COMBINATION OF TOURIST FACILITIES AND NATURAL BEAUTY, CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE

RIBNIK, SEPTEMBER 9 /SRNA/ - The Ribnik municipality is increasingly attracting tourists thanks to its natural beauty, and among the gems of this region are the Ribnik River, world-famous among fly fishing enthusiasts, and the Ledana Cave, which, in terms of size and beauty of its ice deposits, is the most significant speleological site discovered in Republika Srpska so far.

The Ledana Cave is also a natural phenomenon because ice remains there throughout the year. This cave is under the protection of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of the Republika Srpska.

The municipality of Ribnik has a rich cultural and historical heritage and numerous tourist attractions.

"Ribnik is in full swing, visitors can expect a combination of natural beauty and rich traditions, along with all the latest tourist attractions," director of the Tourist Organization Svetlana Elez told SRNA.

PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOURCE OF THE RIBNIK RIVER

Elez emphasized that this summer will be the first time that Summer in Ribnik event will be held, with a rich program awaiting visitors, from guided tours and excursions, to workshops, cultural events, and sports and recreational activities in nature.

The event is jointly organized by the Tourist Organization and the Mačkića Kamen Speleological, Mountaineering and Ecological Society /SMES/ ", under the auspices of the Municipality of Ribnik.

According to Elez, the implementation of the Sana Green Trail Project is underway, which involves development of a promenade and beach on the banks of this river in the settlement of Previja.

At the same time, SPED Mačkića Kamen is implementing the Walk, Learn, Protect, Discover Ribnik Project, in which the Tourist Organization of this municipality participates as a partner.

"This project envisages the development of the source of the Ribnik River, the installation of educational signs, holding workshops with children and organizing environmental actions," Elez specified.

According to her, the most famous natural gem of this municipality is the clear and cold mountain river Ribnik, world-famous among fly fishing enthusiasts, and its surroundings are filled with numerous hiking and cycling trails.

SANA SPRING, OKOMOLJAK VIEWPOINT, LEGEND OF THE BLACK QUEEN

In the area of this municipality, in the shade of forested heights and centuries-old trees, the Sana River springs, one of the cleanest and most beautiful in BiH, which originates from three strong karst springs, whose flows merge in one place into a single riverbed.

The Okomoljak Viewpoint, located in Donji Vrbljani and offering an imposing view of the Sana River canyon and the old town of Prizren, to which the legend of the Black Queen is associated, Elezova says, has become a recognizable tourist brand, as has the mountain attraction Šiški Kamen.

"Thanks to the support of the municipality of Ribnik and the engagement of SPED Mačkića Kamen, a path to Šiški Kamen was recently built and marked, making this location more accessible to visitors," said Elez.

Mount Šiša is adorned with dense coniferous and deciduous forests, as well as numerous glades with lush grass. The highest peak is Razvršje /1,389 meters/, while Šiški Kamen is the second highest at 1,300 meters. The mountain is home to numerous wild animals, birds, rodents, as well as a variety of medicinal plants.

The Resovača Plateau is surrounded on one side by the Ovčara mountain and on the other by the Bobija mountain. Characteristic katun settlements are located here, with relatively preserved indigenous huts that were used by the local population from the surrounding villages in the summer. In this area, there are also two hunting lodges for observing the game for which this region is famous.

MAČKIĆA ROCKS

Mačkića Cave is located about three kilometers from the settlement of Sitnica, and was named after the village. It is located within the Mačkića Rocks complex, which offers a beautiful view of Klekovača, Grmeč, Osječenica, Šiša, Bobija, Ždralica, Mulež and Plješevica.

These rocks are home to the bony eagle, which is on the Red List of Protected Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

She noted that in the village of Treskavac near Ribnik, there are preserved watermills that testify to the tradition of this region, and where the traditional event Return to the Watermills was held in July, which gathered numerous visitors. The place is also known for its numerous sources of drinking water, about 130, and 10 watermills are still grinding.

MONASTERY OF SAINT ARCHANGEL MICHAEL

In the village of Treskavac there is also a monastery of the Diocese of Bihać-Petrovac dedicated to the Holy Archangel Michael.

The cultural and historical heritage in the area of this municipality also includes the Zmijanjska Kuća, which is located in the settlement of Sitnica near the main road Ribnik-Banja Luka.

The house represents an excellent ethnological depiction of life in the past in the Zmijanje area, which encompasses the Manjača mountain, from Sitnica to Banja Luka. /to be continued/