World War One Sites - The NETWORLD Database

Zenica Railway station, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The first train arrived in 1878 in Zenica, and by that time a narrow-gauge railway road was built. Less than a year after the Austro-Hungarian troops occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 8th June 1879, a narrow-gauge railway road was built. The railway road was 760 milimetres wide, and was built in two stages. The first stage was the building of Railway facilities, stokehold, storehouse, water tower and a wicket. The second stage was the building of the post office and telegraph building. The Railway station had two floors, where the second floor was the residence for the railway workers. Railway officials had apartments in a building across from the railway station. The Railway station building was completely finished in 1886.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zenica

Type of WWI-heritage

  • Non-Military Site of World War One Relevance

Dimensions

The railway road was 760 milimetres wide, and was built in two stages.

State of repair/preservation

The railway station itself is in solid condition, but like any other historical object, it too could do with some reconstruction work.

Historical WWI Context

When the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy first concurred Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878, the main goal of the Monarchy was to industrialize Bosnia and make it go side by side with other European countries. The Monarchy wanted to build railroads as it was very important for the development of the country to have a good communications network. That is how they began on building railroad all across Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1878, just a few months after the occupation, the railroad to Zenica was finished and the station was still in construction. Until 1886, the station was finished. In a short period of time, significant economy objects were built: mines, paper factories, steel factories, brick factories and many more.  When the World War started, the railroads from all over Bosnia were used to transport weapons, supplies, soldiers and all other things that the Monarchy required. That is the case with the railroad in Zenica.

State of legal protection

Not protected.

Owner

This constructional/architectural World War One heritage is owned by the PI “Željeznice” Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Kind of cultural use of WWI

No information available.

Opening

No information available.

Entrance Fee

No information available.

Information regarding cities, villages, other touristic attractions (non-WWI) nearby

Architecture and artistic monuments from the socialist period of the former Yugoslavia on Smetovi; Fortress of Vranduk near Zenica; The Old City of Travnik; Kraljeva Sutjeska in Kakanj, ancient city of Bobovac; on old “Ćiro” train in Begov Han; tombstones called “Stećci” near Radimlja close to the city of Stolac.

Accomodation

No information available.

Public Transport

No information available.

Further information sources

No information available.

Other heritage sites nearby

Museums Private Collections

The Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo;

City Museum of Zenica;

Museum in Travnik

Location

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