Plava Voda (Blue Water Spring)

Plava Voda (Blue Water) is a powerful spring emerging from the base of Mt Vlašić at the western edge of Travnik's old town, creating a short, fast-flowing river that runs through a tree-shaded valley with traditional wooden buildings along its banks. The water is ice-cold, crystal clear, and brilliant blue-green where it deepens — the name is entirely accurate.

The area around the spring is the most pleasant in Travnik: there are several cafes and restaurants with terrace seating above the stream, and the sound of rushing water and the cool air under the trees make it an excellent place to stop on a warm day. The short walk from the bazaar takes 10 minutes. The Elči Ibrahim-pašina Medresa, one of Bosnia's oldest Islamic schools, stands nearby.

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A story
The water at Plava Voda is so cold — around 8°C year-round — that it was historically used as a natural refrigerator by the town's merchants and tradespeople. The Ottoman-era buildings along the stream bank were built partly to take advantage of the cold, fast-flowing water for food storage and mill operation.

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