Vlasenica is a small town in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, set in the hilly Birac region. The town takes its name from a type of grass that grows locally and was once the defining feature of this landscape. Before the 1992–1995 war, it was a quietly prosperous mixed community; today it is a place still coming to terms with a difficult recent history.
The town saw some of the worst violence of the Bosnian War. Serbian forces expelled the Muslim population in 1992, and the Sušica detention camp, established on the outskirts of town, became the site of mass killings and abuse. The Bosniak population has since returned in part, though slowly, and the wounds of that period are still visible in the town's demographics and political life. Travelling here is a quiet, sober experience.
For visitors, the main draw in winter is the Igrište ski centre in the surrounding hills — a modest but genuine mountain resort. The area's rivers, including stretches of the Drina, attract anglers. In warmer months, the local lake Jezero is good for swimming. The rebuilt Hajrija Mosque, destroyed during the war and since restored, is worth a visit. For those interested in understanding the Bosnian War at close quarters, the Sušica detention camp memorial on the edge of town is a sobering stop. The downtown market is a good place to pick up local produce and get a feel for daily life.