This small municipality in northern Bosnia sits along the Sava River, marking the border with Croatia. The local economy centers on agriculture and trade across the river.
Orašje sits along the Sava River in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, directly across from Croatia. As the administrative center of Posavina Canton, the town connects visitors to farmlands, riverside paths, and villages. Walk by the Sava to see fishermen pulling carp from the water or stop by HNK Orašje stadium when a football match draws crowds. Memorials and rebuilt buildings in the center reflect the town’s experience during the Bosnian War. Nearby, villages such as Tolisa and Domaljevac display wooden houses with steep roofs and Franciscan monasteries from the 1800s.
The Sava River: Walking, Fishing, and Transport
The Sava River shapes daily life in Orašje. Paved paths run along its banks, where locals cast lines for carp and catfish, often using handmade nets. Small ferries occasionally cross to Croatia, their engines cutting through the river’s calm flow. During summer, families gather under willow trees with picnic blankets, and cyclists pedal past fields on flat roads. Look for herons wading near the eastern banks in the early morning, where the water bends away from the town.
Post-War Recovery and Community Shifts
Orašje’s population changed significantly after the Bosnian War. Before the 1990s, Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs lived here, but today Croats form the majority. Newly built homes and repaired public buildings fill the center, replacing structures damaged during the conflict. According to the 2013 Census, 1,974 Bosniaks, 1,350 Croats, and 42 Serbs reside in the town. Memorials near the main square honor those lost, and some community groups organize talks about reconciliation.
Religious Sites, Markets, and Football
A mosque with a simple minaret stands near Catholic churches decorated with colorful glass windows. On Tuesdays and Fridays, vendors from nearby farms sell honey, smoked sausages, and woven blankets in the open-air market. HNK Orašje, the local football club, plays weekend matches that draw lively crowds. In October, the town hosts a harvest festival with accordion music and circle dances specific to this part of Bosnia.
Villages Near Orašje: Tolisa and Domaljevac
Tolisa, 10 kilometers southwest, holds a 19th-century Franciscan monastery with a library of handwritten religious books. Domaljevac, to the east, has wooden houses built by Croatian settlers in the 1800s, their roofs angled to shed heavy snow. Both villages produce kajmak (creamy dairy spread) and šljivovica (plum brandy) on family farms. Buses run to these areas from Orašje’s station, but renting a bike lets you stop at sunflower fields or roadside stalls selling fresh cheese.
Local Dishes and Where to Try Them
Meals here focus on grilled meats, freshwater fish, and homemade bread. Order čevapi—small sausages of minced beef and lamb—stuffed into somun bread with raw onions. Restaurants by the river grill pike-perch caught that morning, served with boiled potatoes. Morning bakeries sell flaky burek filled with cheese or spinach, best eaten warm. For dessert, try tufahije—apples poached in sugar syrup, filled with walnuts, and topped with cream—at cafes near the post office.
Reaching Orašje by Road or Air
Drive to Orašje from Sarajevo in about 3.5 hours via the M17 highway or from Zagreb in 2 hours on the E70. Tuzla International Airport, 90 minutes southeast, has flights to European cities, with bus connections to Orašje. Trains from Belgrade or Sarajevo stop in Brčko, 40 kilometers east, where you can take a taxi. Within the town, most shops and restaurants cluster within a 10-minute walk of the main square. Taxis charge reasonable rates for trips to outer neighborhoods or villages.
