JELKIĆI DELIGHTS VISITORS, GUESTS CAN MAKE HOMEMADE BRANDY, JAM, AND DRY PLUMS

In the village of Pilica, three kilometers from the main road Bijeljina-Zvornik, the Jovanović family has successfully embraced rural tourism. Their homestead, which spans two hectares, is the only one in the area registered for this activity, which has experienced a significant boom in recent years.

PHOTO: Info Bijeljina

The Jovanović couple, Jelka and Cvjetko, embarked on this pioneering endeavor to preserve their estate from decay and to keep the Jelkić family legacy, which lacks a male heir, from being forgotten.

The gates of the "Jelkići" estate are wide open for all nature lovers, with hospitable hosts ready to fulfill every wish of their visitors in this peaceful oasis. Rural tourism is becoming increasingly attractive to both foreign and domestic guests, Jelka explains.

- My grandmother's name was Jelka, and my grandfather was a soldier in the Salonika Front who died young after being wounded. Their surname was Perić, but the name Jelkić was carried on by the widow and her young children. And it has remained so to this day. We renovated the old house, started this rural tourism venture, and fulfilled my father's and uncle's wish to restore the estate and prevent it from becoming overgrown with bushes and weeds, Jelka told InfoBijeljina.

They started modestly, currently offering accommodation for six people, but they plan to increase capacity. Buildings on the estate, some nearly two centuries old, have been preserved and will be given new life.

- The traditional but modernly equipped ethno houses we're building will bear the names of the women in the Jelkić family—Jelka, Jelena, Katarina. Every corner of the estate is dedicated to a family member, with a section of acacias named after our grandson Nikola, and the apiary after our granddaughter Leni, Cvjetko proudly says.

In the deep shade under an old mulberry tree that has witnessed many stories, guests can relax to the sound of birdsong, enjoying homemade plum brandy that they can distill themselves, while those who prefer traditional dishes can use the onsite roasting pit. In addition to relaxing in the natural setting and tasting healthy food and homemade drinks, guests can also walk, ride bicycles, or use their time to make homemade brandy, jam, or dry plums.

There are plenty of activities for children as well, from swimming pools to mini sports fields, and the estate boasts three orchards full of fruit.

They have the support of their sons, the elder Predrag, who lives and works in Belgrade, and the younger Nenad, who is based in Berlin, along with their families. The family plans to continue enriching their offerings with more amenities, believing that rural tourism will thrive in this region.

From the "Jelkići" estate, there is a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding towns and municipalities on both sides of the Drina River, and guests of this family homestead can also visit local attractions such as the Tavna Monastery, Tršić, Banja Koviljača, and Gučevo. So if your travels bring you to this area, be sure to visit the "Jelkići" estate—you won't regret it.