EESTEC Magazine Vol 34 2014/1 | Page 12

International Projects ECM 2014 Text: Vanja Matijaševic & Goran Vukalovic, LC Banja Luka Photographs: LC Banja Luka, web Banja Luka - The City with an Open Heart Banja Luka is the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the largest city in the Republic of Srpska with the population of about 300 000. The city is situated on a mountain river Vrbas, surrounded by other smaller rivers, hills, mountains and other natural beauties. Banja Luka is the city of youth and greenery, and numerous city streets are decorated with tree-lined streets, boulevards, parks and picnic areas with large trees. The city is located in the northwestern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it is characterized by a continental climate with warm summers and colder winters. Banja Luka has always been described as “Paradise Valley” with a mountain river Vrbas and the river canyon of exceptional beauty and unique looks and luxury. In addition to fishing, the Vrbas river is great for many other water sports like rafting, kayaking, canoeing and you can take a ride on a unique boat called DAJAK which is one of a kind in the world. Every year in Banja Luka there are a large number of cultural and sporting events. The most popular are: summer games ‘’Ljeto na Vrbasu’’, Banjaluka Carnival, music fests “Demo Fest” and ‘’Fresh Wave Fest’’. Many international sports competitions and similar events had been hosted so far, like the European Rafting Championship 2005, World Rafting Championship 2009 and   European Kayak and Canoe Championship in 2011. This year Banja Luka is hosting European Rafting Championship. Numerous night clubs, festivals, concerts and parties will make sure that Banja Luka remain in your memory for a long time. Banja Luka is recognizable as the ‘’City of women’’ with it’s 7:1 ratio. The city is also known for its restaurants which serve local specialties and international cuisine and the unique “Banjalucki cevap”! This is just a small part of what Banja Luka has to offer to make sure that you have a wonderful and unforgettable time here. 12