding bicycle and learn something new about our heritage. We are very happy to have been the part of this tour,” is the opinion of Mladenko Vuković i Alma Vranešić who took part in this event together.
PHOTO Gallery of this event is available at the CHwB BiH official Facebook page
CHwB’s partners on this activity were the Association “Natura AS” and Tourist Agency “Visit Konjic” from Konjic; Cycling Association “MTBA”, Association “Herzegovina bike” and Association for Hiking, Mountain Biking and Rural Tourism “My Way” from Mostar, as well as the Association of Mountain Bikers “MTBA” from Sarajevo.
Media partners of the activity were: Faktor.ba, Radio Sarajevo, Abrašmedia, Byka Magazine, Radio-television Mostar and BHT1.