Bileća

Bileća
Билећа
Town

Lake Bileća

Flag

Seal

Location of Bileća within Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country Bosnia and Herzegovina
Entity Republika Srpska
Settlements 61 (2013.)
Government
  Mayor Miljan Aleksić (SNSD)
Area
  Total 632,33 km2 (24,414 sq mi)
Population (2013 census)
  Total 11,536
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Area code(s) 59
Website opstinabileca.ba

Bileća (Serbian Cyrillic: Билећа) is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a part of the Republika Srpska entity. It is located in East Herzegovina, near the border with Montenegro, north of Trebinje and south of Gacko.

Settlements

BaljciBijela RudinaBijeljani • Bileća • BodenikBogdašićiBresticeČepelicaDeleušaDivinDlakošeDolaDonja Meka GrudaDonji DavidovićiĐečeFatnicaGolobrđeGornja Meka GrudaGornji DavidovićiGranicaHodžićiKačanj • Kalac • KoritaKrivačaKrstačeKukričjeKuti • Lađevići • MilavićiMirilovićiMirušeMrežicaNaratNjeganovićiOblo BrdoOrahOrahovicePađeniPanikPlanaPodgorjePodosojePreracaPrijevorPrisojeRiocaSelištaSimijovaSkrobotnoŠobadine • Todorići • TorićTrnovicaVlahinjaVranjskaVrbicaZasadaZaušjeZvijerinaŽudojevići

History

The first traces of civilization in Bileća date from the Neolithic period, although archaeological sites are insufficiently explored. The first written documentation of Bileća as an inhabited place can be found in Ragusan documents dating from 1286, when it is mentioned under the name Bilechia. Bileća is mentioned in the 14th and 15th century as an important cross road town in caravan routes. A document dated 8 September 1388, mentions that the army of duke Vlatko Vuković defeated the Turkish army at the Battle of Bileća. In the period from 13th to 16th century in the history of this area is a large number of the "stećci" monolith markers which weigh up to 5 tons. Bileća was held by the Turks from 1466, although this was a rebellious area difficult to control. Nearby lies the town of Vučji Do, in which the Battle of Vučji Do took place in 1876. The Berlin's Congress included Bileća in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which brought economic development to the region. The first primary school in Bileća was opened in 1880.

Demographics

According to the 1910 census, the absolute majority in the Bileća municipality were Orthodox Christians (82.27%). According to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1931 population census, the majority was held by Orthodox Christians 81.27%.

year of census total Serbs Muslims Croats Yugoslavs others
1971 13,444 10,880 (80.92%) 2,079 (15.46%) 82 (0.60%) 69 (0.51%) 334 (2.51%)
1981 13,199 10,190 (77.20%) 1,803 (13.66%) 44 (0.33%) 727 (5.50%) 435 (3.29%)
1991 13,284 10,628 (80.00%) 1,947 (14.65%) 39 (0.29%) 222 (1.67%) 448 (3.37%)

Features

People

See also

Coordinates: 42°52′N 18°26′E / 42.867°N 18.433°E / 42.867; 18.433

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