Han Pijesak () is a town and municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, the municipality has a population of 3,530 inhabitants, while the town of Han Pijesak has a population of 1,820 inhabitants.
Geography Han Pijesak is located about 70km northeast from Sarajevo, on the slopes of mountain Romanija, at an altitude of 1,100m.
History
Medieval stećak monuments on the sites of Pokojnica (Mramorje) and Podgroblje (Luka) are located near the village of Nevačka in Han Pijesak municipality.
In his writings from 1664, 17th-century Ottoman explorer Evliya Çelebi mentioned Han Pijesak as one of the biggest and most important rest stops (hans) on the caravan road from Sarajevo to Zvornik.
During the Habsburg era, Han Pijesak began to serve as an administrative center for the region. A settlement of wood-logging workers around the area of the former han was first mentioned in 1895.
After the Battle of Cer victory in World War I, the Serbian Army led by Miloš Božanović advanced to Han Pijesak area. They fought with the Austrian Army in Eastern Bosnia between August and October 1914, eventually withdrawing to the other side of the Drina.
The summer residence of King Aleksandar I Karadjordjević was built in Han Pijesak in 1922. It was in possession of the royal family until the Second World War, when it began to serve as a military bunker. The renovation of the villa started in 2023.
Settlements The town of Han Pijesak is home to roughly half the population of the municipality. The municipality also consists of the following settlements:
Babine Gornje Berkovina Brložnik Džimrije Gođenje Japaga Jelovci Kraljevo Polje Kram Krivače Kusače Malo Polje Mrkalji Nerići Nevačka Pjenovac Plane Podžeplje Potkozlovača Ravanjsko Rečica Rijeke Rubinići Stoborani Žeravice
Demographics
Population Population of settlements – Han Pijesak municipalitySettlement1971.1981.1991.2013.Total7,8046,8796,3483,5301Han Pijesak1,4871,6952,1171,8202Japaga1522103Kraljevo Polje3494024Džimrije2071345Mrkalji1411096Nevačka3341097Kusače135888Podžeplje319899Gođenje5807810Kram1026211Malo Polje1216012Pjenovac1285413Stoborani2474714Rijeke1303715Jelovci763216Ravanjsko5733
Ethnic composition
Ethnic composition – Han Pijesak town2013.1991.1981.1971.Total1,820 (100,0%)2,117 (100,0%)1,695 (100,0%)1,487 (100,0%)Serbs1808 (99.3%)1,873 (88,47%)1,413 (83,36%)1,326 (89,17%)Bosniaks0 (0%)148 (6,991%)82 (4,838%)108 (7,263%)Yugoslavs0 (0%)55 (2,598%)160 (9,440%)3 (0,202%)Others8 (0.4%)38 (1,795%)9 (0,531%)6 (0,403%)Croats4 (0.2%)3 (0,142%)3 (0,177%)4 (0,269%)Montenegrins17 (1,003%)19 (1,278%)Albanians9 (0,531%)11 (0,740%)Macedonians2 (0,118%)6 (0,403%)Slovenes4 (0,269%) Ethnic composition – Han Pijesak municipality2013.1991.1981.1971.Total3,530 (100,0%)6,348 (100,0%)6,879 (100,0%)7,804 (100,0%)Serbs3,068 (86,91%)3,674 (57,88%)3,927 (57,09%)4,790 (61,38%)Bosniaks431 (12,21%)2,543 (40,06%)2,666 (38,76%)2,921 (37,43%)Others24 (0,680%)56 (0,882%)18 (0,262%)11 (0,141%)Croats7 (0,198%)7 (0,110%)9 (0,131%)16 (0,205%)Yugoslavs68 (1,071%)222 (3,227%)7 (0,090%)Montenegrins24 (0,349%)28 (0,359%)Albanians9 (0,131%)19 (0,243%)Macedonians3 (0,044%)8 (0,103%)Slovenes1 (0,015%)4 (0,051%)
Economy The following table gives a preview of the total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018): Activity TotalAgriculture, forestry and fishing437Mining and quarrying1Manufacturing100Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply15Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities25Construction16Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles40Transportation and storage32Accommodation and food services21Information and communication2Financial and insurance activities6Real estate activities-Professional, scientific and technical activities3Administrative and support service activities1Public administration and defense; compulsory social security105Education37Human health and social work activities28Arts, entertainment and recreation14Other service activities2Total884
See also Municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina
References
External links
Official site