Zavala Monastery
The Zavala Monastery () is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located in the village of Zavala on the southwestern edge of Popovo Polje, in Ravno, Bosnia and Herzegovina municipality, in the southernmost part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is first mentioned in 1514, which means that the monastery already existed by the early sixteenth century. The monastery was designated National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the KONS in 2003.

Location and history 

Some 55 kilometres to the east lies the town of Trebinje. The monastery is dedicated to the Presentation of Mary. The northern wall of the monastery's church is situated within a cave. This monastery is also known as a place where Basil of Ostrog entered into monasticism.

Along with Žitomislić and Tvrdoš, Zavala is one of the most important monasteries in East Herzegovina. The monastery was established around 1514. Two years later, in 1516, the Ottomans ordered the destruction of Catholic churches built before the conquest of Herzegovina. For this reason, many Catholics in the region of Popovo Polje converted to Eastern Orthodoxy. The proximity of the Zavala monastery was the main factor in their conversion.

During World War II, the monastery suffered major damage, and in the Bosnian War it was further damaged and abandoned.

Zavala and Vjetrenica 

After the war the monastery was restored, and together with Zavala village with its old architecture and stone masonry, and Vjetrenica cave constitute cultural-historic, architectural and natural assemble, protected by KONS as an important national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Because of its importance as national heritage, as well as tourist and ambiental attraction, the site is also placed on the UNESCO Tentative list for inscription into UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

See also
 Popovo Polje
 Vjetrenica
 Trebišnjica
 Ravno

Footnotes

References

Journals

Further reading
 Туристичка организација Републике Српске: Манастир Завала (National Tourist Organization of Serbian Republic: Zavala Monastery) 
 Туризам Републике Српске: Манастир Завала (Serbian Republic Tourism) 
 Епархија захумско-херцеговачка: Манастир Завала (Diocese of Zahumlje-Herzegovina: Zavala Monastery)

External links

Tourist attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina
World Heritage Tentative List for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Protected areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina
National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina
16th-century Serbian Orthodox church buildings
Christian monasteries established in the 16th century
16th-century establishments in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbian Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Attacks on religious buildings and structures during the Bosnian War
Attacks on religious buildings and structures during World War II
Popovo Polje