Mičevac Fortress
Description
Mičevac Fortress is a medieval town located on the right bank of the Trebišnjica, about 5.6 km from the center of Trebinje, along the Trebinje–Nikšić main road, near the Perovića most settlement. According to legend, it was built by Duke Mičeta, after whom it was named. The fortress dominates a small hill, and below it developed the lower town of Podmičevac with the Kosača customs post.
In written sources, it is first mentioned in the 11th century, and during the rule of Stjepan Vukčić Kosača it is recorded as castelo (1444), castrum (1448) and civitate (1454). The Ottomans captured it in 1466. Inside the fortification, a 14 × 7.2 m palace was discovered, along with four towers with underground chambers and a variety of material: majolica from Italy, bronze objects, arrowheads, cannonballs and a coin bearing the image of St. Blaise. It was declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2003. Conservation work was carried out in 1984–1986, and in 2026 new works are underway as part of the EU project InclUSivE HERITAGE.
Guardian of the Drina Road
Mičevac was not just a military point — it was an economic gateway. Located along the main route linking Dubrovnik with the interior of the Balkans, the Drina or Bosnian Road, the town controlled the flow of goods and travelers, and the Kosača customs house was located in the lower town of Podmičevac. Majolica imported from Italy, glass from Germany, and a coin bearing the image of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik’s patron saint — all found within the walls — testify that both luxury goods and the Middle Ages in all their glory passed through this town.
Practical Information
