#Trebišnjica River

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Trebišnjica River, Trebinje, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mujo Hasanovic

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Begova kuća, entering the larger ćošak

Trebinje, Herzegovina

The larger ćošak (or divanhana) windows overlooking the Trebišnjica River and the gardens to the east are placed in the light wooden framed walls that project beyond the stone walls below. The wide seating element (sećija) occurs against the three walls not occupied by cabinetry. The seating element functions as both a place to sit and sleep. The intricate ceiling design is typical in fine dwellings of Ottoman dwellings in the 19th and 20th centuries but contain details found in dwellings from much earlier periods in the Balkans. (photo 1988)

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Arslanagica bridge in Trebinje

Arslanagića bridge on the river Trebišnjica was erected by Mehmed Paša Sokolović, and was opened in 1574. It was the bridge connecting the central Bosnia and the New (present Herceg Novi, then part of Bosnia within the Ottoman Empire). Almost all the trade went through it, mostly salt. In 1687, the Venetians took up New, which caused the withdrawal of the rich Muslim population towards Trebinje and the bridge lost its significance. It was also affected by the construction of roads towards Dubrovnik.

One of the Muslims from New was Arslan-aga who had the task of charging the bridge transfer fee, and made the house right next to the bridge. Throughout the year, the entire village was born, called Arslanagici, so the bridge started to call Arslanagica Bridge, according to its bridge.

At the end of the Second World War, more precisely in 1944, the Chetniks tried to crash the bridge. During the explosion, only the left wing of the bridge, about 8 meters long, was destroyed, which was replaced by a narrow concrete strip after the war.

The second damage to the bridge occurred in 1965 when the authorities decided to make the Gorica reservoir for the needs of the hydropower plant. The bridge was submerged for one year and lay under water for a year.

After the emptying reservoir lake, for two months, 1966, the demolition of the bridge was completed. The bridge was disassembled, stone by stone, and stood in the nearby field. The bridge reconstruction project was developed by the company "Energoinvest" from Sarajevo. The legend says that there were buyers from foreign country for birdge, the most convenient of which came from Canada.

However, in 1970, the relocation began, and after two years of work (the stone blocks were marked with numbers and transported by boats), the bridge was reopened, this time several kilometers below, in the village of Gradina. The Arslanagica village was mostly flooded and there are only a few houses above the lake level.

A new epilogue around Arslanagić bridge was created in 1993, during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Namely, by the decision of the mayor of Trebinje, Bozidar Vučurević, the name of the bridge was changed to Perovic Bridge, supposedly, claiming that Arslanagići has become from a family of Perovic.

 Today, the name of the bridge and village has not changed, but the people still call it its original name: Arslanagića Bridge. It was declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Begova kuća

Trebinje, Herzegovina

The Resulbegović family lived in the ground floor spaces during the winter and the upper level during the milder months. The lower walls are stone covered with a plaster and the upper walls of wooden braced framing filled with lighter soft brick and covered with plaster. The exposed stone extension in the distance was a storeroom that provided a terrace above. The south projecting facade (doksat) of the dwelling faced the Trebišnjica river. The house forms the southern edge of the family (haremluk) courtyard that also contained a konak for guests. (photo 1988)

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Begova kuća within the smaller living room

Trebinje, Herzegovina

This smaller odaja (ćošak or divanhana) on the upper level of the dwelling also has cabinetry and access from the kamarija. Two windows face south to overlook the Trebišnjica River and another window faces west overlooking the attached lower building and wall beyond. A seating element (sećija) occurs below the windows in the portion of the room that projects beyond the stone wall below. The ceiling is formed with planks overlaid with trim pieces to form the strong geometric design. Shelving with decorative trim provides space for objects just below the ceiling. (photo 1988)

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Begova kuća, within the Velika Odaja

Trebinje, Herzegovina

This large living room, Velika Odaja (ćošak or divanhana), is located on the upper level of the dwelling with the cabinetry (musandera) on the northern side and access from the kamarija through the doorway. The windows that light the space face south to overlook the Trebišnjica River and those windows facing east overlook gardens. The cabinetry contains open shelves for special objects and closed cupboards to store bedding during the day. The musandera is constructed using wooden framing and lumber elements that are covered with smaller ornamental pieces. (photo 1988)