Bijelo Polje (

Cyrillic The Cyrillic script ( ) is a writing system used for various languages across Eurasia. It is the designated national script in various Slavic, Turkic, Mongolic, Uralic, Caucasian and Iranic-speaking countries in Southeastern Europe, Ea ...

: Бијело Поље, ) is a town located in the Northern Region of

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

, situated along

Lim River The Lim (Serbian Cyrillic: Лим, ) or Vermosh River () is a river that flows through Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and is long.Bijelo Polje Municipality Bijelo Polje Municipality ( Montenegrin: ''Opština Bijelo Polje'', Општина Бијело Поље) is one of the municipalities of Montenegro The ''municipalities'' ( cnr-Latn-Cyrl, opštine, општине, separator=" / ", singular: c ...

(population of 38,662). Bijelo Polje means 'white field' in

Serbo-Croatian Serbo-Croatian ( / ), also known as Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian (BCMS), is a South Slavic language and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. It is a pluricentric language with four mutually i ...

History

Bijelo Polje's Saint Peter and Paul Church is the place where the UNESCO Miroslav's Gospel of Miroslav, brother of Serbian ruler

Stefan Nemanja Stefan Nemanja (Serbian Cyrillic alphabet, Serbian Cyrillic: , ; – 13 February 1199) was the Grand Prince (Grand Župan#Serbia, Veliki Župan) of the Grand Principality of Serbia, Serbian Grand Principality (also known as Raška (region), Raš ...

was written. During World War II, Bijelo Pole was a prominent location for the anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia, Montenegro in particular. A significant number of

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

families in Bijelo Polje originate from historical Muslim brotherhoods from Kuči, including the ''Abdići, Adžajlići, Adžibegovići, Alići, Aličkovići, Babajići, Bajramspahići, Bakija, Beganovići, Bektaševići, Biso, Bisonjići, Višnjići, Drekovići, Durovići, Zaimovići, Zajmovići, Zajimovići, Zejnilovići, Zećirovići, Kajevići, Kasumovići, Kolići, Kos, Kočani, Kršići, Kujovići, Kukuljac, Kuči, Kučevići, Ličine, Lukači, Medunjani, Mehovići, Mekići, Mekići (Ličine), Memići, Mulalići, Muratovići, Muslići, Numanovići , Omerovići, Omerhodžići, Pepeljak, Premtići, Radončići, Rastoderi, Rizvanovići, Smailovići, Smakići, Spahići, Ćemani, Fetahovići, Fetići, Hadžajlići, Hadžibegovići, Halilovići, Hodžići, Cokovići, Čokrlije, Džogovići'', and ''Šabovići''.

Demographics

Bijelo Polje is the administrative centre of the Bijelo Polje municipality, which in 2011 had a population of 46,251. The town of Bijelo Polje itself has 12,900 citizens. Town Municipality

Ethnicity

The ethnic composition of the municipality in the 2023 census was as follows: 43.13%

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 ...

, 31.85%

Bosniaks The Bosniaks (, Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Бошњаци, ; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to the Southeast European historical region of Bosnia (region), Bosnia, today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and who sha ...

, 14.88%

Montenegrins Montenegrins (, or ) are a South Slavic ethnic group that share a common ancestry, culture, history, and language, identified with the country of Montenegro. Montenegrins are mostly Orthodox Christians; however, the population also includes ...

, 7.54 ethnic Muslims. A total of 2.6% of the population are part of other ethnic groups.

Religion

Bijelo Polje is religiously diverse, with the majority of the population adhering to

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 ...

and

Eastern Orthodoxy Eastern Orthodoxy, otherwise known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity or Byzantine Christianity, is one of the three main Branches of Christianity, branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholic Church, Catholicism and Protestantism ...

. The Islamic community primarily consists of

and ethnic Muslims, while Orthodox Christianity is predominantly practiced by

and

. Religious institutions, such as mosques and Orthodox churches, are an integral part of the town’s cultural and social fabric, reflecting its multi-ethnic and multi-religious character. Despite historical challenges, Bijelo Polje is known for its peaceful coexistence and tolerance between different religious communities.

Culture and sights

Bijelo Polje was the birthplace of the oral poet Avdo Međedović and of many prominent writers such as Ćamil Sijarić,

Miodrag Bulatović Miodrag Bulatović ( sr-Cyrl, Миодраг Булатовић; 20 February 1930 – 15 March 1991) was a writer, novelist, journalist and playwright. Biography Bulatović began in 1956 with a book of short stories, ''Djavoli dolaze'' ("The Dev ...

, Risto Ratković and

Dragomir Brajković Dragomir Brajković ( sr-cyr, Драгомир Брајковић; 10 December 1947 – 29 November 2009) was a Montenegrin Serb writer, journalist, editor of Radio Belgrade, poet and member of the Association of Writers of Serbia. Biography H ...

as well as basketball player

Nikola Peković Nikola Peković (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Пековић; born 3 January 1986) is a Montenegrin businessman, basketball executive and former professional player who is the current president of the Basketball Federation of Montenegro. He beg ...

and Swedish footballing brothers Ajsel and

Emir Kujović Emir Kujović (Cyrillic: Емир Кујовић; born 22 June 1988) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a striker. He won five caps and scored one goal for the Sweden national team, and was a squad player at UEFA Euro 20 ...

Sports

The major football team is Jedinstvo, who have spent several seasons in the country's top tier. They share their Gradski stadion with lower league team OFK Borac. The town's basketball teams are Jedinstvo and KK Centar.

Transport

Bijelo Polje is connected to the rest of Montenegro by two major roads. It is situated on the main road connecting Montenegro's coast and

Podgorica Podgorica ( cnr-Cyrl, Подгорица; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Montenegro, largest city of Montenegro. The city is just north of Lake Skadar and close to coastal destinations on the Adriatic Sea. Histor ...

with northern Montenegro and

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

( E65, E80). Bijelo Polje is also a station on

Belgrade–Bar railway The Belgrade–Bar railway ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Пруга Београд–Бар, Pruga Beograd–Bar) is a long electrified main line connecting the Serbian capital of Belgrade with the town of Bar, Montenegro, Bar, a Port of Bar, major seaport ...

, the last station in Montenegro for trains leaving for

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

, and it serves as a regional train station. Podgorica Airport is away, and has regular flights to major

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

an destinations.

Climate

Bijelo Polje has a

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...

(

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...

: ''Dfb'') with warm summers, cold winters, and abundant precipitation year round.

Notable people

* Avdo Međedović, guslar *

, writer * Ćamil Sijarić, writer * Ćazim Sijarić, Albanian commander *

, writer * Risto Ratković, writer * Nastasja Vojinović, musician * Milutin Karadžić, actor * Ajsel Kujović, footballer *

, footballer *

Duško Ivanović Duško Ivanović (; born September 1, 1957) is a Montenegrin professional basketball coach and former player who is currently the head coach for Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. Professional playing ca ...

, basketball coach *

, basketball player *

Predrag Drobnjak Predrag "Peđa" Drobnjak ( sr-cyrl, Предраг "Пеђа" Дробњак; born 27 October 1975) is a Montenegrin professional basketball scout and former player. At , he played at the Power forward (basketball), power forward and Center (bask ...

, basketball player *

Suad Šehović Suad Šehović (born 19 February 1987) is a Montenegrin professional basketball player. He is the older brother of professional basketball player Sead Šehović Sead Šehović ( sr-cyrl, Сеад Шеховић; born 22 August 1989) is a Monten ...

, basketball player *

Sead Šehović Sead Šehović ( sr-cyrl, Сеад Шеховић; born 22 August 1989) is a Montenegrin professional basketball player who last played for Mornar of the ABA League and the Montenegrin League. He is the younger brother of professional basketball ...

, basketball player

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Bijelo Polje is twinned with: *

Bila Tserkva Bila Tserkva ( ; , ) is a city in central Ukraine. It is situated on the Ros (river), Ros River in the historical region of right-bank Ukraine. It is the largest city in Kyiv Oblast (which does not include the city of Kyiv) and serves as the ...

, Ukraine *

Burhaniye Burhaniye is a municipality and district of Balıkesir Province, Turkey. Its area is 420 km2, and its population is 64,283 (2022). It is located on the Aegean coast and is known for its olive oil. Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport is ten minu ...

, Turkey *

Hrubieszów Hrubieszów (; ; , or ) is a town in southeastern Poland, with a population of around 18,212 (2016). It is the capital of Hrubieszów County within the Lublin Voivodeship. Throughout history, the town's culture and architecture was strongly shaped ...

, Poland *

Maardu Maardu (, ) is a Populated places in Estonia, town and a Municipalities of Estonia, municipality in Harju County, Estonia. It is part of Tallinn metropolitan area, located about east of the capital city. The town covers an area of 22.76 ...

, Estonia *

Strumica Strumica (, ) is the largest city2002 census results
in English and Macedonian (PDF) in so ...

, North Macedonia *

Svishtov Svishtov ( ) List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, is a town in northern Bulgaria, located in Veliko Tarnovo Province on the right bank of the Danube river opposite the Romanian town of Zimnicea. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous S ...

, Bulgaria

References

External links

*
Visit-Montenegro.com

njegos.org; accessed 12 August 2015. {{DEFAULTSORT:Bijelo Polje Populated places in Bijelo Polje Municipality Sandžak