Banja Luka is the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the largest and most developed city in the Republika Srpska entity. Traditionally it has been the center of the Bosanska Krajina region, located in the north-western part of the country. It is home of the University of Banja Luka, as well as numerous state and entity institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The city lies on the Vrbas river and is well-known in the countries of the Former Yugoslavia for being full of tree-lined avenues, boulevards, gardens, and parks.

The town got connected to the world when the Roman trade route from Salona to Servitium passed through it. To protect this route (and to enjoy the healing water springs they had discovered in the area) the Romans built a fortress here, the walls of which encompassed an entire miniature town. When the Roman Empire collapsed, the Slavs took over. Once the Ottomans finally controlled the town, they gave it a distinct oriental flavor.

The Ottoman governor for Bosnia had his headquarters here for a while, building bridges and mills, and in its Ottoman glory days the town had some 40 mosques. In the course of the Ottoman centuries, Banja Luka was destroyed repeatedly by Ottoman-Austrian warfare (as well as earthquakes and plagues) until eventually the Austrian-Hungarian Empire absorbed Banja Luka peacefully in the 19th century. They rapidly modernized the town, building factories and connecting it to Vienna and other capital cities. The town expanded tremendously in the 20th century.

VRBAS RIVER

This beautiful town is surrounded by rolling green hills. It is split in two by the Vrbas, a very rough river that, just a short distance from Banja Luka, suddenly loses its waterfalls and cascades, and flows gently into town.

Vrbas and Kastel fortress

"Vrbas" means "willow" in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian and a number of weeping willow trees adorn the river banks in Banja Luka.

KASTEL FORTRESS

This medieval castle is one of Banja Luka’s main attractions. Located on the left bank of the Vrbas river, it gives a specific charm to the city. During the summer, the music concerts take place in the fortress.

Kastel fortress

FERHADIJA MOSQUE

Ferhat-Pasha Mosque (Bosnian: Ferhat-pašina džamija, Turkish: Ferhad Paşa Camii), more widely known as Ferhadija Mosque, was a central building in the city of Banja Luka and one of the greatest achievements of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 16th century Ottoman and Islamic architecture.

Commissioned by the Bosnian Sanjak-bey Ferhat-paša Sokolović, the mosque was built in 1579, and its classical Ottoman architecture was by an unknown apprentice of Mimar Sinan. The mosque complex included three small adjacent mausoleums containing the tombs of Ferhat-paša Sokolović, his granddaughter Safi-kaduna, and his ensign; also a central fountain – the Shaderwan (stone) Fountain – with a smaller fountain at the corner of a wrought iron fence; and a cemetery. Later a Sahat-Kula (clock tower) was added.

Ferhadija Mosque

In common with most buildings of this type in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the mosque was on a modest scale: 18 meters (59 ft) wide, 14 meters (46 ft) long and 18 meters (59 ft) high at the top of the main dome. The minaret was 43 m (141 ft) high.

Ferhadija was listed as a Bosnia and Herzegovina cultural heritage site in 1950. It was subsequently protected by UNESCO until its destruction in 1993. Today the site, with the mosque's remains, is listed as a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On the 6-7 May, 1993, it was destroyed by Serbian forces. The minaret survived the first explosion, but was then razed to the ground.

Today it is under reconstruction.

BANSKI DVORI

One of the most famous cultural sites in Banja Luka is the cultural centre "Banski Dvor" (Halls of the Ban), built in the 1930s as a spot of residence for the Bans of the Vrbas Banovina. It is a representative building in the very center of the city. The National Assembly is inside, along with a concert hall, gallery, state television, and a restaurant. Most of the main cultural and political leadership nowadays takes place inside of the building.

Banski Dvori, Banja Luka

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

There are numerous other museums and theatres in the city, including the Museum of Modern Art of Republika Srpska.

Museum of Modern Art of Republika Srpska

THE CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOR

The original Banja Luka Cathedral, called the Church of the Holy Trinity, was built between the two World Wars in downtown Banja Luka. The building of the Cathedral lasted from 1925 to 1929, and it was officially consecrated on Ascension Day, 1939.

During the WWII it was completely destroyed, but after more than half century later in 90ties it was completely rebuilted and is architecturally identical to the pre-War one, and it is the tallest house of worship in Banja Luka, with a bell tower taller than 47 meters and kupolas that are 22.5 meters tall.

It holds (comfortably) between 800 and 1000 worshippers.

The Cathedral of the Christ the Savior

In the meanwhile another Church was built and today caries the name of The Church of Holy Trinity, so this one was given, after reconstruction the name of the Cathedral of the Christ the Savior.

The Cathedral is constructed of red and yellow bricks that were imported from the Middle East…The walls have three major components: stone, reinforced concrete, and brick. The kupolas are covered with golden slaked lime, imported from Siberia. The construction of the Cathedral was completed on 26 September, 2004, when the first Divine Liturgy was served.