After visiting 2 cities, Sarajevo and Mostar we decided it was time to relax and be in nature for a few days. Šćit had been recommended to us by some fellow vanlifers . It is a penninsula so surrounded by water and there is also a small village called Šćit.
The campsite they recommended we went to is called Franjusic and is actually situated in the garden or yard of the Franjusic family. It is situated in the middle of Lake Rama. There are great views of the the lake, the mountains and the old illuminated monastery. It’s a lovely spot.
As well as ‘the campsite’ the owners have a very big house and also rent out rooms there. On arrival were given a glass of cold beer which was a really nice welcome. Facilities include showers and toilets, electricity, wifi, washers and dryers and even all small pool for the children, all for the equivalent of €10 a night.
We were able to get our washing done and tidy up the van a bit.
It was a great location for swimming, yoga, walking and just relaxing. It’s also a popular location for fishing.
We stayed for 2 nights, but could easily have stayed longer if we weren’t on a time schedule.
Šćit is also rich in cultural heritage, historic buildings and ancient churches, cobbled streets and wooden houses .
There was a very old catholic church close by . In the evening of our 1st night the church bells rang (It was a Monday) and we couldn’t believe the amount of people arriving in cars and attending a church service. The following day they all turned up again in the morning this time and once again they all headed to the church for a service. After the service there was stalls with food and music and entertainment all set up in the village for the afternoon.
We had no idea what it was all about and had never seen so many people go to church in the UK or anywhere else!
We later found out that August 15th is the day that Catholics celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The Feast of Assumption celebrates both the happy departure of Mary from this life by her natural death and her assumption bodily into heaven.
Jajce
We left Šćit reluctantly, a few more days would have been great but we were once again aware of having to reach France by the beginning of September. We headed to Jajce.
Jajce is located in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s most famous landmark is probably the Pliva Waterfall, where the Pliva River plunges into the Vrbas River.
We arrived late early evening and went for a walk to see the waterfall. It was quite spectacular as you can see, and yes I did get wet standing there
Jajce is also of historic importance as it is also the former capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
We saw both The Old Fortress and St Lukes Bell Tower which stands on the north side of St Mary’s Church as we walked to the waterfalls. Definitely worth having a look on route to the waterfall
Una National Park and Štrbački buk Waterfalls
The following day we left Jayce and headed to Una National Park and stayed overnight at a campsite. Once again it was €10 for the night including all facilities, Wi-Fi and Electric. It was a lovely site called Camp Una Aqua and was right on the shores of the River Una, so a great swim spot. The river was cold, not quite as cold as The River Neretva at Mostar, but very clear and fast flowing in places which was great fun just letting it carry you.
Una National Park is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s largest national park and it is situated close to the Croatian border. It was established in 2008 and covers an area of 19,800 hectares. The park is named after the Una River which flows through it. The park is great for hiking,fishing, kayaking and nature lovers with many different birds and plants to see.
The centrepiece of the park is the Štrbački buk Waterfalls, definitely the most spectacular falls in Western Bosnia.
We went to see the waterfalls the following morning. There was an entrance fee of roughly £3.50 or €4 . It is absolutely worth it.
These photos really do not give these waterfalls the justice they deserve. We were however greeted by an absolutely wonderful display by the white water rafting instructors. I managed to capture one of them on video. Here is the link to instagram so you can see it
It was as you can see the highlight of seeing the waterfalls and a great way to end our time in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We will definitely return one day as we would have loved to have spent a bit more time there.
After the waterfalls we headed towards the border. Our next post will start in Croatia. We hope you’ll be joining us.
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Our Life on the Road 