Cycling through history, nature, and togetherness
On Sunday, September 14, Blidinje hosted the final cycling tour within the “Route of the Stećak Tombstones”project, once again proving that cycling is not just a sport but also a bridge between recreation, cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism. Despite poor weather forecasts and relentless morning rain, more than 100 participants from across the region gathered at Blidinje Nature Park, confirming the strength of unity and the love for cycling.
Cycling through Blidinje’s history
The cycling route led participants through the untouched nature of Blidinje Nature Park, taking them to four stećak tombstone sites: Dugo Polje, Risovac, Barzonja, and Bare. Each of these historical gems was presented by Maja Soldo, Director of the Institute for Cultural and Historical Heritage of West Herzegovina Canton, who vividly shared the history, meaning, and value of the stećci, enriching the cycling experience with educational and cultural content.
A finale at the Blidinje Gastro Festival
The cycling tour was held as part of the Blidinje Gastro Festival 2025, a three-day event (September 12–14) combining authentic gastronomy, cultural heritage, and diverse activities for children and adults. The festival offered visitors a unique blend of culinary delights, workshops, cultural programs, and adventurous activities in the setting of Blidinje Nature Park, creating new value for the development of sustainable tourism in the region.
After successfully completing the ride, participants joined festival visitors in Masna Luka, where they were welcomed with local delicacies, a rich cultural and entertainment program, and warm socializing in the spirit of unity and tradition preservation.
The voice of the organizers
Toni Zorić, President of the “HerzegovinaBike” Association, emphasized:
“Many of those gathered in the early morning hours at Blidinje didn’t believe the cycling tour would take place at all – the sky was gray, and the rain showed no signs of stopping. I must admit that I myself felt a bit pessimistic at certain moments. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, vehicles carrying bikes began to arrive, along with the determination not to postpone the planned ride. At the very moment when our athletes and cycling ambassadors were ready for the start, the rain stopped, and the sun illuminated Blidinje, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces and signaling an unforgettable day ahead..”
In the end, cyclists once again demonstrated unity and determination, relentless in their goal – the promotion of sport and the tourism promotion of our country as a cycle tourism destination.
The “Rutom stećaka” project is implemented within the international program SUSTOUR – Sustainable Tourism for Local Development, funded through the Interreg VI-A IPA Programa Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021 – 2027, with the support Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the West Herzegovina Canton.
Through this project, we have shown that the stećci are not just stones, but become a story, a lesson, and an inspiration for all generations. Just as cyclists, with each turn of the pedals, connected nature, history, and togetherness, so too have we, through the “Route of the Stećak Tombstones” project, proven that sport and cultural heritage together can create new values, build bridges among people, and promote Herzegovina as a recognized cycle tourism destination.
