Banja Luka FactsbookBanjaluka, the town known as "the beauty of the Borderlands" lies 163m above sea-level. With more than 200 000 inhabitants it is the biggest town in Republika Srpska, and its economic, cultural, political and educational centre as well. It spreads on the banks of the rivers Vrbas and Vrbanja. The town lies in a valley and spreads over a considerable area of the Vrbas valley in the direction of the Lijevce field. The town and its surroundings are very picturesque and rich in greenery. The beauty of the scenery remained untouched after the catastrophic earthquake in 1969, when the inhabitants of this region faced all the brutality of elementary forces. Through solidarity of people of the whole world the town and its surroundings were rebuilt, many new buildings were erected and Banjaluka was born again. Historical developments of Banja LukaArcheological findings show that the territory of the presentday Banjaluka was first inhabited by an Illihorian tribe which was subjugated by Roman military leader Germanicus in 9 AD. The Romans spent a long time in this country; on the left bank of the Vrbas they even built the fortification, Castra, on the place of which is today the well known fortress, Kastel. In the 6th an 7th centuries this territory was occupied by the Slavs end the town was first mentioned under its present-day name in 1494. Historical core of the town was the territory surrounding the part known today as Gornji Seher. The Turks seized the town in 1528 and with short interruptions they stayed there until 1878. For a long time Banjaluka was the seat of Bosnian highest military commander. Until 1918 the town was under Austro-Hungarian occupation. During the Second World War, from 15th April 1941 till 22nd April 1945 the town was under the occupation of fascist Germany. During the whole period, the national liberation movement was active in Banjaluka. |
||