History Carved in Stone, Nature Woven into the Soul
On Friday, July 4th, 2025, Široki Brijeg hosted the third cycling tour as part of the project “Stećak Route”, once again confirming how cycling can serve as a bridge between recreation, cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism. The event was organized in cooperation with the Cycling Club Široki and association HerzegovinaBike, as participants pedaled through the breathtaking landscapes and historical sites of this Herzegovinian municipality.
Four Sites, Hundreds of Stories
The cycling route was carefully designed to offer a blend of active exploration and cultural discovery. The ride led through picturesque areas of Široki Brijeg, visiting four significant stećak (medieval tombstone) sites:
- Šarampovo Cemetery (Uzarići) – a necropolis with 11 stećci, including pedestal chests and cross-shaped stećci with bases, adorned with rare reliefs of Saracen arcades, also known as anthropomorphic niches.
- Two locations in Knešpolje Cemetery – the largest necropolis in Široki Brijeg, with over 200 stećci, including many chests decorated with motifs such as lions, staffs, crosses, watermills, anthropomorphic and St. Andrew's crosses, and unusual symbols resembling goblets or semicircular shields.
- Lončari Necropolis (Ljuti Dolac) – known for its monumental stećci and the striking relief of a human figure holding a sword and a shield featuring a crescent moon motif. This site includes 54 stećci and ranks among the most representative examples of medieval symbolic iconography.
- Mokro Basilica (additional site) – an archaeological site from the 5th/6th century featuring remnants of an early Christian basilica and baptistery. Located above the Mokro Field, near a prehistoric hillfort and Roman fortification, this site testifies to the multi-layered history of the region, from ancient to medieval times. The elevated plateau once served as a place for defense, prayer, and life – a sacred space etched into the landscape.
A Heritage That Resonates
According to recent field research, the stećci of Široki Brijeg form one of the largest necropolises in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with more than 60 documented sites. Although many tombstones have been damaged or relocated over time, their historical and artistic value remains immense.
The necropolises are characterized by the prevalence of large stone chests, with fewer gabled stećci, and only a limited number of crosses – found primarily in Šarampovo, Trn, and Križ–Ljubotići. Burials were typically conducted at depths of 80 cm to 1 meter, often in dry-stone tombs. Family tombs and varied skeletal positions suggest multi-generational and reused graves, offering insights into burial customs and social structures of the time.
The Voice of the Hosts
Representing the Cycling Club Široki, Ivan Cigićexpressed pride in the successful event:
“We are proud to have shown just how much this region has to offer – not only in terms of natural beauty but also in the profound depth of its history. Through projects like this, we educate each other, as well as our children, that heritage is not something distant – it’s here, beneath our feet. We’re glad to have participated in an initiative that not only promotes sport but also redirects attention to what we too often overlook – our history, our roots, and the beauty of our homeland.”
A Project with Soul
Project Stećak Route project is implemented under the international SUSTOUR – Sustainable Tourism for Local Development, funded through the Interreg VI-A IPA Programa Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021 – 2027, with institutional support from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the West Herzegovina Canton.
This cycling tour, like the entire project, once again demonstrated that stećci are more than stone – they are monuments to the identity, artistry, and spirituality of a people. On two wheels, with the support of guides and local partners, participants experienced a lesson in history – not from textbooks, but from the very soil of Herzegovina.
Next Stop – Ljubuški
The Stećak Route cycling series continues on September 7, 2025, in Ljubuški, where new sites, new discoveries, and another chance to connect with nature, heritage, and community await.
For more information on upcoming events and how to participate, visit the official channels of the HerzegovinaBike association.
See you – on the bike, among the stećci, through the timeless landscape of Herzegovina!
