Olovo: Thermal Waters, Rivers and Cultural Heritage

Olovo combines a river landscape at the confluence of the Stupčanica and Bioštica rivers with thermal waters in the town centre and a layered history. The Krivaja River begins here and runs for 35 kilometres through the municipality. These themes lead partly to the centre and partly to different parts of the municipality.

Thermal Waters and an Area for Excursions

The Aquaterm health and recreation centre is in the centre of Olovo, beside the confluence of the Bioštica and Stupčanica rivers. Thermal water is used there for drinking, inhalation and bathing. Treatment programmes include an initial medical examination; depending on the diagnosis and health condition, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, ultrasound therapy, kinesiotherapy and massages are prescribed. An average of five treatments are carried out daily. As treatment options may change, check the current programmes before planning your trip.

Another destination for time outdoors is the Zeleni Vir recreation area on the Bioštica, two kilometres from the centre of Olovo. It offers landscaped walking paths, sports activities and areas for relaxation and recreation. This means you can consider a stay at the centrally located Aquaterm and a visit to the paths and recreational areas of Zeleni Vir as different options.

The Krivaja also offers opportunities to organise rafting trips, as well as potential for sport fishing and fly fishing. These options should be distinguished from the facilities at Aquaterm and in Zeleni Vir. If you are planning a rafting trip, check with the organisers and confirm dates separately.

History and Religious Heritage

Written documents first mention Olovo in 1382 under the name Plumbum. In the 14th and 15th centuries, it was a mining and trading centre with lucrative customs revenues. In the second half of the 14th century, during the time of Tvrtko I Kotromanić, the Monastery of Sveta Gospa was built in Olovo. These milestones give the town a historical depth distinct from its present-day river and thermal-water landscape.

The Shrine of Gospe Olovske draws Catholic worshippers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Traditionally, it is visited on 1 May, at the beginning of May devotions, on the Assumption of Mary, on the Nativity of Mary and during the last week of October for the memorial day of the church restorer, Fra Lujo Zloušić. Annual programmes may vary; check the dates if you would like to plan your trip around one of these occasions.

National Monuments and a Cycling Route

The historic Church of Crkva Majke Božje, together with its movable property, is designated a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A Torah, which also has this status, is kept in the Olovo town library. The Mramor necropolis in Musići near Olovo is part of the UNESCO World Heritage property “Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards”. Other designated monuments lie outside the town centre, including the Mramorje necropolis, with old Nišan tombstones, in Lavšići, and the historic “Rimski most” bridge over the Orlja River near Klinčići.

The cycling route “Stazama predaka – nekropole i spomenici – jugoistok” runs through the southeastern part of the municipality to sites designated as national monuments. Described in 2020, the route starts and ends in Olovo and is 42.5 kilometres long. It follows a gravel road to Miljevići and the national monument “Stara drvena džamija i harem”. The Mramorje necropolis, with 46 stećci, is also in the southeastern part. The route, markings and access conditions may change; check the current situation before setting out.

Planning Your Trip

The two-kilometre distance to Zeleni Vir and the 42.5-kilometre cycling route describe different scales: one is the distance of a recreation area from the town centre, the other is an entire route. Olovo lies directly on the M18 highway, built in 1958. When choosing where to stay, these locations and route connections can provide practical guidance alongside your interests in thermal waters, river landscapes or cultural heritage.

Discover more destinations: Zenica, Visoko, Donji Lučani, Doboj, Zbilje, Uvorići, Strica, Vranduk.

For the broader travel overview: Zenica-Doboj Canton.