BS
Old Town of Visoki
Medieval · National monument
Remains of the 14th-century royal fortress on Visočica hill, with walls about 2 m thick and wide views over the valley.
Welcome to
CITY OF VISOKO
- years of history
- 7,000+
- first King of Bosnia crowned here
- 1377
- from Sarajevo
- 30 km
- inhabitants
- ≈40,000
- city area
- 232 km²
Discover Visoko
Where Bosnia’s story began
Visoko lies in the valley of the Bosna and Fojnica rivers, in the centre of Bosnia and Herzegovina, framed by the Ozren, Vranica and Zvijezda mountains.
In the Middle Ages this was the political, administrative and cultural heart of the Bosnian state — the place where bans and kings issued their charters, held assemblies of the nobility and were crowned and buried. Later, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian periods shaped a lively craft town known across the Balkans for its leather.
Today Visoko is a growing city on the main transport corridor between Sarajevo and Central Europe: easy to reach, welcoming to visitors and open to investors.
GETTING TO VISOKO
In the centre of the Sarajevo–Zenica region, on Corridor Vc
By air
Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) — roughly a 30–40 minute drive.
By car
A1 motorway (Corridor Vc) — about 30 km from Sarajevo, with direct links north to Zenica.
By train
On the railway line connecting northern Bosnia and Herzegovina with Sarajevo.
By bus
Intercity buses connect Visoko with Sarajevo, Zenica and other cities.
Visoko
Bosnia and Herzegovina
What to see
Highlights for your visit
Mile – Arnautovići
Royal heritage · National monument
Where Bosnian kings were crowned and buried and the nobility gathered — the heart of medieval Bosnian statehood.
Okolište
Archaeology · National monument
One of the largest and best-researched Neolithic settlements in Southeast Europe.
Tabhana & White Mosque
Architecture · National monument
17th-century mosque, restored after reconstruction began in 2010, and Zlatko Ugljen’s modernist White Mosque, which won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (1983).
Visoko Heritage Museum
Museum · Local history
Local archaeology and history — including the only preserved tannery stamping mill (tabačka stupa) in the Balkans.
Monastery & churches
Sacred heritage
The Franciscan Monastery of St Bonaventure, a historic centre of learning, and the Orthodox Church of St Prokopije (1853).
Čaršija
Food · Town life
The walking zone and old bazaar streets, with cafés, ćevapi and burek.
Bosnian pyramid & Ravne tunnels
Visitor attraction
Visočica hill gained worldwide attention through the “Bosnian Pyramids” theory; the nearby Ravne tunnel park and forest trails draw visitors from all over the world.
Rivers & hills
Nature · Outdoors
The Bosna and Fojnica valleys and surrounding hills offer easy walks, cycling and viewpoints minutes from the centre.
Discover Visoko
A city with a rich past and a bright future!
Discover the natural and cultural beauty of our city.
Invest in Visoko
A central location for business
Visoko sits at the geographic and transport centre of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with ready infrastructure, an industrial tradition and a city administration committed to supporting investors.
Corridor Vc & airport
On the Pan-European road and rail Corridor Vc, in the heart of the Sarajevo–Zenica region and close to Sarajevo International Airport.
Visoko Free Zone
One of only four free zones in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an on-site customs terminal.
Three industrial zones
Zones with developed infrastructure, plus available industrial and warehouse capacity from former large enterprises.
Gas & utilities
Natural gas infrastructure, reliable utilities and road and rail links for logistics and manufacturing.
Skilled workforce
A long industrial tradition in leather, textiles and manufacturing, and a young workforce that adapts quickly to new technologies.
Natural resources
Fertile agricultural land, forests, water, and minerals including clay, gypsum and stone.
Gallery
Visoko in pictures
Visoko and Visočica hill above the Bosna river
City centre
From above
Autumn in Visoko
Seasonal market
History
Seven millennia in one valley
From Neolithic farmers to medieval kings, Ottoman craftsmen and a modern city — the key moments in Visoko’s history.
c. 5200–4500 BC
c. 5200–4500 BC
Okolište Neolithic settlement
One of the largest Neolithic settlements in Southeast Europe, home to the Butmir culture.
1st millennium BC
1st millennium BC
Illyrian Daesitiates
The Illyrian tribe of the Daesitiates inhabits central Bosnia, including the Visoko valley.
1st–4th c. AD
1st–4th c. AD
Roman era
Visoko lies at a crossroads of Roman roads; remains of settlements and coins are found at Mokronozi and Seoče.
1185–1202
1185–1202
Kulin Ban plaque
A carved stone plaque from the time of Ban Kulin, discovered at Biskupići in 1898.
1189
1189
Charter of Ban Kulin
Written in the Visoko area, the bilingual charter granting rights to Dubrovnik merchants.
1355
1355
Royal town of Visoki
The fortress of Visoki on Visočica hill is first mentioned in a charter of Tvrtko I Kotromanić.
1377
1377
First King of Bosnia
Tvrtko I is crowned King of Bosnia at Mile (Arnautovići), the coronation church of Bosnian rulers.
1462
1462
Ottoman period begins
Visoko becomes the seat of the Visoka nahija, an Ottoman administrative district.
1520s
1520s
A new town
Visoko becomes a kasaba (town) and the Šerefuddin Mosque is built; Ajas-beg is regarded as the founder of the town.
17th c.
17th c.
Tanners’ quarter
The Tabačka Mosque and the Tabhana leather quarter grow along the river.
19th c.
19th c.
Leather capital of the Balkans
Tanners process about 80,000 hides a year and shoemakers make up to one million pairs of opanci.
1853
1853
Church of St Prokopije
The Orthodox church is built, today a national monument.
1878
1878
Austro-Hungarian rule
A period of new schools, roads, trade and Secession-style buildings begins.
1882
1882
Railway station
Visoko gets its railway station on the line to Sarajevo.
1899–1900
1899–1900
Franciscan Monastery & Gymnasium
The Monastery of St Bonaventure is built and the Franciscan gymnasium moves to Visoko.
1918
1918
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Visoko becomes part of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later Yugoslavia.
1945–1991
1945–1991
Industrial growth
The KTK leather and textile company makes Visoko one of the largest exporters in Yugoslavia.
1992–1995
1992–1995
War and recovery
The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina heavily damages the town’s economy; reconstruction follows the Dayton Agreement.
2003–2006
2003–2006
National monuments
Mile, the Tabačka Mosque, the Church of St Prokopije and Okolište are declared national monuments.
2005
2005
Worldwide attention
Visočica hill draws global interest through the “Bosnian Pyramids” claims.
2019
2019
City of Visoko
On 31 May 2019 Visoko officially becomes a city.
Today
Today
A growing city
A modern city on Corridor Vc with a Free Zone, industrial zones and a living heritage open to visitors.
Practical information
Good to know
Emergency numbers
- Health Centre
- +387 32 738 777
- On-duty pharmacy
- +387 32 739 098
- Local police
- +387 32 738 555
- Currency
- Convertible Mark (BAM / KM)
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), CEST in summer
- Dialling code
- +387 32
City Administration
- Address
- Alije Izetbegovića 12A
71300 Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Phone
- +387 32 732 500
- info@visoko.gov.ba
- Gradska uprava Visoko
We are happy to answer enquiries in English from visitors, researchers and investors.