Zenica (Cyrillic: Зеница) is an industrial city (the fourth largest, after Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Tuzla) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the capital of the Zenica-Doboj Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity. It is located about 70 km north of Sarajevo and is situated on the Bosna river, surrounded by mountains and hills.

Grb Zenica

The town's Stara čaršija (old quarter) contains several attractions, including a synagogue, which is now the City Museum and Art Gallery. There is also a mosque (Čaršijska mosque), an Austrian fountain and an old bey's farm house (Hadžimazića House).

Geography

Zenica is a town located in the valley of the river Bosnа on the height of 316 meters above sea level. It is the economic centre of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Zenica is distanced 70 kilometres from the capital Sarajevo, north, by the valley of the river Bosna. The closest airport is in Sarajevo, which can be reached by the motor road next to the river and throughout the Stup knot.

Forests: 37.84 km² (60,90 %) Pastures: 11.81 km² (2,34 %) Meadows: 72.63 km² (14,37 %)

Zenica on map BiH Population 146,000

Before the Second World War, the town had 15.000 inhabitants, before the last war the town had 150.000 inhabitants, while town's population today is in excess of 170.000. Many members of different nations, cultures, faiths and heritages are registered in the structure of the population of Zenica and they are all connected with deep traditions of tolerant living.

Location of Zenica

Zenica, for many of its characteristics and features, is a specific urban and economic area. Its peculiarities originate from both its geographic location, since it is situated in the very center of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the economic and social character of its development.

Zenica is situated in one of the largest and most beautiful valleys in the middle part of the River Bosna by which the state has got its name. The River Bosna well is in Ilidža near Sarajevo and its mouth into the River Sava near Bosanski Šamac, which make it a natural north south corridor. The Zenica valley itself is stretching from Lasva canyon in the south, to Vranduk canyon to the north.

The main rail and road communications pass through the River Bosna valley. Sarajevo and Tuzla airports are not far away from the region. With comparatively good roads (for the present Bosnian-Herzegovian circumstances), and standard gauge railway roads (with two tracks from Doboj to Zenica), Zenica is well connected to the north, west and east of the country. What is particularly important for its economic development is the access to sea via rail and roads. European corridor of the future north-south highway also passes through Zenica.