Zvornik

• Spring: In spring, nature around Zvornik awakens. Temperatures are pleasant (around 10–20°C), with cool mornings and perfect days for walking. This season is ideal for visiting Lake Zvornik, touring the monasteries of Papraća and Lovnica, and hiking on Mount Grkinja.
• Summer: Summer is the liveliest season in Zvornik, with the most events and festivals taking place. Although temperatures can rise up to 38°C, it’s the best time for water-based activities, especially on Lake Zvornik. Visitors can also enjoy cultural and entertainment festivals (like “Zvornik Summer”), fishing, and many other activities.
• Autumn: Autumn is perfect for walks and hikes, landscape photography, and visiting historical and cultural attractions in and around Zvornik.
• Winter: Winter is a quieter season in Zvornik. Enjoy a cozy stay in warm accommodation, or, if you decide to go out, visit local nightclubs like Sparta and Ibiza to warm up in the vibrant nightlife atmosphere. 

• Karakaj
• Šepak
• Old Bridge (pedestrian traffic only)

• Belgrade: Around 150 km from Zvornik, about 2.5 to 3 hours by car. The best route is via Loznica and Mali Zvornik, using the well-maintained M-19.1 main road.
• Novi Sad: About 200 km from Zvornik, requiring 3.5 to 4 hours by car. Best route: Novi Sad – Ruma – Šabac – Loznica – Mali Zvornik – Zvornik, using M-21 and M-19.1 highways.
• Niš: Approximately 240 km away, with travel time between 3.5 and 4.5 hours. You can get there via Pirot and Dimitrovgrad, or alternatively via Niš – Paraćin – Jagodina – Loznica – Zvornik, mostly using the E-75 highway to Jagodina.
• Banja Luka: Around 240 km from Zvornik, about 4 to 4.5 hours by car. Take the route via Prijedor and Kozarac on regional roads. There is no highway, but it’s the shortest route.
• Sarajevo: About 140 km away, travel time is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. Use the M-18 main road via Kalesija and Tuzla.
• Tuzla: 55 km from Zvornik, about 1.5 hours by car via Sapna on the M-18 road.
• Bijeljina: Approximately 60 km away, around 1 hour by car via Janja using a direct main road.
• Zagreb: Around 360 km from Zvornik, approximately 5.5 to 6.5 hours by car. Route: Zagreb – Slavonski Brod – Bijeljina – Zvornik via highway A3.
• Podgorica: About 350 km away, requiring 6 to 7 hours by car. The shortest route from Montenegro is via Nikšić, Trebinje, and Bileća.

• Domestic destinations: Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Brčko, Derventa, Foča, Konjević Polje, Mali Zvornik, Milići, Modriča, Pale, Prnjavor, Rogatica, Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Tuzla
• International destinations: Belgrade, Duisburg, Irig, Loznica, Novi Sad, Subotica, Mannheim, Essen, Dortmund

The bus station in Zvornik is located on Svetog Save Street.

Connected towns: Ruma, Buđanovci, Nikinci, Platičevo, Klenak, Šabac, Štitar, Dublje Mačvansko, Petlovača, Ribari, Mačvanski Prnjavor, Podrinsko Novo Selo, Lešnica, Jadarska Straža, Loznica, Loznica-Fabrika, Koviljača, Gornja Koviljača, Brasina, Donja Borina, Radalj, and Mali Zvornik.

• Tuzla Airport: Only 45 km from Zvornik—the most convenient air connection.
• Sarajevo Airport: Around 140 km away, about 2.5–3 hours of onward travel are needed.
• Banja Luka Airport: Around 240 km from Zvornik, 4–4.5 hours by car.
• Mostar Airport: The farthest airport in Bosnia and Herzegovina, approximately 260 km away.
• Nikola Tesla Airport (Belgrade): Around 150 km away, about 3 hours by car.
• Osijek Airport (Croatia): About 170 km from Zvornik, roughly 3 hours by car—the most practical option if arriving via Croatia.

• Activities on Lake Zvornik: The kayak and canoe club “Drina” offers tourists the opportunity to take part in various lake activities. Kayaking costs between €2.5 and €5 per hour, canoeing around €5 per hour, a boat tour of the lake about €10 per hour, and speedboat rides around €50 per hour (price valid for three people). For younger visitors, there’s a banana boat ride available for €50 per hour.
• Fishing on the lake: Lake Zvornik is rich in fish, especially grass carp, catfish, barbel, asp, huchen, and bream. Anglers can rent boats and other facilities needed for fishing activities. A daily fishing permit costs around €5. A weekly permit is a bit more economical, costing just over €20, and an annual permit costs around €30.
• Hiking: In the surroundings of Zvornik, hiking is most commonly done on Mount Udrč and Grkinja, but be prepared for unmarked and unmaintained trails. If that might be a problem, you can hire members of local mountaineering clubs to guide you. In the village of Liješanj, the mountaineering clubs “Korak” and “Mladost” are active at the mountain lodge “Grkinja.” The lodge serves as a base for mountaineering activities in the area and for organizing educational camps.

• Saint Sava Week with the Saint Sava Ball: A religious and cultural event featuring literary evenings, sports competitions, and programs related to religion. It has been held every January since 1993 and gathers students, writers, cultural-artistic societies, and all interested guests.
• Drina Cup: A sports event held for several years that brings together young footballers—children aged ten to thirteen—who compete at the city stadium in Zvornik.
• Škobaljijada and Gurmanijada: Events that gather fishermen in Mali Zvornik competing to catch the largest fish, as well as to cook the best fish stew and bean soup. The event also includes exhibitions of handicrafts, old trades, souvenirs, and local delicacies. A children’s program with creative workshops is organized during the event. It takes place in May.
• Zvornik Jeep Rally: The Jeep Rally is a sporting event where participants compete in jeep races. It attracts a large number of competitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the surrounding region. It is held in May in Snagovo, Mahmutovići, Mejdan, and on Karakaj Hill. The event appeals to all types of tourists.
• Golden Hands of Zvornik: This event gathers sellers of unique products and handicrafts such as paintings, glasswork, traditional embroidery, crocheted and knitted items, and more. It takes place in June on the city promenade, and visitors can not only browse but also purchase the offered products to take home a unique souvenir from the region.
• People and Bridges: A cultural-entertainment event held as part of “Zvornik Summer,” showcasing Zvornik’s culture and tourist offerings of Zvornik and Mali Zvornik. It lasts throughout August and has been organized for fifteen years.
• Zvornik Regatta: A sporting event held on the Drina River. During the event, participants compete in a race along the Drina river basin, while for other visitors, bean soup is cooked and an entertainment program is organized. The regatta takes place in August.

• Café Playroom “Čarolija”: The playroom is located at King Peter I Karađorđević Square 13 and is open every day from 10:30 AM to 9 PM. If you want your children to have fun while you relax, come here and try some of the food offered at the venue while your children are looked after by friendly staff.
• “Galerija” Café & Playroom: A place suitable for both children and parents, as it has a children’s playroom and a small, decent café for adults. It is located on Patriarch Pavle Street—it opens at 7 PM on weekdays (9 PM on weekends) and closes at 9:30 PM.
• Playroom “PlayRoom”: An internet playroom equipped with Sony PlayStation consoles and computers, ideal for entertaining older children. It is located on Sveti Sava Street. You will need to check the working hours when you are in Zvornik. 

• Đurđev grad Fortress: Đurđev grad dates back to the 13th or 14th century and is named after Despot Đurđe Branković, but it is also known as Jerina’s Town, after his wife, the so-called “Cursed Jerina.” The fortress consists of the Lower, Upper, and Middle towns and is considered the largest fortress in the country. It has been declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nearby, you can visit the Church of Saint Petka Trnova. The fortress is accessible by a walking trail or via the road through Srpska Varoš. The city gate within the Lower Town is considered a symbol of Zvornik.
• King Alexander I Karađorđević Bridge: The 200-meter-long bridge was financed by King Alexander, hence its name. Built in the late 1920s, it originally served as a railway bridge but is now accessible only to pedestrians. The bridge is a symbol of Zvornik due to its architectural, aesthetic, and historical value.
• Roman Quarry in Dardagani: The archaeological site in the village of Dardagani in the Čajniče municipality is worth visiting. The quarry was used during the first five centuries AD and was the largest quarry in the region.
• Medieval Stećci (Tombstones): Zvornik boasts over fifty necropolises containing about 850 old tombstones called stećci, some inscribed and some not. The tombstones feature Cyrillic inscriptions and decorations typical for this region.
• Medieval Town Kušlat: Kušlat is located 15 km south of Zvornik on a steep rock at the confluence of the Jadar and Drinjača rivers. It dates back to the 13th century and was abandoned only in the 19th century. It is mentioned in the travel writings of Evliya Çelebi and in the books of Ivo Andrić.
• Old Bazaar: Zvornik’s mahala (neighborhood) used to be the city center, with shops and craft workshops that today mostly serve as residences. Although it no longer looks as it did in the past, traces of Ottoman architecture can still be seen.
• Monument to the Forty Fallen Fighters in the National Liberation War: This memorial complex is dedicated to fighters of the National Liberation War, including a monument to Filip Kljajić Fića, the commissar of the First Proletarian Division.
• Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist: The oldest Orthodox building in Zvornik, built in the 19th century on the foundations of an older church. It is protected by the state.

• Drina River: The river is formed by the confluence of the Piva and Tara rivers near Šćepan Polje and flows into the Sava River near Sremska Rača. It is known for its cold, fast water, suitable for rafting, kayaking, floating, and fishing (pike, trout, barbel, and catfish). Near Zvornik, the river reaches a width of up to 4 km, and the municipality encompasses about 53 km of the Drina’s course, with promenades, beaches, and sports facilities. It is also called Zelenika due to its greenish color. During summer, the Drina hosts the events “Zvornik Summer” and the “Zvornik Regatta.”
• Drinjača River: An 80 km-long tributary of the Drina, also very clean. It is popular because several thermal springs with temperatures of 20-25°C are located nearby, along with numerous picnic spots, fishing opportunities, and possibilities for sports and recreational tourism.
• Zvornik Lake: Zvornik Lake is a shallow artificial lake of about 8 km², stretching from Zvornik to Mali Zvornik, created after the construction of the Zvornik Hydroelectric Plant. It is fed by numerous smaller rivers and is recognizable by small islands and peninsulas on its surface. Tourists enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, sunbathing, rafting, canoeing, and kayaking on the lake.
• Kiseljak: Kiseljak is a nearby village rich in mineral waters used for treating various ailments. Tourists visit the mineral springs for healing and to enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings.

• Apartments: Most apartments for rent in Zvornik and its surroundings are one-bedroom, with a double bed and an additional pull-out bed. Their prices range from as low as €18 to €36 per night per person. Two-bedroom apartments are less common, with prices exceeding €100. Most apartments are located very close to the city center, within walking distance of all major sites, while apartments can also be rented a bit further away in nearby places like Karakaj, Zelinja, Snagovo, and Kiseljak at lower prices. Apartment accommodations in Zvornik include, among others, Nomino, Kosorić, Desetka, Park, Drinska noć Zvornik, Palma, Drina, and other apartments.
• Hotel Accommodation: Hotel prices are higher than apartments, ranging from about €30 to €60 per person. In Zvornik, you can stay at hotels such as Novak, Vidikovac (in Divič), Central, Kod Novaka, Comsar Energetik Hotel, and Royal Drina (in Mali Zvornik). The hotels are well-maintained, modern, and suitable for business travelers and other tourists, featuring restaurants where you can dine. Many rooms offer views of the Drina River.
• Houses for Rent: Mostly one-bedroom and two-bedroom houses (weekend cottages) are available in Zvornik for around €100, and three-bedroom houses for about €125. However, the price generally applies to the full capacity of the house, making them cost-effective for larger groups visiting Zvornik. Consider holiday houses like Zelinjski Vidikovac, Lake House, Teodora, Paradiso, Flora, Villas Oaza, Zen, Jana, and Drinski Konak Stakić.
• Motels: Motels Laguna, Victoria, and Dolina Mira are located along the main roads Zvornik-Bijeljina and Zvornik-Tuzla. They have large capacities, their own restaurants, terraces, halls, and parking. They are suitable for travelers in transit, excursions, business gatherings, weddings, celebrations, and other events. The price per night in motels is about €30 per person.

• Postal code: 75400
• Area code: +387 056
• Bus station: +387 056 211635, +387 056 210184
• Health center: +387 056 211100
• Hospital: +387 056 211112
• Tourist information center: +387 56 210184

• Information center: 121
• Police: 122
• Fire brigade: 123
• Emergency medical service: 124
• Road assistance and traffic conditions: 1282
• SOS phone: 1209
• Emergency call: 112 (international number) 

• Ćevabdžinica “Lipa”: Stop by here for good ćevapi and other grilled specialties, served by very friendly staff. It is located on Patrijarha Pavla Street, open from 7 AM to 5 PM (except Sundays, when it is open until 7 PM).
• Restaurant “Obrenovac”: A restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere and an interesting, creative menu carefully prepared by top chefs. It is located on Svetog Save Street. The restaurant is open every day from 7 AM to 10 PM.
• Cafe Pizzeria “304”: If you’re craving pizza, this is the right place. Be prepared to wait for your order, as the place is very popular. It is on the same street as Restaurant “Obrenovac” and opens at the same time but closes at 11 PM (midnight on Saturdays and Sundays).

Other places where you can grab a bite: Leskovački roštilj “Kod Škilje” (Trg pobjede), Restaurant “Stari grad” (Sime Perića), “Avala” Restaurant (Svetog Save), Tavern “Sač” (Patrijarha Pavla), Restaurant “Lovac” (in the passage between Trg kralja Petra I Karađorđevića and Patrijarha Pavla), and fine dining restaurant “Sollo Lounge Bar & Restaurant” (Trg kralja Petra I Karađorđevića).

• Discotheques: In Zvornik’s discotheques, the party lasts until morning, and the diverse music will appeal to all tourists. Ask the locals where the best fun is, and they will surely recommend going out to Sparta Discotheque (located at Trg kralja Petra I Karađorđevića, open only on Fridays from 9 PM to 4 AM), Night Club “Ibiza” (open from 8 PM until dawn), Naša kafana (on Patrijarha Pavla street), and BM Discotheque in Tršić (open Fridays and Saturdays from 9 PM to 5 AM).
• Cafe Bars: City cafes are popular for daytime socializing, relaxing, and coffee drinking. There are many of them, and you can visit them in order: Caffe Bar “Scorpion” (Braće Jugovića), Cafe Bar “Vremeplov” and Concept Coffee House (Patrijarha Pavla), Raffaello, and Caffe & Lounge Studio 19 (Svetog Save).

• Taxi “Non-stop”: The leading taxi service in the city, operating 24/7.
• Taxi “Star”: Based in Karakaj. You can book a ride by calling +387 65 773803.
• Taxi “Flamingosi”: Located at Trg kralja Petra I Karađorđevića. Standard taxi services can be booked at +387 66 790845.
• Taxi “Dule”: Located on Glumina Street, providing local transportation. Contactable at +387 66 704676.
• Taxi “Tahić”: Offers local transportation services.
• Taxi “Mađar”: Transports passengers within the city and surrounding areas.
• Taxi “Đurić”: A carrier from Karakaj with a fleet including cars, minibuses, and vans.

• Belgrade Transfers: A private taxi service operating on the Belgrade–Zvornik route for a fixed price. Tourists are picked up at the airport. Payment can be made by card or cash.
• “Opa” Taxi: A service offering online taxi reservations in the city, as well as transfers to and from the airport. Various vehicle classes and service types can be booked. 

• Red zone: hourly – 083 5611, daily ticket – 083 5612
• Blue zone: hourly – 083 5621, daily ticket – 083 5622
• Green zone: hourly – 083 5631, daily ticket – 083 5632

• Red zone: hourly – about €0.50, daily ticket – €2.55
• Blue zone: hourly – €0.25, daily ticket – €1.53
• Green zone: hourly – €0.25, daily ticket – €1.53

• Weekdays: from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturdays: from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Sundays: parking is free.

• Braće Jugovića, Majevička, Trg kralja Petra I Karađorđevića, Hospital parking, Patrijarha Pavla, Near "Avala" restaurant, Profilico parking, Svetog Save, Several parking spaces along the Drina riverbank, 19-1 parking (Mali Zvornik).

Information: +387 56 490781

• Mali Zvornik (0.5 km): A small neighboring town where you can visit the Underground City, which once served as a bunker for the Karađorđević family and today is a main tourist attraction appealing to all ages. The Underground City is actually a large labyrinth of tunnels with various purposes. You can reach Mali Zvornik by crossing the pedestrian bridge.
• Monastery Lovnica (12 km): Located near the village of Šekovići, this monastery is a foundation of King Dragutin. It is an important cultural site due to its abundance of frescoes and iconostasis.
• Monastery Papraća (25 km): Founded by King Dragutin and his successors or Župan Vukan, this monastery is built in the Morava style and is the largest church in the country. It is situated in the village of the same name near the source of the Spreča River.
• Monastery Tavna (35 km): A female Orthodox monastery in the municipality of Bijeljina, founded by King Saint Jovan Vladimir. It is probably one of the oldest buildings in the region. It suffered significant damage during World War II but has been successfully restored to its original appearance.
• Banja Koviljača (13 km): A place in western Serbia known as a spa town for its thermal mineral waters. It is believed to treat rheumatism, neuralgia, sciatica, spine injuries, post-surgery conditions, and even infertility.
• Sunčana reka (11 km): Another ethno-village near Zvornik, located in Serbia at the foothills of Mount Gučevo near Banja Koviljača. In the village, you can rent houses for accommodation, visit many hospitality venues within the complex, play football, exercise, climb an artificial rock wall, tour a farm, and visit museum exhibits.

• Roman period: During the Roman era, this area was inhabited by the Scordisci—Celts who were under Roman rule. In later centuries, inscriptions from the 3rd century, Roman fortifications with sacrificial altars, a Roman quarry in Dardagani, and a tomb from the 4th century were found in the city area.
• Middle Ages: Records about the town of Zvornik, or Zvonik, date back to the 15th century. It is believed that the settlement got its name either from the bell tower of a church from the 7th or 8th century or from the bell tower within the Franciscan monastery from the 15th century. There is also a tradition that the town was named after the shape of the terrain on which it was built. It was a transit point for the transport of silver to Dubrovnik and an important strategic location. The area was ruled by King Dragutin, the Kotromanić dynasty, King Tvrtko I, Despot Đurađ Branković, and the Zlatonosović family. During the Middle Ages, it was at the crossroads of the influence of several powers: Slavic, Frankish, Byzantine, and Hungarian. In the 12th century, the Hungarians conquered this region and held it until the Ottoman period.
• Ottoman rule: During the period of Turkish rule in Zvornik and Bosnia and Herzegovina, sanjaks (military-administrative units) were established, and the city was turned into a border fortress (Zvornik Fortress). It was fortified, and a mosque and residential buildings for the Turkish population were built. The Christian population lived in a separate part of the city called Podzvonik (today’s Fetija). In the 16th century, Vlachs settled in Zvornik. During this period, the town was a trade and craft center with developed traffic on the Drina River, viticulture, and agriculture. Until the 19th century, the city was the seat of the Metropolitanate and the Zvornik Sanjak.
• Austro-Hungarian rule: After 1878, when the Austro-Hungarians took over, Zvornik remained an important and developed place, primarily as a craft and trade center. Schools were opened, roads were built, and residential and administrative units developed. The architectural style from this period is reflected in today’s building of the Zvornik Assembly, the library, the military hospital, the post office, and many family houses. Associations such as “Prosvjeta,” “Napredak,” and “Gajret” were founded. During World War I, Zvornik was occupied for over a year but was later liberated by the Serbian army.
• Interwar period: During the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (SHS), Zvornik had ten municipalities and over three thousand inhabitants, mostly of Muslim faith. During this time, the population was engaged in livestock farming, agriculture, fruit growing, rafting, work in quarries, and logging, while most crafts were related to agriculture. Before World War II, Zvornik got electric lighting, then-modern communication technologies, a hospital, a court, mosques, Orthodox churches, and a synagogue.
• World War II: During the war, German, Ustaše, Domobran, and Legionnaire forces operated in Zvornik because the town was strategically important. For that reason, it was protected by trenches, barbed wire, and strong fortifications. The city was liberated multiple times, and finally, in February 1945.
• Yugoslav period: Zvornik was re-established as a county seat, and the People’s Committee of the Zvornik County and sixteen local committees were formed, which were later reduced to eight. 

• Location: Zvornik is situated directly on the western border of the Republic of Serbia, at 44° 23′ 03″ North latitude and 19° 06′ 10″ East longitude, connected to Serbia by two bridges over the Drina River. It lies on the slopes of Mount Majevica.
• Area: The municipality covers an area of approximately 500 km².
• Average Altitude: The average elevation of Zvornik is 146 meters above sea level.
• Neighboring Municipalities and Settlements: Zvornik borders the municipalities of Bratunac, Vlasenica, and Milići to the south; Kalesija, Šekovići, and Osmaci to the west; Bijeljina, Lopare, and Ugljevik to the north; and the Republic of Serbia (municipality of Mali Zvornik) to the east.
• Relief: Zvornik is located along the Drina River, which serves as a natural border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The terrain near the river is flat and fertile, ideal for agriculture. Hilly zones rise above the lowlands and gradually transition into mountainous areas, particularly the Javor and Majevica mountains, which exceed 900 meters in elevation. The hilly areas are forested and partially inhabited, while the mountainous parts are important for livestock farming, tourism, and fruit growing. The local microclimate is enhanced by the presence of Lake Zvornik on the Drina River.
• Natural Resources: The natural resources utilized by the population include forests, water resources, coal, fertile land, and wildlife (roe deer, deer, and hares).

• Climate Type: Zvornik has a temperate continental climate, with warm summers, cold winters, and clearly defined seasons. Winds are generally weak, but fog is quite frequent in the area.
• Precipitation: The annual precipitation totals about 850 liters per square meter, including both rain and snow. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, with the highest rainfall occurring in spring and autumn. Snowfall in winter can reach a depth of up to 1.2 meters.
• Average Temperatures: The average annual temperature ranges from 16 to 18°C. Summer temperatures can rise to 38°C, while in winter they can drop as low as -8°C.

•  Population: According to the latest census (2013), the town of Zvornik has 12,674 inhabitants, while the entire municipality has close to 59,000.
• Language: As in the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is no single official language; Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian are used concurrently.
• Population Density: 158 inhabitants per square kilometer.
• Ethnic Composition: According to the 2013 census, 89.66% of Zvornik’s population are Serbs, 8.63% are Bosniaks, and the remaining 1.71% belong to other ethnic groups.
• Religious Affiliation: The majority of the population is of the Orthodox Christian faith, while the Bosniak population is predominantly of the Islamic faith.
• Currency: Convertible Mark (BAM)—approximately 1.95 BAM equals 1 Euro. 

• Burinke (Zvornik Boats): Part of Zvornik’s cultural heritage includes the traditional wooden boats once used on the Drina River. They were in use during the occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and even in the interwar period. These boats were used to transport timber, food, and industrial goods in large quantities. Measuring about 20 meters in length, they could carry heavy loads. The back of the boat had an enclosed space where the crew slept, while the rowers sat at the front.
• Cursed Jerina (Prokleta Jerina): Zvornik is the perfect place to explore Serbian history and mythology. Legends about the cursed Jerina, wife of Đurađ Branković, are still alive in this region, mostly associated with Đurđev Grad and the paths leading to it. It is believed that the fortress was built on her orders using cruel construction methods and that she was a fatal woman who seduced and sacrificed local men.
• The Dragon of Noćaj (Zmaj od Noćaja): A tragic but lesser-known event in Zvornik’s history involves the fate of Stojan Čupić, a hero of the First Serbian Uprising, known as the Dragon of Noćaj. After being deceitfully captured by the Ottomans, he was taken to Zvornik and imprisoned for a month in the Lower Town near the City Gate. Legend has it that he was the godfather to the mother of Ali-pasha, who captured him. She promised to save him out of compassion, but despite her vow, he was strangled during the night. He was buried in the Orthodox cemetery on the road to Tuzla.
• Folk Art and Crafts: Traditional crafts such as weaving, embroidery, woodcarving, and pottery are still practiced in Zvornik. These crafts are mainly showcased during local cultural events and are kept alive by older generations passing on their skills to the young, as well as by cultural associations in the area. Ethno villages and rural households in the surrounding areas continue to preserve local customs and traditional architecture.