Offbeat Travelling

Fascinating travel adventures in 'difficult' countries

  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Balkans
    • Middle East
    • Post-Soviet
    • Other destinations
  • Latest Posts
  • Photos
  • About
  • Contact
  • More…
    • Publications
    • Travel Tips
    • Countries spreadsheet
Home Adventure Trips

February 6, 2015

The Abandoned Bobsleigh Track of Sarajevo

Top
Bobsleigh track Sarajevo
The Olympic bobsleigh track of Sarajevo lays abandoned on Mount Trebević.

High up on the hills, nestled in the snowy pines, lays the abandoned bobsleigh track of Sarajevo. A relic of the past, what once attracted tens of thousands of spectators for the 1984 Winter Olympics, in later years became a front line in the Bosnian war. It now rests hidden in the forest of Mount Trebević, scarred by the battle only to attract just a handful of people per day.

Warning: After publishing this post, a friend notified me that he got robbed on Mount Trebević. He and some friends where out there on a regular week day and lost all belongings. Locals had later told him that it happens more often, and that it is wise to only go there during the weekend when the locals go there too.

With its 126-metre vertical drop from top to bottom, the track was considered one of the steepest of its time. Olympic crews had to steer their sleigh through 13 ice-covered curves, 7 left and 6 right, to reach breakneck speeds of up to 97 kilometres an hour. In less than a minute they raced towards the finish line, 1245 meters ahead, where only the fastest could claim victory.

But years later, a whole different battle was fought. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992, the Chetniks (Serbian nationalist army) installed themselves on Mount Trebević as part of the plan to take over parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. For years to come, Sarajevo and its large Bosniak muslim community came under heavy artillery fire. It would become the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare.

During the encirclement of Sarajevo, the Chetniks allegedly used the concrete bobsleigh track for cover. Return artillery fire from the city left the track damaged by shrapnel and dozens of nearby houses and structures destroyed. In 1996, the siege finally came to an end. Mount Trebević became the border between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Republika Srpska.

Bobsleigh track Sarajevo
Destroyed houses on the way up to the track.
Bobsleigh track Sarajevo
Destroyed houses on the way up to the track.

Little is now left of its former glory. Nineteen years later, I am walking up Trebević following my offline map and going by the directions of some locals. “Bob Staza?, I simply asked”. Locals laughed at me (probably thinking yet another crazy tourist?) and pointed towards the mountain. The walk from downtown all the way up takes about two hours, a fairly easy climb of about 1000 metres to the summit.

Mines and unexploded mortars are assumedly removed yet I think it is wise to remain cautious by not deviating too much from the common paths. I spent some time up the mountain with some locals and they said it was all fine, but better be safe than sorry.

Bobsleigh track Sarajevo
The track’s finish bridge, reading ‘Gro Bosna Sarajevo’.
Bobsleigh track Sarajevo
The bobsleigh track curves beautifully through the forest.
Bobsleigh track Sarajevo
Turn number eleven, only two more to go.
A raised section of the bobsleigh track.
A raised section of the bobsleigh track.
Bobsleigh track Sarajevo
In 1984 the track was considered to be very steep by bobsleigh standards.

Getting there

Simply walk up the mountain from Latin bridge in downtown Sarajevo using some kind of map. Before you go, study a bit how to take the shortest path and let yourself be guided by the locals once you get closer to your destination. The exact location of the track you can find on Google maps using the following coordinates: 43.842503, 18.4424723.

Read More: Ukraine’s Secret and Abandoned Tank Graveyard

Plan a good amount of hours for the trip since you want to take your time and enjoy the beautiful views over Sarajevo. Pack light, be cautious if you’re alone and don’t forget to bring water! Also be cautious when talking to some locals about the place, it could still be a sensitive issue.

Bobsleigh track Sarajevo
Overlooking Sarajevo, a city once under siege, on top of Mount Trebević at 1627 meters altitude.
451
SHARES
ShareTweet
[wysija_form id="4"]
Previous Article7 Things I Never Knew about Iran
Next Article6 Taxi Safety Tips That Everyone Should Know

Also Popular on the Blog:

  • Collage 2021 ReviewYear in Review: revisiting Iraq and other exciting places in 2021
  • A Mysterious Abandoned Ghost Ship in Liberia, West Africa

Newsletter

Never miss a thing!

Here is the best way to stay connected:

Make a selection, hit subscribe and confirm through the link in your mailbox! Check your spam folder if cannot find it.

Your data is safe. By subscribing you agree with my privacy policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. No spam, I promise!

WAIT! Almost done! Check your inbox (or spam folder) now to confirm your subscription. Don't forget or you will still be missing out!

About Bart

"My name is Bart and I travel to some of the world’s most fascinating places"

Follow me on my social media pages (below) if you want to tag along!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Top Posts & Pages

  • 12 Kick-Ass Route Ideas to Travel the World
  • Counting Countries like a Pro with This Awesome Excel Spreadsheet
  • The Longest Overland Route in a Straight Line
  • Petra's Darkest Secret: The Bedouin Romance Scammers
  • Tourism in Pakistan: Visiting The Swat Valley as a Solo Backpacker

Instagram

Chasing the micro states of Europe, here’s anoth Chasing the micro states of Europe, here’s another one visited: San Marino, one of the world’s oldest republics. It is home to just 33,000 people and is completely surrounded by Italy.

Have you ever heard of this place before? Have you visited?

#sanmarino #unesco #unescoheritage #micronation #travel #happyeaster #instatravel #backpacker #solotravel #mountain #castle #globetrotter #eps #everycountry #wanderlust #passionpassport #everypassportstamp #adventure #italy #enclave #tourism #tourist #natgeo
I visited Ukraine several times, heartbreaking to I visited Ukraine several times, heartbreaking to see what is happening now. Hoping for better days and for all hostilities to end asap…

#ukraine #kyiv #travel #peace
Back in 2014 I visited, by myself, the Ukrainian-c Back in 2014 I visited, by myself, the Ukrainian-controlled part of eastern province Donetsk to see the direct aftermath of the 2014 war.

I’m shocked to learn that a full scale war has now returned to Ukraine.

Places that I visited back then, Kharkiv, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk are now under attack by Russia. My thoughts are with all people affected.

Pray for Ukraine.
Exploring ancient lands in a forgotten corner of t Exploring ancient lands in a forgotten corner of the world. 

This is Alinja castle, the Machu Picchu of Azerbaijan but without the visitors. It’s hidden within the mountains of Nakhchivan, an autonomous region and exclave of Azerbaijan that hardly sees any visitors.

Have you heard of this place before?

#azerbaijan #nakhchivan #naxcivan #azeri #alinjafortress #alinjagala #asia #caucasus #globetrotter #nomadmania #everycountry #adventure #wanderlust #exploretheworld #travelstoke #lonelyplanet #lp #everypassportstamp #voyage #travel #instatravel #explorer #machupicchu #landscape #mountain #hiking #nature #passionpassport #backpacker #goexplore
Secret picture inside a militia checkpoint in Iraq Secret picture inside a militia checkpoint in Iraq.

Reliving my 2021 experience travelling independently through Iraq (backpacking style)

#iraq #samarra #middleeast #solotravel #traveller #instatravel #traveler #travel #tourist #tourism #visitiraq #passionpassport #adventure #wanderlust #globetrotter #everycountry #everypassportstamp #backpacker #beautifuldestinations #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardplaces #exploremore #traveladdict #roamtheplanet
Is this the most beautiful monument in the world? Is this the most beautiful monument in the world?

It has the most mesmerising curved shape, two carefully positioned pieces in dreamy and heavenly colours. An oasis of beauty and peace in a city so hectic, congested and scarred by years of conflict. 

This is the Al-Shaheed (Martyr’s) monument, completed in 1983 and dedicated to the Iraqi soldiers who died in the Iraq Iran war of the 1980s. 

#iraq #visitiraq #baghdad #middleeast #history #martyr #art #monument #eastereggs #onion #traveler #instatravel #travel #tourist #tourism #natgeo #passionpassport #wanderlust #globetrotter #traveladdict #solotravel #adventure #backpacker #beautifuldestinations #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardplaces #everycountry #eps #blue #exploremore
Mysterious ancient Roman arch found in middle of n Mysterious ancient Roman arch found in middle of nowhere near Mosul, Iraq.

#iraq #middleeast #history #ancient #mosul #bridge #arch #traveler #instatravel #travel #tourist #tourism #natgeo #nationalgeographic #mesopotamia #roman #romanempire #passionpassport #everycountry #traveladdict #adventure #visitiraq #solotravel #backpacker #wanderlust #beautifulworld #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardplaces
Iraq, where you can have ancient Mesopotamian wond Iraq, where you can have ancient Mesopotamian wonders (dating back 4,000 years) all to yourself.

#iraq #nasiriyah #mesopotamia #ziggurat #ur #uruk #visitiraq #middleeast #architecture #history #ruins #tourist #traveler #travel #instatravel #archeology #exploretheworld #natgeo #everycountryintheworld #everypassportstamp #eps #everycountry #passionpassport #wanderlust #offbeat #traveladdict #globetrotter #happy #everydaymiddleeast #postcardsfromtheworld
Follow on Instagram

© 2016–2022 Offbeat Travelling - All rights reserved PRIVACY POLICY | COPYRIGHT | CONTACT