Bajina Bašta
Bajina Bašta (
Serbian Cyrillic:
Бајина Башта) is a town located in the western mountains of
Serbia. The town lies in the valley of the
Drina River at the eastern edge of
Tara National Park. It is the administrative seat of the Bajina Bašta Municipality in the
Zlatibor District.
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The Drina valley looking towards Bajina Bašta. |
In
1834 Bajina Bašta was established on the remains of the old
Turkish community of
Pljeskovo which was situated on the right bank of the
Drina River between the
Rača and
Pilica Rivers, under the east foothills of
Tara Mountain. By the end of the
19th century, in accordance with the Serbian-Turkish agreement, the local Muslims had to moved from this region directly across the Drina River into
Bosnia, where they built settlements in the villages of
Skelani and
Dobrak.
The name
Bajina Bašta comes from the vast
orchards and
vegetable gardens, that used to be located on the left bank of the Pilica River, which belonged to Turkish
feudal owner,
Baja Osman, who established the town's modern image in the mid-19th century. In English, the name
Bajina Bašta literally means "Baja's Garden". In
1858 the town became the administrative center of the
Rača District. On
September 15,
1872,
Prince Milan Obrenović IV issued a decree that officially gave Bajina Bašta its status as an officially recognized town. A decade later, Bajina Bašta received its
urban plan, long before many places in
Serbia.
Under the
Ottoman Empire, the Rača's region became a part of
Sokolska nahija or Zvornik Sandžak, and later on a part of
Užice nahija where it remained until its liberation from the Turks in
1834. In the following tumultuous decades, Bajina Bašta belonged to the Užice District, Užice canton, and region. Today, the town lies in the
Zlatibor District. In
1875 a mixed craftsmen
guild was founded with 88 different occupations, based on forestry and stock farming. In attempts to improve trade links between Serbia and Bosnia, the first customs station was opened in Skelani in
1880. The following year, the first post office with a
telegraph was opened. The number of inhabitants increased from 374 in
1864 to 1,306 by
1910. Residents in the nearby village of Rača made a major contribution in liberation efforts between
1876–
1878 when
Serbia became an independent principality, declared by the
Congress of Berlin. In the following
Balkan Wars and
World War I (
1912-
1918) over 300 people from this small village died for independence and Serbian freedom.
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Roman ruins in downtown Bajina Bašta. |
The areas around Bajina Bašta have significant historical heritage. In the village of Pilica, there are archeological remains of
Roman architecture dating from the
2nd and
3rd century and ornamented tombstones. Other archeological sites lie in the
Kremna valley (43 tombstones),
Mokra Gora (38),
Perućac,
Rastište and
Dub. The oldest historical findings in this area date from the
Neolithic period (5,000 year B.C.) " remains of these communities,
Kremenilo and
Jokin Breg, are found near
Višesava. The remnants of these settlements show that people lived in about 2.5 m deep
dugouts, on three underground levels. Judging by their characteristics, these remains are considered to have belonged to the
Starčevo culture. Additionally, there is much evidence of the
Iron Age material culture of the
Illyrian tribe of
Autariat (after which Tara Mountain most likely obtained its name). During
Roman,
Byzantine and
Medieval period, Bajina Bašta was an important trade center and the cross-border with Bosnia.
Monastery Rača (7 km southwest of town) is considered the most significant historical treasure of the area. Built by
King Dragutin (
1276-
1282), the monastery was the center of transcription and illumination of medieval religious manuscripts of Serbia. These monks became known as the Račani. Abundant wall paintings and
iconostasis cover the walls, dating after the church's reconstruction in
1835. The monastery houses a treasury and a library containing over 1,200 books and
manuscripts. In the village of Dub (10 km from Bajina Bašta) there is a wooden church from
1792, of a specific architecture, covered with shingle roof. A variety of ornaments and icons, a gate from
17th century, make this church one of the more memorable churches in Serbia.
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The Monument to the Unknown Soldier from World War II. |
During the unification of the
Southern Slavs of
Europe and creation of the
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Bajina Bašta continued its urban expansion. In
1926, a metal bridge that linked to Skelani was built, replacing the ferry that crossed the Drina River. The
electrification of the town started in
1928 and two years later the first town's hospital was built. The utilization of
forests, the famed
bajinac tobacco and the construction of
elementary schools in the region greatly helped improve the standard of living and educational level of the inhabitants. In
1940, the downtown area built its first water piping and
sewage system and
cobblestone streets.
During
World War II, Bajina Bašta was severely damaged. Events that marked
world history in the period between
1939–
1945, were reflected in this region as well in a form of
civil war and liberation fights against the occupying Axis army. A Račan militia was formed in the first stages of the armed resistance against the occupants. From
August 3–
23,
1941, the militia solidified into a military formation consisting of 62 soldiers. The first free territory in the occupied Europe - "
The Užice Republic", brought only temporary liberation to Bajina Bašta. In this region, the first People's Liberation Committee
NOO was formed. During the war, especially in
1943,
Bulgarian forces caused many civilian casualties. Bajina Bašta was liberated from
Nazi and
Četnik forces on
September 12,
1944.
After the World War II ended, Bajina Bašta continued to develop into an economical, cultural and administrative center of the
municipality which extended 672 km² (418 miles²) around the town. The second half of the
20th century is marked by the expansion of trade, banking, agricultural cooperatives, sawmills and craftsmen guilds. Intensive economic growth began in
1966 when the Bajina Bašta Hydroelectric Power Plant in Perućac was put in operation. This is the second largest
hydroelectric power plant in Serbia today, after
Đerdap on the
Danube River.
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A panoramic view of Bajina Bašta during the winter. |
Bajina Bašta's climate is
moderate continental with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and pleasant with cool nights, and winters are sunny, with snow levels high enough for widespread winter sports. However, the humidity of the air increased greatly after the construction of the power plant in Perućac and the formation of the artificial
Lake Perućac and
Lake Zaovine, in the mountains. The average annual rainfall is 700-800 mm locally, contributing to a marked agricultural environment.
According to the
2002 Census Data (
PDF), the municipality of Bajina Bašta has 29,049 people. The town itself hosts 9,525 people while the other 19,524 live in thirty-five outlying
villages and non-urban areas surrounding the town.
Most of the residing population are immigrants, who after the liberation of the area from the Turks in the 19th century, settled these areas, originally coming from
Herzegovina, the northwestern parts of
Montenegro,
Sandžak,
Osat (Bosnia),
Dalmatia (Pepelj) and
Kremna. At present, a considerable decrease in population is recorded due to economic migrations towards the regional centers of Serbia, such as Užice,
Valjevo,
Čačak, and
Belgrade.
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Bajina Bašta Hydroelectric Power Plant in Perućac. |
The greatest natural resources of the municipality are the Drina River and Tara Mountain. The Drina is especially significant for its water power potentials. Specialists have estimated that it is possible to erect several hydroelectric power plants on this river. The annual flow of the Drina River is about 12.5 cubic kilometers of water. The Bajina Bašta Hydroelectric power plant was built on the Drina to harness that energy. The dam is located 12 km west of Bajina Bašta, near Perućac. Its average annual production amounts to 1,625 GWh of
electric power. For the sake of better utilization of water power potential, the first reversible hydro-electric power plant in Europe was built in Zaovine, near the top of Tara Mountain.
Tara Mountain has long been a well-known tourist resort owing to its pleasant moderately continental and sub-continental climate. In
1981, Tara became a national park. It covers an area of 300 square kilometres and is the largest natural park in Serbia. The mountain has an abundance of flora and fauna. Apart from white pine tree, maple-trees and famous
Serbian Spruce (
Picea omorika), here you can find rare game including
bear,
roe deer, and
chamois. The Drina River is a part of the local cultural identity and has great potential in rafting sports and fishing.
Moderate continental and mountainous climatic conditions are especially suitable for recovery and medical treatment of patients with bronchial
asthma, chronic
bronchitis,
anemia and other diseases. Special attention is paid to tourism development and different tourist manifestations utilizing the clean and clear air of Tara Mountain.
Industry had developed fairly well in Bajina Bašta, but recently saw a major downturn due to economic hardships and the civil wars that raged across the region in the
1990s. The major employers before the outbreak of the
Yugoslav Wars were:
*
Crni Vrh, a wood-processing and furniture factory (Open)
*
IKL, a manufacturer of metal parts and ball bearings (Closed)
*
Kadinjača, a
textiles corporation (Open, but with limited capacity)
*
Tarateks, a ready-wear manufacturer (Closed)
*
Sloboda a manufacturer of electronics and household appliances (Closed)
*
Elektroizgradnja Bajina Bašta, makers of power line towers and industrial electronic equipment (Open)
*
Razvoj, a construction corporation (Open)
*
Laminat, a manufacturer of cardboard and cardboard containers (Closed)
*
Zemljoradnička zadruga Bajina Bašta, a farmers' co-operative - production of highest grade raspberry, as well as different kinds of fruits (plums, pears, apples), vegetables (potatoes, beans, cabbage, corn) (Open)
The closing of some of these companies threw a majority of Bajina Bašta's and surrounding region's population into unemployment. The only company still functioning well is
Drinske Hidroelektrane (Drina Hydroelectrics), headquartered in downtown Bajina Bašta, owners of the "Bajina Basta"
Višegrad hydroelectric power plants.
Thanks to exceptionally good climatic conditions, Bajina Bašta has exceptional potential for
agricultural profit. High-quality types of tobacco and medicinal
herbs flourish in the valley of the Drina, grown by
Bajinovac, an agriculture company.
Plums, used for the making of Bajina Bašta's own regional juniper brandy
Klekovača, grow in abundance.
Wheat is a mainstay of the valley, growing well during both the summer and winter growing seasons. The Bajina Bašta municipality is famous for its
raspberry farms.
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Bajina Bašta's main street. |
The town has preserved architecture from the end of the 19th and the first half of the
20th century, which goes along well with the more recent urban structures. Rural settlements are more archaic in layout and building structure, the most attractive and significant ones are
Rogačica, the former center of the Rača district, as well as
Kostojevići,
Pilica, and other localities.
The expansion and development of Bajina Bašta by the modern urbanization plan was directed along the main streets which are part of the main routes from Užice to Perućac (Kneza Milana Obrenovića Street) and Rogačica to Tara (Svetosavska Street). These routes intersect in the town's center. Bajina Bašta is considered a modern urban settlement with potential for horizontal expansion. Downtown Bajina Baš is a mixture of commercial, residential, and administrative buildings of different facades and height. The heart of the town is Dušana Jerkovića Square, which is surrounded by the old-style architecture found in Serbia during the mid to late 19th century.
There are some traces of the Neolithic age, Iron Age Illyria, and Roman settlements for those interested in history. The ruins of the ancient town Solotnik, the log cabin church in the village
Dub and Rača Monastery are important parts of Serbia's cultural legacy. In Tara National Park,
Kaluđerske bare and the hotels
Omorika (spruce),
Javor (maple) and
Beli bor (white pine), as well as the children's resort of
Mitrovac, are the representative tourist destination which offer
swimming pools,
skiing and
sports facilities.
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A panoramic view of Bajina Bašta. |
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Tara National Park*
Lake Perućac*
Lake Zaovine*
Drina River*
Monastery Rača*
Radio Bajina Bašta*
TV Bajina Bašta*
Radio Primus*
TV Prima*
Bajinobaštanska Baština - a quarterly printed publication (
In Serbian)
*
Soccer Club "Sloga"
* Soccer Club "Kosmos"
*
Indoor Soccer Club "Bajina Bašta"
*
Basketball Club "Bajina Bašta"
*
Karate Club "Bajina Bašta"
*
Karate Club "Omladinac"*
Shooting Club "Radenko Jovanović-Raša"
*
Volleyball Club
*
Canoe Club "Drina"
*
Chess Club
*
Handball Club
*
Automobile Sports Club "GINA"
*
Scout Group "Bajina Bašta"*
FIA European Rally Championship -
YU Rally * Tara Rally Memorial
* International
Fishing Competition "Dani mladice" (
Huchen Days)
* The Grand Drina
Regatta* Bajina Bašta
Athletics Gathering
* The Days of Rača by the Drina
*
Elementary School "Rajak Pavićević"*
Elementary School "Sveti Sava"*
High School "Josif Pančić"*
Technical School*
List of cities in Serbia*
Bajina Bašta Official Site*
Bajina Bašta Portal*
Bajina Bašta Sports-Tourism Center*
Bajina Bašta on the Internet*
Bajina Bašta Heaven On Earth*
Bajina Bašta Forum*
Tourist Center "Taratours"
