MZ Asim Čamdžić restored the Stari Mlin beach and the water wheel on Krivaja

A place that remembers - the Skroze site

Older residents of Zavidovići remember the Skroze site: bathing on the Krivaja, the old mill whose wheel turned underwater for a whole generation, and a space that was a natural gathering point. Over time that location became neglected, the bank overgrown with vegetation, access to the water difficult, and the old mill - a cultural element that had given identity to this area for generations - was no longer in function.

The local community "Asim Čamdžić", with the support of the City Administration of Zavidovići, restored that space. Not as a new destination, but as a return of what used to exist, in a form that suited the contemporary visitor.

What was specifically done

The project covered two complementary parts: the arrangement of the beach and the restoration of the mill's water wheel.

Arrangement of the beach and the bank

• the vegetation on the bank and in the riverbed was cleared
• the terrain was levelled
• access paths were arranged
• benches for rest were installed
• educational and informational boards about the nature and history of the site were installed

Symbolic restoration of the old mill

• the water wheel of the Skroze mill was partially restored - a structure with long-standing heritage
• the mill remained in the service of the cultural and educational component of the space, not as a working machine

An additional value of the project was that it did not introduce aggressive construction works - no new infrastructure was built, the existing one was restored and interpreted.

A classroom in nature - what made this project different

Most beach arrangement projects end with benches and waste bins. This one went a step further: educational and informational boards were installed that taught visitors about:

• the Krivaja river, its course, significance, and biological richness
• autochthonous plant and fish species in this part of the river
• the old Skroze mill and the way the water wheel worked
• the shared life of people and nature in this area

The space thus turned into an open classroom in nature - something exceptionally rare in local tourist infrastructure. The visitor not only used the space, but left it wiser about the area in which they had bathed.

Who the project reached

The arranged space had an inclusive character, it was accessible and free, which made it usable for different user profiles:

• Families coming for a day trip
• Recreationists - swimmers, anglers, cyclists
• School children in organised field classes
• Tourists passing through Zavidovići and seeking authentic local destinations

The local community was actively involved in all phases of realisation - from clearing the terrain to maintenance after the opening. This was not a decorative partnership but an operational one: without the involved community, the space could not endure in long-term use.

Documentation framework

• A conceptual design was prepared covering the water wheel restoration, bank arrangement, and access infrastructure
• The consent of the Sava River Basin Agency was obtained, with a site visit by the agency's expert services
• Since the mill is a structure with long-standing heritage, original project documentation did not exist; the solution was based on field conditions and historical references
• The support of the City Administration of Zavidovići was secured

Project message

Stari Mlin is not an attraction from which thousands of tourists are expected daily. It is a small, intimate location that was once vital, and can be so again.

With this project, MZ "Asim Čamdžić" did not try to sell a new destination, but brought back an old one, one that for generations meant what summer on Krivaja means. The combination of bathing, learning, and preservation of culture in the same space is a rare example that tourism does not have to be an upgrade, it can be a return.