Bijelo Polje is a town located in the Northern Region of Montenegro, situated along Lim River. It has an urban population of 12,900 (2011 census). It is the administrative, economic, cultural and educational centre of northern Montenegro. Bijelo Polje is the center of Bijelo Polje Municipality (population of 38,662). Bijelo Polje means 'white field' in Serbian.

History

Bijelo Polje's Saint Peter and Paul Church is the place where the UNESCO Miroslav's Gospel of Miroslav, brother of Serbian ruler Stefan Nemanja was written. During World War II, Bijelo Pole was a prominent location for the anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia, Montenegro in particular. A significant number of Muslim families in Bijelo Polje originate from historical Muslim brotherhoods from Kuči, including the Abdići, Adžajlići, Adžibegovići, Alići, Aličkovići, Babajići, Bajramspahići, Bakija, Beganovići, Bektaševići, Biso, Bisonjići, Višnjići, Drekovići, Durovići, Zaimovići, Zajmovići, Zajimovići, Zejnilovići, Zećirovići, Kajevići, Kasumovići, Kolići, Kos, Kočani, Kršići, Kujovići, Kukuljac, Kuči, Kučevići, Ličine, Lukači, Medunjani, Mehovići, Mekići, Mekići (Ličine), Memići, Mulalići, Muratovići, Muslići, Numanovići, Omerovići, Omerhodžići, Pepeljak, Premtići, Radončići, Rastoderi, Rizvanovići, Smailovići, Smakići, Spahići, Ćemani, Fetahovići, Fetići, Hadžajlići, Hadžibegovići, Halilovići, Hodžići, Cokovići, Čokrlije, Džogovići, and Šabovići.

Demographics

Bijelo Polje is the administrative centre of the Bijelo Polje municipality, which in 2011 had a population of 46,251. The town of Bijelo Polje itself has 12,900 citizens. Town Municipality

Ethnicity

The ethnic composition of the municipality in the 2023 census was as follows: 43.13% Serbs, 31.85% Bosniaks, 14.88% Montenegrins, 7.54 ethnic Muslims. A total of 2.6% of the population are part of other ethnic groups.

Religion

Bijelo Polje is religiously diverse, with the majority of the population adhering to Islam and Eastern Orthodoxy. The Islamic community primarily consists of Bosniaks and ethnic Muslims, while Orthodox Christianity is predominantly practiced by Serbs and Montenegrins. Religious institutions, such as mosques and Orthodox churches, are an integral part of the town’s cultural and social fabric, reflecting its multi-ethnic and multi-religious character. Despite historical challenges, Bijelo Polje is known for its peaceful coexistence and tolerance between different religious communities.

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, Risto Ratković and Dragomir Brajković as well as basketball player Nikola Peković and Swedish footballing brothers Ajsel and Emir Kujović.

Sports

The major football team is Jedinstvo, who have spent several seasons in the country's top tier. They share their Gradski stadion with lower league team OFK Borac. The town's basketball teams are Jedinstvo and KK Centar.

Transport

Bijelo Polje is connected to the rest of Montenegro by two major roads. 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 for Belgrade, and it serves as a regional train station. Podgorica Airport is 130 km away, and has regular flights to major European destinations.

Climate

Bijelo Polje has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb) with warm summers, cold winters, and abundant precipitation year round.

Notable people

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Bijelo Polje is twinned with: