Jarek Pokrzywnicki

Polska - 29-Aug-24 -

Complex of travertine waterfalls in Martin Brod - Una National Park– site visited in July, 2024.

Bosnian proposal for inscription in 2026. It is not fully clear if they want to inscribe the full park (quite big in fact) or just the area with waterfalls around Martin Brod (as the name suggests). Whatever the final decision would be it can easily be linked with Plitvice National Park which is located in Croatia some 40 km west of the park borders.

Una National Park is the biggest national park in Bosnia (198 km2), western part of the country, near the town of Bihac and embrace the rivers: Una, Unac  and Krka and the valley. It protects karst activities with waterfalls and cascades. Martin Brod (a small town) is located centrally in the park on both sides of Una river. According to the legend it is named after local girl Marta who was in love with a soldier. When crossing a river in order to meet him, she was pulled by a strong current where Marta drowned. Brod in Slavic languages is the equivalence of a shallow. In Martin Brod there are two areas of waterfalls: around Small Waterfall and Milančev buk.

Mali Slap (Small Waterfall) – access through Jovin Bridge (google coordinates 44°29'19.1"N 16°08'29.1"E), free of charge, there are several waterfalls on main Una riverbed, ruins of old mill (just on the right of footpath). Some 200 meters further on there are mixture of karst activities, waterfalls (including Small Waterfall - Mali Slap) and living houses (built just on travertine rock). The area looks as quite popular tourist destination (cafeteria, picnic tables).

Milančev buk (Big Una Waterfall) entrance (number 5) via footpath (small fee: 3 Bosnian Mark per person, cash only) it is a main landmark of Martin Brod. Una river with its crystal clear water forms here a number of calcareous sinter banks and cascades (really spectacular). There is a building of former stream mill and path leading to upper part of the village around Bučnica (watermill and eco-laundry). From there you can continue to upper part of Una (Martina Staza, Martina’s path, unmarked hiking trail).

More about Una National Park and hiking possibilities in the surrounding area https://www.evadinaricaproject.com/en/2017/09/29/hiking-in-una-national-park/

Practicalities: For transportation I used own car, I have no idea about public transport there (at the parking in Martin Brod there were only private cars and tour operator vans), stayed overnight in Kulen Vakuf - Apartman Adna (google coordinates 44.560208249819375, 16.09042338302007) – good budget place (54 Euro for 4 persons without breakfast, nice view of medieval fortress Ostrovica) – 12 km north of Martin Brod. There are several other accommodation option in the town. While searching for lodging possibilities in the area before my visit I did not found anything in Martin Brod (maybe because of high season) but on the spot there are some hotels close to waterfalls entrance (Kod Zore, Una, Apartmani Miso). To eat something you can try Bife Lovac.

Places on the photo, bottom left, than clockwise: travertine rock, Una river, Milančev buk waterfalls, Mali Slap.