Bijelo Polje

Infobox Montenegro
city_name=Bijelo Polje
city_name_cyr=Бијело Поље
mayor=Tarzan Milošević (DPS - SDP)
area=924
population=15,883
municipality=50,284
density=54.4 p/km²
settlements=98
Time zone=UTC+1
founded=
latitude=43.04
longitude=19.75
postal=84000
area_code= 84
car_plates=BP
website=www.bijelopolje.co.me
location pic=Bijelo Polje Montenegro.jpg
coa_pic=

Bijelo Polje (Serbian Cyrillic: Бијело Поље) is a town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 15,883 (2003 census).

Bijelo Polje is the center of the municipality of the same name (population of 50,284), which is part of geographical region of Sandžak. It is unofficial center of north-eastern region of Montenegro. Bijelo Polje means literally "White Field" in Montenegrin.

History

Bijelo Polje was within the Ottoman Empire until its liberation by a multi-national force during the Balkan Wars (1912). Under Ottoman rule the city was known as Akova.

Bijelo Polje's Church of Saint Peter and Paul is the location of composition of the famous UNESCO Miroslav's Gospel of Miroslav, brother of the Serb ruler Stefan Nemanja.

Population

Bijelo Polje is administrative center of Bijelo Polje municipality, which in 2003 had a population of 50,284. The town of Bijelo Polje itself has 15,883 citizens.

Population of Bijelo Polje (city):
*1981 - 11,927
*1991 - 16,464
*2003 - 15,883

Population of Bijelo Polje (municipality):
*1948 - 36,795
*1953 - 41,432
*1961 - 46,651
*1971 - 52,598
*1981 - 55,634
*1991 - 55,268
*2003 - 50,284

Ethnic groups (1991 census):
* Montenegrins (49.22%)
* Muslims by nationality (41.57%)
* Serbs (7.57%)

Ethnicity in 2003

Culture and sights

Bijelo Polje was the birthplace of the oral poet Avdo Međedović and of many prominent writers, such as Ćamil Sijarić, Miodrag Bulatović, as well as Risto Ratković, who wrote the first Montenegrin novel "Neviđbog", a story actually set in the city of Bijelo Polje.

City's best known brand is "Rada" mineral water, vastly consumed in Montenegro during summer months.

Transport

Bijelo Polje is connected with rest of Montenegro by two motorways. It is situated on the main road connecting Montenegro's coast and Podgorica with northern Montenegro and Serbia (E65, E80).

Bijelo Polje is also a station on Belgrade - Bar railway, the last station in Montenegro for trains leaving towards Belgrade, and it serves as regional train station.

Podgorica Airport is 130 km away, and has regular flights to major European destinations.

External links

* [http://www.bijelopolje.co.me Bijelo Polje municipality]
* [http://www.visit-montenegro.com/cities-bijelopolje.htm Visit-Montenegro.com]
* [http://www.apartmani-montenegro.com Accommodation-Smjestaj]

References

* http://www.njegos.org/census/index.htm