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Tourism and Hospitality - Say "yes" to new adventures!
"Hobbiton" tourism is flourishing in BiH - the magic of Bilbo Baggins' house is spreading from Han Pijesak to Mostar
(Photo: Vedran Miletić)
Around the time when the news from America hit the fans of Tolkien`s works that a new film from the "Lord of the Rings" series was being worked on, which is expected to premiere in 2026, on another part of the planet, in a small town of Goranci, in a Hobbit-like house from a popular movie, he began to receive his first guests, not Hobbiton, but Mobbiton. The name is, of course, a consequence of respecting the copyright of the famous production. And this isn`t the only Hobbit-like cottage. Namely, on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, eKapija has found similar facilities in two other places, so that domestic Tolkien and hobbit fans, as well as those from the region, do not have to travel all the way to New Zealand to experience the hobbit experience at least for one night. It is enough for them to go to Mostar, more precisely to the town of Goranci, then to Han Pijesak, and then to Kreševo, not far from Sarajevo.
Mobbiton near Mostar
This first house that we mentioned is the newest one, and it was created, as one of its initiators - an investor, but by God also one of the construction workers who rolled up their sleeves for its creation - Vedran Miletić, explained to eKapija, precisely as a fulfillment of the wishes of future guests.
Computer engineers rolled up their sleeves and built more than 90% of the facility themselves - Mobbiton (Photo: Vedran Miletić)
- We really took everything seriously and decided to investigate in detail how people would like it to look. Their preferences were retro, stone and wood. That`s somehow the core of our project - stone, wood and retro style! More than two and a half years have passed since the beginning of construction, and with the first digging and preparation, we decided to publish the entire construction process on our Instagram profile, to ask for advice, and finally to build a community that chose this type of building! Our followers had a direct influence on the construction through polls, and they chose the position, appearance of windows, doors and many other things - Vedran Miletić, one of the creators of Mobbiton, which is about 20 minutes` drive from Mostar, says in an interview for eKapija.
(Photo: Vedran Miletić)
What is particularly interesting about this house is that Vedran and his friend, who are computer engineers by profession, built more than 90% of the building themselves.
- The reason for this is a bit strange because we were unable to find a craftsman, or a company that wants to do something like this. It`s too risky, atypical and many people turned us down, but that wasn`t the reason to give up, but the possibility to be flexible when working alone. We were able to change things in the build and have full control - which ended up being great! The construction process lasted two and a half years and the entire house was made in retro Hobbit style, where great attention was paid to details and motifs that somehow connect Herzegovina and Hobbiton, and that is certainly beautiful nature, stone and wood - says Vedran.
The first guests arrived at their building on May 1 this year and they already have excellent feedback.
- Our guests have seen all the effort and work we have put in to create this type of accommodation. We provided them with a unique experience, and that is what is worth it at the end of the day - adds Vedran, noting that guests from various parts of the world come to their accommodation.
Unique furniture for a unique experience (Photo: Vedran Miletić)
And not only can they enjoy such a facility and the beautiful nature around: guests of Mobbiton have at their disposal the beautiful Park Goranci, which has various contents for entertainment - from volleyball courts, small football, basketball, through a theater, a restaurant and a zoo with farm animals, and in their vicinity is the second largest herd of wild horses in BiH. There are also well-known cycling and hiking routes, so there are certainly opportunities for enjoyment.
And they have a pizza oven available in the building, where they can prepare their own hobbit breakfast. They can also try, as Vedran discovers, Hobbiton craft beer, listen to music from retro turntables thanks to the extensive vinyl collection. They can go treasure hunting, sit by the campfire, enjoy a night under the stars and collect some more precious moments in their life collection.
Given that the houses are apartment-style without modern appliances, tourists are often taught how to make homemade Bosnian coffee in the underground houses.
- The plan was created for a long time, and on my travels I remembered what delighted me and what didn`t. I am always traveling and finding similar places, more precisely unique houses. That is one big love that I wanted to bring to Kreševo. Of course, I needed help to make everything happen, and my parents and sisters have the credit for that. I have achieved my goal, now all that is left is to refine and improve it in order to have the most beautiful tourist settlement - adds Marija.
Badger`s Hole (Jazavcije rupe) at Han Pijesak
This was the story of the latest house like those in Tolkien`s novels. However, on the other side of Bosnia and Herzegovina, much further north, and within the Badger`s Hole (Jazavčije rupe) Mountain Camp, construction of the first such facility began in 2021.
Guests come from all over the region, all the way to Asia - cottages within the Badger`s Hole Mountain Camp (Photo: Boban Stanivuk)
- The first tourists came to us as early as May 2022, when the house was completed. Since then, guests have been coming to us from all over the region, from Serbia, through Croatia, from all over Europe, and often from Asia as well - Vesna Drljić from Jazavcije rupe camp tells eKapija.
Although this house faithfully depicts the one from the popular novel, its creators did not have the opportunity to visit a similar place before, but, as Vesna states, they found inspiration in the very scenes of the beautiful nature they are surrounded by.
Enjoying the view of the wonderful nature (Photo: Boban Stanivuk)
By the way, this house and camp are located about 10 kilometers and a twenty-minute drive from Han Pijesak and the guests, in addition to staying in this facility and camp, have at their disposal spacious clearings and meadows in the surrounding area, both for walking and for picking medicinal herbs, preparing food outdoors and the like.
Village of houses underground
Maybe not the newest, and certainly not the oldest, but there is one more place in Bosnia and Herzegovina where there are definitely the most numerous hobbit houses, although, respecting the copyright of the Lord of the Rings, we will call them here the houses underground, which the owners of these buildings insist on.
It is about the village of houses under the ground, which is located in Kreševo, about 40 km from Sarajevo, and the same number of minutes` drive.
These houses, more precisely the first of them, and now there are 5 of them, began to be built in February 2022 and after a year, they started to receive the first guests.
One of the five houses in the only hobbit village in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Kreševo underground house village (Photo: Marija Miličević Nujić)
- Right from the beginning, we noticed great interest in our project and visitors arrived daily. Now we have united everything into one tourist resort and we have been working exclusively for overnight stays for about a year - Marija Miličević Nuić, who, together with her sisters and parents, is responsible for this tourist resort, tells eKapija.
And at them, she adds, tourists come from all over the world, and the last ones who came were from America, Russia, China and England.
- We have decided to be a closed village type. We primarily offer our guests peace, relaxation, nature and an escape from busy life. Each cottage has its own small vegetable garden, where guests can pick fruits. We have opened one "hot tube", and we are working on the others, so every cottage will have a mini spa. Also, we made maps with hidden treasures, so we often notice how guests are delighted to find a chest with Kreševo souvenirs, and that is an excellent way to get to know our tradition - adds Marija.
She says that they constantly introduce new toys and activities for children, thanks to which the little ones have a great time without modern technology. There are also some animals that children are particularly happy about. The rabbits Srećko, Mile, Mrkva and Bijeli were the first to arrive, and in a couple of days the chickens will arrive, Marija announced.
- So whoever wants homemade eggs will be able to take them. Our cats and dog are already very popular, so much so that the first thing guests ask when they arrive is: "Where is Shargo?". We believe that animals are very important for this type of tourism, and the plan is to acquire more sheep for this year - Marija reveals.
Although the hosts are not trained in tourism, they made a successful tourist story (Photo: Marija Miličević Nujić)
- The heating is on a wood stove, which is very unusual for foreigners, and we try to teach them all how to make a fire. In the beginning, it was interesting to us how many people were not familiar with lighting a fire, but we tried to ensure that everyone returned home with a new experience - adds Marija, noting that through her travels she noticed that very few accommodations offer fireplaces and barbecues, and she decided to make them a "must have".
Proof that it was a good decision are the pictures that guests most often send them, which were taken with the fire crackling.
Maria`s basic profession, like in the first case - Mobbiton, has nothing to do with tourism. She is a geological engineer by education, but all her life she dreamed of making a living in tourism - in a different way.
And you will certainly not be greeted by Bilbo Baggins in this, or in other unusual houses, but the great details and being in them will surely transport you for a moment to the covers of the famous novel. Probably, some hidden child will wake up in you and put a smile on your face a little longer. And it`s certainly closer to you than New Zealand.
Danijela Stanimirović-Gavrilov
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