Havla

Havla is a small town and municipality located in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated roughly 15 kilometres northeast of the regional capital, Banja Luka. The settlement lies along the banks of the Vrbas River, in an area noted for its fertile plains and agricultural potential. Historically, the region has been inhabited since the medieval period, with archaeological findings indicating Roman and Illyrian presence. The town gained administrative prominence in the 19th century when it was incorporated into the Austro‑Hungarian administrative framework, and it continued to function as a local municipal centre during the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia era.

The population of Havla is predominantly ethnic Serbs, with the 2013 census recording approximately 12,000 residents. The local economy is primarily agrarian, focusing on crop cultivation and livestock breeding; in recent years there has also been a modest expansion of small-scale manufacturing and services. The town hosts several annual cultural festivals, including traditional folk music gatherings that celebrate the rural heritage of the region. Religious life is centered around the Serbian Orthodox Church, with the most prominent place of worship being the Church of the Holy Trinity.

Havla was affected by the Bosnian War of the 1990s, experiencing displacement and damage to infrastructure, but has since undertaken reconstruction efforts. Today it serves as a representative example of the small, community‑oriented municipalities that characterise much of the Republika Srpska's rural landscape.