Doboj
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Doboj Добој |
|
 |
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Area | |
| - Total | 813.9 km² (314.2 sq mi) |
| Population (1991) | |
| - Total | 102,5461 |
| - Municipality | 150,000 |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Area code(s) | 53 |
| 1 This figure is for the whole of the pre-war municipality, which was divided in the Bosnian War. The other parts, Doboj East and Doboj South, are today in the Federation of BiH. |
|
Doboj (Serbian Cyrillic: Добој) is a city and a municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated on the river Bosna. Doboj is the largest national railway junction; as such, the seats of the Republika Srpska Railways, and the Railways Corporation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are located in Doboj. It is one of the oldest cities in the country and the most important urban center of the Northern Bosnia.
Contents |
[edit] History
The first official mention of the settlement is from 1415, as it was written in the charter issued by Dubrovnik to Hungarian Emperor Sigismund, although there are numerous artefacts and objects that have been found (The National Museum of Bosnia/Herzegovina in Sarajevo & The Regional Museum in Doboj) and which confirm the fact that the area had been inhabited ever since the early stone age, and that the Roman Empire had an army camp (Castrum) and a settlement (Canabea) in the vicinity of the town dating from the 1st century AD. Following the arrival of the Slavs in the 6th century AD it became a part of the region/bannate Usora (in the medieval documents sometimes put together with the nearby province Soli, hence, Usora and Soli).
The Doboj fortress, first built in the early 13th century and expanded in the early 15th century (1415), fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1476, only to be expanded yet again in 1490. This newer stone foundation of the fortress was built on previous layers of old foundation (dating to 9th or 10th century AD) made of wood, mud and clay (Motte & Bailey type). It was a very important obstacle for the invaders coming from North, Hungarians, and later on, Austrians and Germans. It was built in the Gotho-Roman style with the gothic towers and romanic windows. Doboj was the site of a major battle between Hungarians and Bosnian/Turkish coalition in early August of 1415 in which Hungarians were heavily defeated. As an important border fortress (between Bosnian Kingdom and Hungary), it was also frequently attacked (officially recorded - 18 times) in the Austro-Ottoman Wars, and finally fell to the Habsburgs in 1878.
During World War I, Doboj was the site of the largest Austro-Hungarian concentration camp for Serbs. According to its official figures, it held, between December 27, 1915 and July 5, 1917:
- 16,673 men from Bosnia and Herzegovina (mostly of Serb ethnicity)
- 16,996 women and children from Bosnia and Herzegovina (mostly of Serb ethnicity)
- 9,172 soldiers and civilians (men, women, children) from the Kingdom of Serbia
- 2,950 soldiers and civilians from the Kingdom of Montenegro
In total, 45,791 persons.
By February 1916, the authorities began redirecting the prisoners to other camps. The Serbs from Bosnia were mostly sent to Győr (Sopronyek, Šopronjek/Шопроњек).
Most of the interned from Bosnia were whole families from the border regions of eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is said that 5,000 families alone were uprooted from the Sarajevo district in eastern Bosnia along the border with the Kingdoms of Serbia & Montenegro.
The Nobel Prize-laureate Ivo Andrić was also an inmate of the camp.
During World War II, Doboj was an important site for the partisan resistance movement. From their initial uprising in August 1941 up until the end of the war, the Ozren partisan squad carried out numerous diversions against the occupation forces, among the first successful operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The town was liberated on April 17, 1945. At the time of Bosnian War, the city of Doboj has been shelled continuously by Bosniak and Croat forces (over 5,500 mortar and tank rounds had hit the city itself and immediate surrounding area during the period of May 1992 - October 1995). As a result, over 60 citizens of Doboj have been killed due to mortar and tank fire, and some several hundred citizens got wounded in the process.
[edit] Demographics
It has been announced in 2007 that a country-wide census will likely take place in 2011. Currently, the only official census numbers are those from 1971 and 1991, but they do not reflect the current demographics as population shifts of the last decade have caused permanent changes.
[edit] 1971
88.985 total
- Muslims -32.418 (36,43)
- Serbs - 39.884 (44,82)
- Croats - 14.754 (16,58)
- Yugoslavs - 1.124 (1,26)
- Others - 805 (0,91)
[edit] 1991
In 1991, prior to the Yugoslav wars, the Doboj municipality (including the present Republika Srpska and Federation of BiH regions was inhabited by 102,519 people, including:
- 41.164 Muslims by nationality (40,14%)
- 39.820 Serbs (38,83%) (See: Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- 13.264 Croats (12,93%) (See: Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- 5.765 Yugoslavs (5.62%)
- 2.536 others (2.48%)
Yugoslavs (5.5% of the municipal population) were likely to be Serbs, Muslims or children from numerous inter-ethnic marriages.
In urban part of pre-war Doboj municipality, there was:
- 11,133 (40.36%) Muslims by nationality
- 8,088 (29.32%) Serbs
- 4,334 (15.75%) Yugoslavs
- 2,755 (9.98%) Croats
- 1,269 others
Population by settlements composing the town of Doboj:
- Bare: 153 (13%) Yugoslavs, 135 (11%) Croats, 112 (9%) Muslims, 53 (4%) others, 1,185 total
- Centar: (31%) Muslims, 71,982 (71%) Yugoslavs, 1,236 (12%) Croats, 432 (4%) others, 10,735 total
- Čaršija: 93,561 (72%) Muslims, 594 (12%) Yugoslavs, 303 (6%) Serbs, 195 (4%) Croats, 273 (6%) others, 4,926 total
- Doboj Novi: 358 (48%) Muslims, 237 (32%) Yugoslavs, 7 (1%) Croats, 108 (14%) others, 749 total
- Donji Grad: (31%) Muslims,17, 844 (17%) Yugoslavs, 569 (11%) Croats, 196 (4%) others, 5,035 total
- Orašje: 1,411 (66%) Muslims, (11%) Yugoslavs, 111 (5%) Croats, 90 (4%) others, 2,136 total
- Usora: 924 (33%) Serbs, 779 (28%) Muslims, 502 (18%) Croats, 491 (17%) Yugoslavs, 117 (4%) others, 2,813 total
Serbs made majority in Bare, Centar, Donji Grad and Usora, while Bosniaks made majority in Čaršija, Doboj Novi and Orašje.
Source: [1].
[edit] Geography
Before the war in Bosnia the municipality of the same name had a bigger area surface. A larger part of the pre-war municipality is part of the Republika Srpska, including the city itself, (the Doboj Region). The southern rural areas are part of the Zenica-Doboj Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the eastern rural part of the municipality is part of the Tuzla Canton, also in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The parts of the pre-war Doboj Municipality that are in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are the municipalities of Doboj South (Doboj Jug) and Doboj East (Doboj Istok) and the Municipality of Usora.
[edit] Economics
As a rail hub, before the Bosnian War, Doboj focused much of its industrial activities around it. Moreover, as a regional center, it was home to several factories, now mostly bankrupt from mismanagement or privatized, including "Bosanka Doboj", a fruit and vegetable product factory; "Trudbenik", a maker of air compressors and equipment, etc. Nowadays, most of the economy, similar to the rest of the country and typical of poorly executed transition from state-controlled to market economy, bases around the service industry. High unemployment warrants a vibrant coffee shop and bar scene, crowded throughout most of the day and night(it is commonly believed that Doboj is one of the top three cities having largest number of coffee bars/pubs within city limits in Bosnia & Herzegovina).
On the positive side, an approximately $800 million investment, due for ground braking during 2008 in the Stanari suburb, will start of with the building of an electrical power plant. Additionally, the $1 billion investments in the northern Modrica Oil Refinery are likely to increase railroad traffic.
[edit] Nightlife/Tourism
The city of Doboj is very colorful and contrasted to the extremes, there are top notch urban cafes/bars sharing the garbage containers with the old-school towney pubs and restaurants. The place to start is Doboj fortress then Zanatski Centar, bar/club-infested neighborhood, which is located in Naselje Stadion (Stadium Village) in downtown Doboj. There are numerous cafe bars, clubs, restaurants, arcade saloons, and sports-betting joints in this relatively small urban oasis. Mixed mediterranean and continental food, hard rock and metal concerts, turbo-folk rising stars, cevapcici & other oriental dishes, and all kinds of beer & other liquor(domestic and foreign) available. Orange bar, Corner Cafe, Time Out, City, Irish Pub, La Linea are just some of the must-see locales in this part of town.
Visit the bar "Rupa" ("The Hole") by the city park and try to attend one of the beer-promo nights in the crowded atmosphere and under the ground (location of a former city amateur theater). There is a large, stylish, discotheque/club "Dzungla" (The Jungle)located by the river Bosna for those who love Balkan-style ethno fury mixed with oriental and techno rhythms. Finally, end your night at the Club "Atlantic" in the old town and catch one of the worldwide-famous DJs spinning records almost every weekend there. Above the all, do not forget to visit the freshly-renovated medieval city castle (early 1200s) both during the day and at night before hitting the same bars once again, this time better prepared.
Best cultural performances are taking place on Doboj Fortress and Center for Culture Doboj. There is a famous festival of tourism called FEST-TOUR, traditionally held in the last days of June. On Doboj fortress you can visit Ethno shop/cafe, children playground, take a photo with knights and princess, see an exhibition of medieval weaponry, buy souvenirs and experience a medieval life for a few minutes.
Image:Http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2440125-Gradina Doboj old Castel City wiev-Doboj.jpg
[edit] Transportation
The city is the region's commanding railroad knot, going south to Ploče on the Adriatic Sea, west to Banja Luka and Zagreb, north to Vinkovci, Croatia, and east to Tuzla and Zvornik. The route of the future E-75 highway is supposed to pass through the Doboj area, and a separate highway toward western Banja Luka is in the planning stage.
[edit] Education
Doboj hosts the private Slobomir P University branch, with several colleges. Doboj also seats the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Technical School, as well as several specialized High Schools.
[edit] Sport
The local football club, FK Sloga Doboj, plays in the First League of the Republika Srpska. The town's favourite sports activity, however, is handball. It is being played by the local Sloga Doboj team. Sloga Doboj ranks among the country's top teams and consistently qualifies for international competitions.
[edit] Notable places/events in Doboj
- The Doboj Fortress from the early 13th century, looking over the town. The grounds of the fortress have been renovated during 2006.
- A Roman military camp (Castrum) from 1st century AD (right above the confluence of the Usora and the Bosna rivers)
- The regional museum (Завичајни Музеј Добој or Zavičajni Muzej Doboj)
- A monument dedicated to the Serb civilians died in the World War I Austro-Hungarian detention camp in Doboj
- The annual Doboj International TV Handball Tournament
- The Doboj Synagoge located close to town center
- Dzungla (i.e., "The Jungle") swimming/aqua complex
- The old Austro-Hungarian Railway Station Building (oldest railway station in Bosnia/Herzegovina, built in 1878).
- Small Business Trade Fair DOBOJEXPO
- FESTTOUR Festival of tourism of Bosnia and Herzegovina and western Balkan, end of June.
- Cultural Summer on Doboj fortress(July, August)
- Gastro show "Dobojgastro". February
- International Theater fest- May
[edit] Famous people
- Jasmin Bijelošević- ćinovnik-bankar
- Jasko Talijan, local underground icon & self-proclaimed rock sta
- Fahrudin Omerović, ex-football goalkeeper (national selection of Yugoslavia)
- Muhamed Konjić, ex-football player (national selection of Bosnia/Herzegovina)
- Izet Sarajlić, historian of philosophy, essayist, translator, and poet
- Ismet Kapetanović, hero of WW2
- Refik Bešlagic, hero of WW2
- Slađana Pejić, model and Veliki Brat housemate
[edit] Gallery
 Fortress |
 Fortress |
[edit] External links
- http://www.dobojcaffe.com - Sve o Doboju
- http://www.dobojlive.com
- http://www.mojdoboj.com
- http://www.doboj.net
- http://www.bhtourism.ba/eng/doboj.wbsp
- http://www.doboj.com
- http://www.dobojskatvrdjava.rs.ba
- http://sajam.doboj.net
