Zvornik ( sr-cyrl, Зворник, ) is a city in

Republika Srpska Republika Srpska ( sr-Cyrl, Република Српска, ; also referred to as the Republic of Srpska or Serb Republic) is one of the two Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, entities within Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other bein ...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

. In 2013, it had a population of 58,856 inhabitants. Zvornik is located on the

Drina River The Drina ( sr-Cyrl, Дрина, ) is a long river in the Balkans, which forms a large portion of the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. It is the longest tributary of the Sava River and the longest karst river in the Dinaric Al ...

, on the eastern slopes of

Majevica Majevica ( sr-cyrl, Мајевица, ) is a low mountain range in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated between Semberija, Posavina, and Tuzla Canton. Its highest peak is Stolice, some 16 kilometres east of Tuzla, in the far sout ...

mountain, at the altitude of 146m. The town of

Mali Zvornik Mali Zvornik ( sr-cyr, Мали Зворник, ) is a town and municipality located in the Mačva District of western Serbia. In 2022, the population of the town is 4,297, while the population of the municipality is 11,219. It lays on the Drina ri ...

("Little Zvornik") lies directly across the river in

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

. Kula Grad, a village that is part of Zvornik municipality, has a Middle Age fort, Zvornik fortress, built in the 12th century.

History

Zvornik is first mentioned in 1410, although it was known as ''Zvonik'' ("bell tower") at that time. The town's geographic location has made it an important trade link between Bosnia and the east. For instance, the main road connecting

Sarajevo Sarajevo ( ), ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'' is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 2 ...

and

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

runs through the city. The medieval fort known as Kula grad was built in the early 7th century and still stands on the Mlađevac mountainous range overlooking the Drina Valley.

Ottoman rule

During the Ottoman period, Zvornik was the capital of the

Sanjak of Zvornik The Sanjak of Zvornik (, ) was one of the sanjaks in the Ottoman Empire with Zvornik (in modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina) as its administrative centre. It was divided into 4 different districts: Žepče, Maglaj, Tuzla and Kladanj. The sanjak was ...

(an administrative region) within the

Eyalet of Bosnia The Eyalet of Bosnia (; By Gábor Ágoston, Bruce Alan Masters ; ), was an eyalet (administrative division, also known as a ''beylerbeylik'') of the Ottoman Empire, mostly based on the territory of the present-day state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. ...

. This was primarily the case because of the city's crucial role in the economy and the strategic importance of the city's location. The Sanjak of Zvornik was one of six Ottoman sanjaks with most developed

shipbuilding Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and other Watercraft, floating vessels. In modern times, it normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation th ...

(besides the sanjaks of

Vidin Vidin (, ) is a port city on the southern bank of the Danube in north-western Bulgaria. It is close to the borders with Romania and Serbia, and is also the administrative centre of Vidin Province, as well as of the Metropolitan of Vidin (since ...

Nicopolis Nicopolis () or Actia Nicopolis was the capital city of the Roman province of Epirus (Roman province), Epirus. Its site, near Preveza, Greece, still contains impressive ruins. The city was founded in 29 BC by Octavian in commemoration of his ...

, Požega,

Smederevo Smederevo ( sr-Cyrl, Смедерево, ) is a list of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the Podunavlje District in eastern Serbia. It is situated on the right bank of the Danube, about downstream of the Serbian capital, ...

and Mohač). In 1806, Zvornik was home to Mehmed-beg Kulenović.

Stojan Čupić Stojan Čupić (, sr-cyr, Стојан Чупић; ca. 1765 – 1815) was a Serbian revolutionary general (''vojvoda''), one of the most important commanders of the First Serbian Uprising. He was active in the Mačva region. __NOTOC__ Early li ...

(also known as Zmaj od Noćaja), one of the leaders of the

First Serbian Uprising The First Serbian Uprising (; sr-Cyrl, Први српски устанак; ) was an uprising of Serbs in Orašac (Aranđelovac), Orašac against the Ottoman Empire from 14 February 1804 to 7 October 1813. The uprising began as a local revolt ...

, was captured and murdered by the Turks in Zvornik in 1815. He was initially buried near the road from Zvornik to Tuzla, and his remains were moved to

Salaš Noćajski Salaš Noćajski () (Салаш Ноћајски) is a village in Serbia, near more known village Noćaj. It is located in the Sremska Mitrovica municipality, in the Srem District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and i ...

in 1988.

World War II

Ustasha troops of the fascist

Independent State of Croatia The Independent State of Croatia (, NDH) was a World War II–era puppet state of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Fascist Italy. It was established in parts of Axis occupation of Yugoslavia, occupied Yugoslavia on 10 April 1941, ...

occupied Zvornik, along with most of Bosnia, in April 1941. The town was liberated in July 1943 by the

1st Proletarian Brigade The 1st Proletarian Brigade, later the 1st Proletarian Division, was the first brigade-size formation raised by the Yugoslav Partisans during World War II. The unit was one of the elite formations of the National Liberation Army of Yugoslavia. I ...

during the Battle of Zvornik.

Bosnian war

During the

Bosnian War The Bosnian War ( / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. Following several earlier violent incid ...

(1992–1995) Zvornik's

Bosniak The Bosniaks (, Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Бошњаци, ; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to the Southeast European historical region of Bosnia (region), Bosnia, today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and who sha ...

population was expelled. The military attack of paramilitary groups that came from Serbia on Zvornik Bosniaks commenced on 8 April 1992.UN report on Zvornik
During April 1992, many European news stations daily reported Serb armed attacks and

mass killing Mass killing is a concept which has been proposed by genocide scholars who wish to define incidents of non-combat killing which are perpetrated by a government or a state. A mass killing is commonly defined as the killing of group members without ...

s of the Bosniak population of Zvornik and the surrounding villages. On 19 May 1992, combined JNA,

Serb paramilitary This is a list of Serbian paramilitary units and formations throughout history. It includes Serbian volunteer militias loyal to the Habsburg Monarchy prior to Serbian independence, and organizations loyal to Serbia since. Note that many of the orga ...

and

Arkan Željko Ražnatović (, ; 17 April 1952 – 15 January 2000), better known as Arkan (), was a Serbian warlord, mobster and head of the Serb paramilitary force called the Serb Volunteer Guard during the Yugoslav Wars, considered one of the most f ...

Tigers The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is a large cat and a member of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Asia. It has a powerful, muscular body with a large head and paws, a long tail and orange fur with black, mostly vertical stripes. It is tradition ...

took control of Zvornik and

. The suburbs of

Karakaj Karakaj (Cyrillic: Каракај) is a town located north of the city Zvornik in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Drina River. It also has a border checkpoint with Serbia. See also * Zvornik Zvornik ( sr-cyrl, Зворник, ) is a city in Rep ...

and Čelopek were places of prisons where hundreds of local Bosniaks were killed. The remaining Bosniaks and non-Serbs were relegated to

concentration camp A concentration camp is a prison or other facility used for the internment of political prisoners or politically targeted demographics, such as members of national or ethnic minority groups, on the grounds of national security, or for exploitati ...

s and detention facilities throughout the area. During the war Serb forces destroyed mosques in and around the city. File:Kula grad Zvornik 210 (63).jpg, Zvornik Fortress File:Stećci Zvornik.jpg, Photograph of Stećci in Zvornik File:Durch Bosnien und die Herzegovina kreuz und quer; Wanderungen (1897) (14779343384).jpg, Zvornik in 1897 File:DD-SD-00-00561.JPEG, Local policemen and US military personnel on their way to check a post-Dayton resettlement effort

Settlements

Aside from the city proper area of Zvornik, the municipality comprises the following settlements: * Androvići *

Baljkovica Baljkovica is a village in the municipalities of Zvornik (Republika Srpska) and Sapna Sapna ( sr-cyrl, Сапна) is a town and municipality located in Tuzla Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovin ...

* Baljkovica Donja * Boškovići * Buložani * Čelopek * Cer *

Divič Divič ( sr-cyrl, Дивич) is a village by the city of Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located on the Drina River, by an artificial lake created to form a reservoir for the HPP Zvornik hydro-electric power plant. The Drina River and th ...

* Donja Pilica * Donji Lokanj *

Drinjača Drinjača (Serbian Cyrillic: Дрињача) is a left tributary of the Drina in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It rises on the mountain of Konjuh (mountain), Konjuh (1,326 m) 15 km northwest of Kladanj at an elevation of about 1,000 m and en ...

* Dugi Dio * Đevanje * Đulići * Glodi * Glumina *

Goduš Goduš is a village in the municipality of Sapna, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it ...

* Gornja Pilica *

Gornji Lokanj Gornji Lokanj is a village in the municipalities of Zvornik (Republika Srpska) and Sapna, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situat ...

* Grbavci Donji * Grbavci Gornji * Gušteri * Jardan * Jasenica * Jusići *

Kamenica Donja Kamenica (Cyrillic: Каменица, also spelled as ''Kamenitsa'', from the word ''kamen'' 'stone' and the suffix ''-ica'') is a Slavic toponym that may refer to: Albania * Kamenica Tumulus (''Tuma e Kamenicës''), a Neolithic tumulus close t ...

Kamenica Gornja Kamenica (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Каменица, also spelled as ''Kamenitsa'', from the word ''kamen'' 'stone' and the suffix ''-ica'') is a Slavic peoples, Slavic toponym that may refer to: Albania * Kamenica Tumulus (''Tuma e Kamenicë ...

Kiseljak Kiseljak ( sr-cyrl, Кисељак) is a town and municipality located in Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies in the valley of the Fojnica River, the Lepenica and the ...

* Kitovnice * Klisa * Kostijerevo *

Kozluk Kozluk (, ) is a town and seat of Kozluk District in Batman Province, Turkey. The town had a population of 27,825 in 2021. The mayor is Mehmet Veysi Işık (Justice and Development Party (Turkey), AKP). It is divided into the neighborhoods of Ağ ...

Kraljevići Kraljevići is a village in the Municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, municipality of Sapna, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Demographics According to the 2013 census, its population was 1,471. References

Populated places in Sapna {{Tuz ...

Križevići Križevići is a village in the municipality of Olovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsul ...

* Kučić Kula * Kula Grad * Liješanj * Liplje * Malešići * Marčići * Međeđa * Mehmedići *

Nezuk Nezuk is a village in the municipality of Sapna, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it b ...

* Novo Selo *

Pađine Pađine ( sr-cyrl, Пађине) is a hamlet in the municipality of Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is a museum where one can find various fossils from the Mesozoic era. Population According to the census of 1991, the town had 560 inhabit ...

* Paljevići * Petkovci * Potočani *

Rastošnica Rastošnica is a village in the municipality of Sapna, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula ...

* Roćević * Rožanj *

Sapna Sapna ( sr-cyrl, Сапна) is a town and municipality located in Tuzla Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. History People have lived in the Sapna region since the earliest days. In the Midd ...

* Skočić *

Snagovo Snagovo ( sr-cyrl, Снагово) is a mountain village in the municipality of Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is divided into Gornje Snagovo (''Upper Snagovo'') and Donje Snagovo (''Lower Snagovo''). Bosnian War Snagovo was among the hardest ...

* Snagovo Donje *

Snagovo Gornje Snagovo ( sr-cyrl, Снагово) is a mountain village in the municipality of Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is divided into Gornje Snagovo (''Upper Snagovo'') and Donje Snagovo (''Lower Snagovo''). Bosnian War Snagovo was among the hardest ...

* Sopotnik * Šepak Donji * Šepak Gornji * Šetići * Tabanci * Trnovica *

Tršić Tršić ( Serbian Cyrillic: Тршић, ) is a village in the municipality of Loznica, located in the Mačva region of Serbia. It is the birthplace of Serbian linguist and language reformer, Vuk Stefanović Karadžić. Most houses in the area ar ...

* Ugljari * Vitinica * Vrela * Zaseok *

Zelinje Zelinje ( sr-cyrl, Зелиње) is a village in the municipality of Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Ba ...

Demographics

Population

Ethnic composition

Economy

The table shows the number of registered people employed in legal entities by their core activity in 2018:

Culture

The Cultural Summer of Zvornik (Zvorničko kulturno ljeto) is an annual event held in the first week of August, usually for six days. Its main objective is to become a traditional cultural event which will open the doors of Zvornik for recognized cultural values. The festival was first held in August 2001 as a local event and has grown to be one of the biggest festivals in the

Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...

. In 2007, famous singers such as

Neda Ukraden Neda Ukraden ( sr-Cyrl, Неда Украден; born 16 August 1950) is a Serbian-Croatian singer. Her professional career stretches back to 1967 and has collectively released thirty studio albums. With collective sales of over five million rec ...

and

Sandi Cenov Aleksandar "Sandi" Cenov (born 17 July 1968), also known simply as Sandi, is Croatian pop singer who was popular in the 1990s. His first album was released in 1992. In the 2005 elections for Zagreb City Assembly he was one of the candidates on ...

participated, but in 2008 theis festival featured some of the most notable stars from former

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

, like

Željko Joksimović Željko Joksimović ( sr-Cyrl, Жељко Јоксимовић, ; born 20 April 1972) is a Serbian vocalist, composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. He plays 12 different musical instruments including accordion, piano, guitar a ...

Hari Mata Hari Hari Mata Hari is a Bosnian pop band. Hari Mata Hari is the stage name for the singer Hari Varešanović. The group originated from the city of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The group has performed over 1,000 concerts and s ...

, Van Gogh and

Marinko Rokvić Marinko Rokvić ( sr-cyr, Маринко Роквић; 27 January 1954 – 6 November 2021) was a Bosnian Serb folk singer. Early life Marinko Rokvić was born on January 27, 1954, in Bosanski Petrovac, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavi ...

. There is also a

regatta Boat racing is a sport in which boats, or other types of watercraft, race on water. Boat racing powered by oars is recorded as having occurred in ancient Egypt, and it is likely that people have engaged in races involving boats and other wa ...

on the river

Drina The Drina ( sr-Cyrl, Дрина, ) is a long river in the Balkans, which forms a large portion of the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. It is the longest tributary of the Sava River and the longest karst river in the Dinaric Al ...

, a fun marathon and many cultural events and competitions during day and night.

International co-operation

Zvornik is twinned with: *

Sremska Mitrovica Sremska Mitrovica (; sr-Cyrl, Сремска Митровица, ) is a List of cities in Serbia, city in Serbia. It is situated on the left bank of the Sava, Sava river. , the city has a total population of 36,764 inhabitants, while its adminis ...

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

Other friendships and cooperations, protocols, memorandums: *

Kolchugino Kolchugino () is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia. Modern localities ;Urban localities * Kolchugino, Vladimir Oblast, a town in Kolchuginsky District of Vladimir Oblast ;Rural localities * Kolchugino, Smolensk Oblast, a village ...

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

Sport

The local

football club In association football, a football club (or association football club, alternatively soccer club) is a sports club that acts as an entity through which association football teams organise their sporting activities. The club can exist either as ...

FK Drina Zvornik Fudbalski klub Drina Zvornik (Serbian Cyrillic: Фудбалски клуб Дрина Зворник) is a professional association football club from the city of Zvornik that is situated Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club competes in the First L ...

and ŽFK Drina Zvornik, play in the

First League of the Republika Srpska The First League of the Republika Srpska ( / ) is a Association football, football league in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Together with the First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it forms the second level of footb ...

.First league of RS 2017/18
/ref> Members of the First league of Republika Srpska also are volleyball and handball clubs Zvornik.

Notable people

Seka Aleksić Svetlana Piljikić (; ; born 23 April 1981), better known as Seka Aleksić ( sr-Cyrl, Сека Алексић), is a Serbian singer. She rose to prominence with her debut album ''Idealno tvoja'' (2002). Aleksić has collectively released nine st ...

, singer *

Ermin Bičakčić Ermin Bičakčić (; born 24 January 1990) is a Bosnian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, centre-back for 2. Bundesliga club Eintracht Braunschweig and the Bosnia and Herzeg ...

, footballer *

Rade Đokić Rade Đokić (; born 23 June 1983) is a Bosnian-Herzegovinian former professional footballer who played as a forward. Club career Born in Zvornik, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ðokić started his career at FK Drina Zvornik before moving to Serbia ...

, footballer *

Amer Hrustanović Amer Hrustanović (born 11 June 1988) is an amateur Austrian Greco-Roman wrestler, who competes in the men's light heavyweight category. He holds both Austrian and Bosnian citizenship in order to compete internationally in wrestling, including ...

, sports wrestler, European medallist *

Said Husejinović Said Husejinović (born 17 May 1988) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bosnian Premier League club Sloboda Tuzla. Club career Werder Bremen On 1 July 2008, it was announced that Werder Bremen and S ...

, footballer *

Goran Ikonić Goran Ikonić (born March 23, 1980) is a Bosnian former professional basketball player. He played at the shooting guard position. External linksAbaliga.com Profile

, basketball player *

Zlatko Junuzović Zlatko Junuzović (, ; born 26 September 1987) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. From 2006 to 2017 he played for the Austria national team. He was known as a free-kick specialist. Early life Junuzović ...

, Austrian footballer *

Samir Muratović Samir Muratović (born 25 February 1976) is a Bosnian former professional footballer. After finishing his playing career, Muratović spent more than two years as head scout of Austrian Bundesliga club Sturm Graz from July 2017 to September 2019 ...

, footballer *

Nada Obrić Nada Obrić (born 6 June 1948 in Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia) is a Bosnian Serb folk singer. Early life and career Born in Zvornik, she was an excellent gymnast and in competitions won as the best gymnast in the state of Bosni ...

, singer *

Denis Omerbegović Denis Omerbegović (born 11 March 1986) is a Bosnian-Herzegovinian former professional footballer who played as a winger. Career Omerbegović was born in Zvornik. Before coming to Dortmund, he played on the second level of professional German ...

, footballer *

Borisav Pisić Borisav Pisić–Piske (31 January 1949 – 21 April 2015)

, athlete *

Sejad Salihović Sejad Salihović (; born 8 October 1984) is a Bosnian professional manager and a former player who currently serves as the assistant coach for 1899 Hoffenheim II. He spent most of his career playing for 1899 Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga ...

, footballer

References

* Official results from the book: Ethnic composition of Bosnia-Herzegovina population, by municipalities and settlements, 1991. census, Zavod za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine - Bilten no.234, Sarajevo 1991.

External links

Official website

Drinariver.com

Zvornik Travel Guide - android aplikacija
{{coord, 44, 23, 3, N, 19, 6, 9, E, region:BA_type:city, display=title Populated places in Zvornik Municipalities of Republika Srpska 1410 establishments in Europe Populated places established in the 1410s