Zavala Monastery

The Zavala Monastery (Манастир Завала) is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located in the village of Zavala on the southwestern edge of Popovo Polje, in Ravno, Bosnia and Herzegovina municipality, in the southernmost part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is first mentioned in 1514, which means that the monastery already existed by the early sixteenth century. The monastery was designated National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the KONS in 2003.

Location and history
Some 55 kilometres to the east lies the town of Trebinje. The monastery is dedicated to the Presentation of Mary. The northern wall of the monastery's church is situated within a cave. This monastery is also known as a place where Basil of Ostrog entered into monasticism.

Along with Žitomislić and Tvrdoš, Zavala is one of the most important monasteries in East Herzegovina. It was first mentioned in 1514, when the monastery purchased a vineyard in Orahov Do. Two years later, in 1516, the Ottomans ordered the destruction of Catholic churches built before the conquest of Herzegovina. For this reason, many Catholics in the region of Popovo Polje converted to Eastern Orthodoxy. The proximity of the Zavala monastery was the main factor in their conversion.

During World War II, the monastery suffered major damage, and in the Bosnian War it was further damaged and abandoned. In the early 21st century, the frescoes were restored, the church and dormitories were renovated, and the monastery became active again.

Zavala and Vjetrenica
The site of the restored monastery, together with Zavala's village old architecture and stone masonry, and with Vjetrenica cave, constitutes cultural-historic, architectural and natural assemble, protected by KONS as an important national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Because of its importance as national heritage, as well as tourist and ambiental attraction, the site is also placed on the UNESCO Tentative list for inscription into UNESCO World Heritage Site list.