Bihać is a city and the administrative centre of

Una-Sana Canton The Una-Sana Canton (; ; Serbian: Унско-сански кантон) is one of the ten cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the northwest of the country, a region known as Bosanska K ...

of the

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Serbo-Croatian: ''Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine'' / ''Федерација Босне и Херцеговине'') is one of the two Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, entities composing Bo ...

, an entity of

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

. It is situated on the banks of river Una in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the

Bosanska Krajina Bosanska Krajina ( sr-Cyrl, Босанска Крајина, , ) is a geographical region, a subregion of Bosnia, in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is enclosed by several rivers, namely the Sava (north), Glina (northwest), Vrbanja and Vrba ...

region close to the border with

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

. In 2013 its population was 56,261.

Settlements

Bajrići Bajrići ( sr-cyrl, Бајрићи) is a village in the municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the ...

Brekovica Brekovica ( sr-cyrl, Брековица) is a village in the municipality of Bihać Bihać is a city and the administrative centre of Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situate ...

Bugar Bugar ( sr-cyrl, Бугар) is a village in the municipality of Bihać Bihać is a city and the administrative centre of Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated on the ba ...

Ćukovi Ćukovi (Serbian Cyrillic: Ћукови) is a village in the municipality of Bihać Bihać is a city and the administrative centre of Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situate ...

* Doljani *

Donja Gata Donja Gata ( sr-cyrl, Доња Гата) is a small village in the municipality of Bihać Bihać is a city and the administrative centre of Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is s ...

Dubovsko Dubovsko ( sr-cyrl, Дубовско) is a village in the municipality of Bihać Bihać is a city and the administrative centre of Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated o ...

Gorjevac Gorjevac ( sr-cyrl, Горјевац) is a village in the municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Demographics According to the 2013 census, its population was four, all Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Sl ...

* Grabež * Grmuša * Hrgar *

Izačić Izačić (Serbian Cyrillic: Изачић) is a small village in Bosnia and Herzegovina with an estimated population of 4,089 people, roughly 0.12% of the entire population as of 2024, and an area of 5,8 km2.Official results from the book: Eth ...

* Jezero * Kalati * Kulen Vakuf * Lohovo *

Lohovska Brda Lohovska Brda ( sr-cyrl, Лоховска Брда) is a village in the municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. ...

* Mala Peća * Mali Skočaj * Međudražje *

Muslići :''for the village in Montenegro see Muslići, Montenegro'' Muslići ( sr-cyrl, Муслићи) is a village in the municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally ...

* Ostrovica *

Papari Papari ( sr-cyrl, Папари) is a village in the Municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Demographics According to the 2013 census, its population was 511. References

Populated pla ...

Praščijak Praščijak ( sr-cyrl, Прашчијак) is a village in the municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated ...

* Pritoka * Račić * Rajinovci *

Ripač Ripač ( sr-cyrl, Рипач) is a village in the municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ripač is the location of a border crossing with Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Centr ...

* Spahići * Srbljani *

Velika Gata Velika Gata ( sr-cyrl, Велика Гата) is a village in the municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situat ...

* Veliki Skočaj * Veliki Stjenjani *

Vikići Vikići ( sr-cyrl, Викићи) is a village in the municipality of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Bal ...

* Vrsta * Zavalje i Zlopoljac

History

According to documents and historical sources, the first medieval urban settlements and towns around the Una river, began to appear in the middle of the 13th century. Bihać, as the centre of Pounje, was first mentioned on 26 February 1260, in the charter of Hungarian King Bela IV, and was described as a town built on the river's Island of St. Ladislav, owned by the

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

abbey of

Topusko Topusko is a Municipalities of Croatia, municipality and settlement in Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia. Topusko is an underdeveloped municipality which is statistically classified as the Areas of Special State Concern (Croatia), First Category Are ...

. Just two years later, in 1262, Bela proclaimed Bihać a ''

royal free city A royal free city, or free royal city (Latin: ''libera regia civitas''), was the official term for the most important cities in the Kingdom of Hungary from the late 12th centuryBácskai Vera – Nagy Lajos: Piackörzetek, piacközpontok és város ...

'' and placed it under the direct authority of the Hungarian throne, with all rights and privileges pertaining thereto, which ensured its ability to develop completely independent from the political powers of local lords. The following mention in the charter of 1271 confirms that Bihać at that time enjoyed the status of a ''free city''. At the head of the municipality was the town elder or ''major villae'', who was often called a judge, and whose decision could only be changed by the king. Bihać also had a ''

curia Curia (: curiae) in ancient Rome referred to one of the original groupings of the citizenry, eventually numbering 30, and later every Roman citizen was presumed to belong to one. While they originally probably had wider powers, they came to meet ...

'' or ''

magistrates The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a ''magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...

'', an assembly of local citizens who took the oath of office for this duty, and notaries who kept court and other civil records. In 1530 Austria sent troops to defend seven key strongholds in Croatia, one of them was Bihać and another the nearby Ripač. The

Ottomans Ottoman may refer to: * Osman I, historically known in English as "Ottoman I", founder of the Ottoman Empire * Osman II, historically known in English as "Ottoman II" * Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empir ...

occupied Bihać in 1592 after a siege and from that time Bihać was the most important forts in

Bosnia Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

until the 19th century. Ottoman rule was briefly interrupted by

Auguste Marmont Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de Marmont, duc de Raguse (; 20 July 1774 – 22 March 1852) was a French general and nobleman who rose to the rank of Marshal of the Empire and was awarded the title (). In the Peninsular War Marmont succeeded th ...

, general-governor of

Illyrian Provinces The Illyrian Provinces were an autonomous province of France during the First French Empire that existed under Napoleonic Rule from 1809 to 1814. The province encompassed large parts of modern Italy and Croatia, extending their reach further e ...

on 5 May 1810. He sought to prevent Ottomans from raiding French Croatia and finishing the Ottoman occupation of Cetin. After fulfilling these goals, he withdrew from Bihac. Ottoman rule in Bihac ended ''de facto'' after the

Congress of Berlin At the Congress of Berlin (13 June – 13 July 1878), the major European powers revised the territorial and political terms imposed by the Russian Empire on the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of San Stefano (March 1878), which had ended the Rus ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the town was occupied by

Axis An axis (: axes) may refer to: Mathematics *A specific line (often a directed line) that plays an important role in some contexts. In particular: ** Coordinate axis of a coordinate system *** ''x''-axis, ''y''-axis, ''z''-axis, common names ...

troops and was included into Pavelić's

Independent State of Croatia The Independent State of Croatia (, NDH) was a World War II–era puppet state of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Fascist Italy. It was established in parts of Axis occupation of Yugoslavia, occupied Yugoslavia on 10 April 1941, ...

(NDH). The fascist Ustashe regime committed the Genocide of the Serbs and

the Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

. From July to September 1941, some 15,000

Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Southeastern Europe who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of Serbia, history, and Serbian lan ...

were massacred along with some Jews and Roma victims by the

Ustaše The Ustaše (), also known by anglicised versions Ustasha or Ustashe, was a Croats, Croatian fascist and ultranationalist organization active, as one organization, between 1929 and 1945, formally known as the Ustaša – Croatian Revolutionar ...

at the Garavice, an extermination location near Bihać. When the German and Italian Zones of Influence were revised on 24 June 1942, Bihać fell in , administered civilly by Croatia and militarily by Croatia and Germany. The town was the capital of a short-lived territory, the

Bihać Republic The Bihać Republic (Serbo-Croatian Latin: ''Bihaćka Republika'', Cyrillic: Бихаћка Република) was a short-lived republic that existed between November 1942 and January 1943 in a liberated area of Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia. It ...

, for two months in late 1942 and early 1943, until it was recaptured by German forces. From 1943

Judita Alargić Judita Alargić-Stambolić (Novi Sad, 1 August 1917 — Belgrade, 2011) was a participant in the Yugoslav Partisans, National Liberation Struggle and a socio-political worker of the Socialist Republic of Serbia. She was a board member of the Wome ...

served near to Bihać as an instructor of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. Bihać returned to Bosnian territory on 28 March 1945. Bihać was besieged for three years from 1992 to 1995 during the

Bosnian War The Bosnian War ( / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. Following several earlier violent incid ...

. Pecat i grb Bihaca iz XIV st.jpg, The Seal and Armorial Bearings of Bihać town from the 14th century. The siege of Bihać in 1592.jpg, Siege of Bihać in 1592 Bihac 1686.jpg, Bihac fortress (''Wihitsch''), 1686 Bihac_kavana_paviljon.png, Coffee pavilion in Bihac, Bihac_Orthodox_Church_and_Medresa.jpg, Bihac Orthodox Church and Medresa, Domky v Bihaći.jpg, Rural houses in Bihac, Partisans in Bihać 1942.jpg, Partisans in Bihać, 1942 First session of the AVNOJ in Bihać.jpg, First session of the AVNOJ in Bihać, 1942

Demographics

According to the 2013 census, the city of Bihać has a population of 56,261 inhabitants.

Ethnic groups

The ethnic composition of the municipality: In the 1991 population census in Bosnia and Herzegovina the ethnic composition of the municipality was 46,737 Bosniaks, 12,689 Serbs, 5,580 Croats, 4,356 Yugoslavs and 1,370 Others.

Religion

According to the 2013 census, the religious makeup of Bihać includes: *49,550

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

(88.01%) *3,265

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

(5.08%) *910

Orthodox Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to: Religion * Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pag ...

(1.62%) *2,536 others (4.47%)

Geography

Climate

Economy

The agricultural sector is significant, due to the large and fertile soil.

Notable people

Mehmed Alajbegović Mehmed Alajbegović (7 May 1906 – 7 June 1947) was a Bosnian Muslim politician, lawyer and a government minister of the Independent State of Croatia, an Axis puppet state. He was executed for war crimes by Yugoslav authorities following t ...

, politician and lawyer *

Mersada Bećirspahić Mersada Bećirspahić (born 8 December 1957) is a former basketball player who competed for Yugoslavia in the 1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad () and officially branded as M ...

, basketball player *

Christopher Corvinus Christopher Corvinus or Christopher Hunyadi (; 8 August 1499 in Bihać – 17 March 1505) was Prince of Hungary and the last male member of the Hungarian Royal House of Hunyadi. Life He was born in Bihać in the year 1499. His father was John Co ...

(Christopher Hunyadi, 1499–1505), Prince of Hungary and the last male member of the Hungarian Royal House of Hunyadi *

Zlatko Dedić Zlatko Dedić (born 5 October 1984) is a Slovenian retired footballer who played as a forward. Besides Slovenia, he has played in Italy, Germany, and Austria. Club career Dedić started his football career with Koper. In 2001 he transferred to ...

, Slovenian footballer * Ferid Džanić, World War II Axis soldier (SS Handschar Division) *

Nihad Hasanović Nihad Hasanović is a Bosnian writer and translator born in Bihać (Yugoslavia, now northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina) in 1974. His published works include the plays ''Podigni visoko baklju'' (''Raise high your torch'', 1996) and ''Zaista?'' ( ...

, writer and translator *

Alen Islamović Alija "Alen" Islamović (born 17 August 1957) is a Bosnian rock vocalist. He is best known as the lead singer of Bosnian and Yugoslav rock bands Divlje jagode from 1981 to 1986 and Bijelo Dugme from 1986 to 1989. Born Alija Islamović in Bihać ...

, singer, lead vocalist of the bands

Divlje Jagode Divlje Jagode () is a hard rock and heavy metal band, originally formed in 1977 in Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia, and since their 1994 reunion based in Croatia. Led by guitarist Sead "Zele" Lipovača, Divlje Jagode are co ...

and

Bijelo Dugme () is a Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Yugoslav Rock music, rock band, formed in Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1974. is widely considered to have been the most popular and the best-selling band ever to exist in the former S ...

* Azra Kolaković, singer *

Zele Lipovača Zele () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders, around 20 kilometers east of Ghent. The municipality only comprises the town of Zele proper. In 2023, Zele had a total population of 21,374. The total area is 33km2 which ...

, musician, leading member of

Irfan Ljubijankić Irfan Ljubijankić (26 November 1952 – 28 May 1995) was a Bosnian diplomat, politician, accomplished surgeon, and a classical music composer, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 30 October ...

, facial surgeon, classical music composer, politician and diplomat of Bosnia and Herzegovina *

Dejan Matić Dejan Matić ( sr-Cyrl, Дејан Матић; born 26 April 1978) is a Serbian folk music singer. He is the twin brother of fellow singer Saša Matić. Early life Dejan Matić was born in Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the son of Zoran and Dra ...

, singer *

Saša Matić Aleksandar "Saša" Matić ( sr-Cyrl, Александар Саша Матић; born 26 April 1978) is a Bosnian Serb pop-folk singer. He is the twin brother of fellow singer Dejan Matić. Life and career Early life Matić was born on 26 April 1 ...

, pop singer *

Džanan Musa Džanan Musa (, born 8 May 1999) is a Bosnian professional basketball player for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. Standing at and weighing , Musa plays at the shooting guard and small forward positions. He was selected by ...

, basketball player, European U16 champion * Milan Muškatirović, water polo goalkeeper and professor of

organic chemistry Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the science, scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds and organic matter, organic materials, i.e., matter in its various forms that contain ...

Saša Radulović Saša Radulović ( sr-Cyrl, Саша Радуловић, or ; born 7 June 1965) is a Serbian politician and economist who served as the Minister of Economy (Serbia), minister of economy from 2013 to 2014.�Biografije novih ministara��. Врем ...

, Serbian engineer, politician and former Minister of Economy *

Branka Raunig Branka Raunig (; 1 January 1935 – 13 June 2008) was a Bosnian archaeologist, Prehistory, prehistorian and Curator, museum curator. Early life Raunig was born in Sarajevo on 1 January 1935. Her early life was spent in Kraljevo. From 1954 to 195 ...

, archaeologist and museum curator * Faruk Šehić, poet *

Borislav Stanković ),Boris (Борис) , image = Borislav Bora Stanković.jpg , imagesize = , caption = , order = 2nd , office = Secretary General of FIBA , term_start = 1 January 1976 , ter ...

, Serbian basketball player, coach and secretary General of

FIBA The International Basketball Federation (FIBA ; French language, French: ) is an association of national organizations which governs the sport of basketball worldwide. FIBA defines the rules of basketball, specifies the Basketball equipment ...

Twin towns – sister cities

Bihać is twinned with: *

Bondeno Bondeno ( Bondenese: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the province of Ferrara, in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, located about north of Bologna and about northwest of Ferrara. The municipality of Bondeno contains the ''frazioni'' (sub ...

, Italy *

Kikinda Kikinda ( sr-Cyrl, Кикинда, ; ) is a List of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the North Banat District in Serbia. The city's urban area has 32,084 inhabitants, while the city administrative area has 49,326 inhabit ...

, Serbia *

Kuşadası Kuşadası () is a municipality and district of Aydın Province, Turkey. Its area is 265 km2, and its population is 130,835 (2022). It is a large resort town on the Aegean coast. Kuşadası is south of İzmir, and about west of Aydın. T ...

, Turkey *

Nagykanizsa Nagykanizsa (; , or just ''Kaniža/Kanjiža''; ; ; ; ), known colloquially as Kanizsa, is a medium-sized city in Zala County in southwestern Hungary. It is a city with county rights. It lies not far from Lake Balaton at the meeting point of five ...

, Hungary *

Novo Mesto Novo Mesto (; ; also known by #Name, alternative names) is the List of cities and towns in Slovenia, seventh-largest city of Slovenia. It is the economic and cultural centre of the traditional region of Lower Carniola (southeastern Slovenia) and ...

, Slovenia *

Reșița Reșița (; ; ; ; ; ; ) is a city in western Romania and the capital of Caraș-Severin County. It is located in the Banat region. The city had a population of 58,393 in 2021. It administers six villages: Câlnic (''Kölnök''), Cuptoare (''Kupt ...

, Romania *

Villefranche-de-Rouergue Villefranche-de-Rouergue (; ) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Villefranche-de-Rouergue station has rail connections to Toulouse, Figeac and Aurillac. History At the end of the Albigensian Crusade from the northe ...

, France *

Kartepe Kartepe is a municipality and district of Kocaeli Province, Turkey. Its area is 301 km2, and its population is 136,625 (2022). The mayor is Mustafa Kocaman ( AKP). Geography Kartepe (literally Snowy hill referring to mountains to the south ...

, Turkey *

Gospić Gospić () is a town in Lika, Croatia. It is the seat of the Lika-Senj County. Geography Gospić is located in the mountainous and sparsely populated region of Lika. It is the administrative center of Lika-Senj County. Gospić is located n ...

, Croatia

Notes

* Official results from the book: Ethnic composition of Bosnia-Herzegovina population, by municipalities and settlements, 1991. census, Zavod za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine - Bilten no.234, Sarajevo 1991.

References

Bibliography

External links

Official city presentation

Preminger Brewery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bihac Populated places in Bihać Bosnia and Herzegovina–Croatia border crossings Cities and towns in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina City walls in Bosnia and Herzegovina