Bileća
title: "Bileća" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["bileća", "populated-places-in-bileća"] topic_path: "general/bileca" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bileća" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image_skyline | |
| image_caption | Bileća lake |
| settlement_type | Town and municipality |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| subdivision_type1 | Entity |
| subdivision_name1 | Republika Srpska |
| subdivision_type2 | Geographical region |
| subdivision_name2 | Herzegovina |
| timezone | CET |
| utc_offset | +1 |
| timezone_DST | CEST |
| utc_offset_DST | +2 |
| map_caption | Location of Bileća within Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| native_name | Билећа |
| official_name | Bileća |
| image_flag | Flag of the Duchy of Saint Sava.svg |
| image_map | Bileća municipality.svg |
| area_blank1_title | Town |
| area_blank2_title | Municipality |
| area_blank2_km2 | 632.33 |
| population_as_of | 2013 census |
| population_blank1_title | Town |
| population_blank1 | 8220 |
| population_density_blank1_km2 | auto |
| population_blank2_title | Municipality |
| population_blank2 | 10807 |
| population_density_blank2_km2 | auto |
| parts_type | Settlements |
| parts | 61 (2013.) |
| coordinates | |
| area_code | 59 |
| website | |
| leader_title | Municipal mayor |
| leader_name | Miodrag Parežanin |
| leader_party | SNSD |
| image_map1 | Bileća-naselja.PNG |
| image_shield | Grb Bileca.png |
| :: |
| image_skyline = File:Bilecko Jezero.jpg | image_caption = Bileća lake | settlement_type = Town and municipality | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Bosnia and Herzegovina | subdivision_type1 = Entity | subdivision_name1 = Republika Srpska | subdivision_type2 = Geographical region | subdivision_name2 = Herzegovina | timezone = CET | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = CEST | utc_offset_DST = +2 | unit_pref = | map_caption = Location of Bileća within Bosnia and Herzegovina | native_name = Билећа | official_name = Bileća | other_name = | image_flag = Flag of the Duchy of Saint Sava.svg | image_map = Bileća municipality.svg | area_blank1_title = Town | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank2_title = Municipality | area_blank2_km2 = 632.33 | population_as_of = 2013 census | population_blank1_title = Town | population_blank1 = 8220 | population_density_blank1_km2 = auto | population_blank2_title = Municipality | population_blank2 = 10807 | population_density_blank2_km2 = auto | parts_type = Settlements | parts = 61 (2013.) | coordinates = | area_code = 59 | website = | footnotes = | leader_title = Municipal mayor | leader_name = Miodrag Parežanin | leader_party = SNSD | name = | image_map1 = Bileća-naselja.PNG | image_shield = Grb Bileca.png
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Bileca,_rakousko-uherske_mestanske_domy.jpg" caption="Architecture in the city centre"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Vidovdanska_crkva_(Bileća)_17.jpg" caption="Serbian Orthodox Vidovdanska church"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Bileca,katolicky_vojensky_kostel(bez_veze).jpg" caption="Church of Saint Sava"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Bilećko_jezero_(Bileća)_05.jpg" caption="Bileća lake"] ::
Bileća (Билећа) is a town and municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, the town has a population of 7,476 inhabitants, while the municipality has 10,807 inhabitants.
History
The first traces of civilization in Bileća date from the Neolithic period, although archaeological sites are insufficiently explored.
During the Middle Ages, Bileća was located on the border with the župa of Vrm and the nearby Vlach necropolis, and was often mentioned as an important crossroad location for caravans on the route from Dubrovnik to Nikšić and Ključ, near Gacko. The town became part of the Bosnian state for the first time in 1373, after the defeat of Nikola Altomanović, but the first mention of the town under its present name was from 25 January 1387, while it was also mentioned as Bilechia in 1438. A document dated from 8 September 1388 mentions that the army of the duke Vlatko Vuković defeated the Turkish army at the Battle of Bileća.
The period from the 13th to the 16th century was marked by the building of a large number of stećci. There were 1724 stećak monoliths recorded in Bileća area during the 1970s, with later research suggesting a higher number. Grebenice-Bunčići site of stećak monuments near Baljci is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Bileća was held by the Turks from 1466, although it was a rebellious area that was difficult to control. During Herzegovina Uprising one of the crucial battles occurred in July 1876 about 6km east of Bileća. Led by Prince Nikola, joint forces of Montenegrin and Herzegovian battalions defeated the Turks in the Battle of Vučji Do, forcing them to withdraw towards Trebinje.
The Congress of Berlin in 1878 included Bileća in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which brought economic development to the region. The first primary school in Bileća was opened in 1880.
File:Bileća - panoramio (2).jpg|Necropolis of stećak tombstones in Bileća File:Stara fortifikacijska utvrda Drakuljica kod Bilece - panoramio.jpg|Old fortification Drakuljica File:Korička jama i spomenik korićkim žrtvama 11.jpg|A pit in which Ustaše threw killed Serb civilians from Bileća, a part of the wider Genocide of Serbs File:Bilećki partizanski bataljon.jpg|Yugoslav Partisans from Bileća File:Парк Народних хероја са костурницом, Билећа.jpg|Park of People's Hero
Settlements
Aside from the town of Bileća, the municipality includes the following settlements:
- Baljci
- Bijela Rudina
- Bijeljani
- Bodenik
- Bogdašići
- Brestice
- Čepelica
- Deleuša
- Divin
- Dlakoše
- Dola
- Donja Meka Gruda
- Donji Davidovići
- Đeče
- Fatnica
- Golobrđe
- Gornja Meka Gruda
- Gornji Davidovići
- Granica
- Hodžići
- Kačanj
- Kalac
- Korita
- Krivača
- Krstače
- Kukričje
- Kuti
- Lađevići
- Milavići
- Mirilovići
- Miruše
- Mrežica
- Narat
- Njeganovići
- Oblo Brdo
- Orah
- Orahovice
- Pađeni
- Panik
- Plana
- Podgorje
- Podosoje
- Preraca
- Prijevor
- Prisoje
- Rioca
- Selišta
- Simijova
- Skrobotno
- Šobadine
- Todorići
- Torič
- Trnovica
- Vlahinja
- Vranjska
- Vrbica
- Zasada
- Zaušje
- Zvijerina
- Žudojevići
Demographics
Population
::data[format=table]
| Population of settlements – Bileća municipality |
|---|
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3 |
| :: |
Ethnic composition
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 at 81.27%. ::data[format=table]
| Ethnic composition – Bileća town |
|---|
| Total |
| Serbs |
| Bosniaks |
| Others |
| Yugoslavs |
| Croats |
| Montenegrins |
| Macedonians |
| Albanians |
| Slovenes |
| :: |
::data[format=table]
| Ethnic composition – Bileća municipality |
|---|
| Total |
| Serbs |
| Others |
| Bosniaks |
| Croats |
| Yugoslavs |
| Montenegrins |
| Macedonians |
| Albanians |
| Slovenes |
| :: |
Economy
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Брана_Клиње,_Билећа.jpg" caption="Dam on Klinje Lake"] ::
The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in professional fields per their core activity (as of 2018): ::data[format=table]
| Professional field | Total |
|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 2 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Manufacturing | 377 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 78 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 107 |
| Construction | 195 |
| Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 267 |
| Transportation and storage | 86 |
| Accommodation and food services | 81 |
| Information and communication | 25 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 18 |
| Real estate activities | - |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 22 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 4 |
| Public administration and defense; compulsory social security | 225 |
| Education | 193 |
| Human health and social work activities | 80 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 42 |
| Other service activities | 31 |
| Total | 1,834 |
| :: |
Sports
The local football club FK Hercegovac has spent one season in the country's second tier — First League of the Republika Srpska.
Climate
| width = auto | single line = yes | metric first = yes | location = Bileća (1991–2020) | precipitation colour = green | Jan high C = 8.9 | Feb high C = 10.2 | Mar high C = 14.3 | Apr high C = 16.7 | May high C = 21.1 | Jun high C = 26.7 | Jul high C = 28.1 | Aug high C = 30.6 | Sep high C = 25.6 | Oct high C = 17.6 | Nov high C = 13.8 | Dec high C = 9.1 | year high C = 18.6 | Jan mean C = 3.8 | Feb mean C = 4.9 | Mar mean C = 7.9 | Apr mean C = 11.4 | May mean C = 16.1 | Jun mean C = 20.8 | Jul mean C = 23.2 | Aug mean C = 23.2 | Sep mean C = 17.7 | Oct mean C = 13.3 | Nov mean C = 8.9 | Dec mean C = 4.8 | year mean C = 13.0 | Jan low C = -0.5 | Feb low C = -0.5 | Mar low C = 2.8 | Apr low C = 5.3 | May low C = 9.6 | Jun low C = 13.2 | Jul low C = 15.3 | Aug low C = 15.3 | Sep low C = 11.8 | Oct low C = 7.5 | Nov low C = 4.2 | Dec low C = 0.2 | year low C = 7.0 | Jan precipitation mm = 147.8 | Feb precipitation mm = 149.8 | Mar precipitation mm = 133.5 | Apr precipitation mm = 120.3 | May precipitation mm = 99.8 | Jun precipitation mm = 76.8 | Jul precipitation mm = 53.5 | Aug precipitation mm = 58.1 | Sep precipitation mm = 125.1 | Oct precipitation mm = 179.0 | Nov precipitation mm = 224.2 | Dec precipitation mm = 198.5 | year precipitation mm = 1566.3 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days = 9.8 | Feb precipitation days = 9.9 | Mar precipitation days = 9.5 | Apr precipitation days = 9.7 | May precipitation days = 9.5 | Jun precipitation days = 7.6 | Jul precipitation days = 5.1 | Aug precipitation days = 5.2 | Sep precipitation days = 8.0 | Oct precipitation days = 9.4 | Nov precipitation days = 11.1 | Dec precipitation days = 11.2 | year precipitation days = 106.2 |source 1 = NOAA{{cite web | url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/BosniaAndHerzegovinaRepublicOfSrpska/CSV/Bileca_14667.csv | title = Bileca Climate Normals 1991–2020 | work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020) | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = 4 September 2023}}
Notes
- The Diocese of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and Littoral (official site in Serbian), Serbian Orthodox Church (official site in English)
- Hydroelectric power plants on the Trebisnjica River (near Bileća)
- Lake Bileća (Bilećko jezero) is located south of the town.
Notable people
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Tijana_Bošković_in_attack_(team_Serbia,_2017).jpg" caption="[[Tijana Bošković]], world and European champion"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Dušan_Vukotić.jpg" caption="Academy Award for Animated Short Film]] in 1961"] ::
- Safet Isović, singer
- Beba Selimović, singer
- Fadil Hadžić, movie director and writer
- Dušan Vukotić, Oscar for the best animated short in 1961 for Surogat
- Karlo Mijić, painter
- Jevto Dedijer, writer
- Nenad Mišanović, basketball player
- Prokopije Čokorilo, priest
- Ervin Eleskovic, Swedish tennis player
- Tijana Bošković, Serbian volleyball player, World and European champion, silver medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics
References
References
- (2018). "The emergence of Vlach necropolises with petroglyphs in Western Balkans". Revista de Etnologie şi Culturologie.
- Detelić, Mirjana. (2007). "Epski gradovi. Leksikon". Balkanološkog instituta SANU.
- Ćirković, Sima. (2020). "Živeti sa istorijom". Helsinški odbor za ljudska prava u Srbiji.
- "Историја – Званична презентација општине Билећа".
- Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards".
- ipamonte. (2016-07-30). "140 godina od bitke na Vučjem dolu".
- (25 December 2019). "Cities and Municipalities of Republika Srpska". Republika Srspka Institute of Statistics.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::