The main attractions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Neum, Sarajevo, Mostar
In addition, Mostar has natural attractions, photographs of which adorn the pages of magazines and books dedicated to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Natural attractions
The main natural attraction of Mostar, which is visible from anywhere in the community, is Mount Hum. The height of the mountain cannot be called grandiose; by world standards it is not so much - 1280 meters. At the same time, it attracts the attention of tens of thousands of tourists. has no dangerous rocks, high peaks or tops covered with snow, so even beginner climbers can climb the mountain.
But the mountain has become incredibly popular not because of its natural characteristics. The Hum serves as a pedestal for the symbol of the Catholic faith in Mostar - a white cross 33 meters high. It was erected in 2000 and since then, tourists, as well as local residents, have been arguing about its justice. After all, almost half of the residents of Mostar profess Islam.
At some point, the erection of the cross became the cause of disputes between believers, but the tolerance that has been cultivated here for centuries has prevailed today; there are no loud disputes between Catholics and Muslims. Many tourists visit this place not because of their faith, but in order to see the huge cross up close. By the way, it is visible from any area of Mostar.
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The second natural attraction that you should pay attention to is. It is a tributary and in the hot period it is a dirty stream. But in the cooler period of the year, when there is heavy rain, Radobolya seems to come to life again and turns into a noisy stream of water. In addition to the fact that during this period the river has a rather picturesque view, it is also directly related to amazing sights. For example, in the Middle Ages the river powered several mills, some of which have survived to this day. Another attraction is. It has an unusual, bent shape, so its name is fully justified. This bridge is also notable for the fact that it offers the most beautiful view of the river. That's why there are always a lot of tourists with cameras here.
An equally interesting attraction is the artificial one. It was created in 1953 and is located in the suburbs of Mostar. The reservoir is located in a wonderful location, among the mountains. There are always a lot of people here - some come to fish, others to swim or take a boat ride. This place is imbued with serenity and freedom. The width of the lake is about three kilometers, so there is enough space for everyone.
Mostar - old town
The main attractions belong to the historical heritage of Bosnia, but the word more accurately describes them. The status of the historical center of Herzegovina is fully justified, and first of all it should be said about the city bridges. By the way, the city itself was named after the bridge spanning the Neretva. It was built by the Turks in the 16th century and named Mostar. The city around the bridge was built solely to protect it. At the same time, the infrastructure in the city of the same name developed quite quickly, thanks to which today we can observe ancient buildings.
28 meters long and 20 high. For those times it can be considered a major project. And if you also take into account the fact that the bridge combines architecture of various styles, then it becomes simply a unique sight. The bridge stood firmly for four centuries, but could not survive the Bosnian war. In 1993, militants completely destroyed it. In 2005, the Old Bridge was completely restored. It is believed that the modern version is just an exact copy. But in order to reconstruct it, all its components were raised from the bottom of the river.
The second bridge in Mostar that deserves attention is this. It connects the banks of the small river Radoblya and is considered a symbol of the city. Unfortunately, no sources have been preserved about the date of construction of the bridge and about the architect, but this only emphasizes its antiquity. Despite the name of the bridge, its arch has a perfectly regular shape and a height of 8.56 meters. From both banks you can climb the bridge via stone steps. It offers a beautiful view of the river. Only in the warm season does the river dry up and the sight is not very inspiring; it turns into a shallow swamp.
Oddly enough, the Crooked Bridge also lends itself to reconstruction. It was destroyed by flood in December 2000. The restoration of the bridge was initiated by the UNESCO organization. The bridge was restored in 2001 and today it is a symbol of the city.
Hotel in an old building
Ancient houses belonging to noble families have always attracted the attention of tourists. The old building, combined with the merits of its owners, cannot leave anyone indifferent. Hotel Bosnian National Monument Muslibegovic- this is the “family nest” of Muslibegovich. The building is more than three centuries old. Part of the building is occupied by a museum, where you can see not only family household items, but also examples of Ottoman calligraphy, antique textiles, furniture and other items from the 17th century. The hotel's apartments have traditional design and modern features. The hotel building is a historical heritage of Bosnia, so it can safely be considered one of the main attractions of Mostar.
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Other attractions
Mostra is the main tourist destination in Bosnia; in addition to the main, world-famous attractions, it also has a lot of interesting places that can be a real discovery for you. For example, Karagez-Bek Mosque, built in 1557 or mansions built during the rule of the Ottoman Empire. It is equally interesting to look at the 1889 synagogue, built next to the Jewish memorial cemetery. But not all ancient buildings were able to survive perfectly to this day. Thus, all that remains of the early Christian basilica are ruins on which memorial plaques are placed. Destroyed ancient buildings include Ottoman public bath. This attraction is especially interesting for tourists, since history rarely talks about the daily life of our ancestors, and the bathhouse touches on this part of their lives.
How to get to Mostar?
Mostar is located in the southeastern part, the main transport routes of the country pass through it, so getting to it is not difficult. Buses and trains depart regularly towards the city.
Hello friends! I don’t really want to write about India yet, so today is another post about a trip to the Balkans. I will show you one of the most beautiful cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Let me remind you that the path lay through to Sarajevo, and from there to.
Either because of the rain, or because of the cold, or simply from the constant stress on the road, we were so tired of each other that we did not spend the day in Sarajevo together. We met at 7 pm in the center near the bridge. I said:
- Enough. No national parks needed. B + 28. Tomorrow we are going to the sea in Croatia.
- Come on, of course.
I found housing in , quickly contacted the owner, and the next day, leaving the keys to the smoky little room on a nail driven into the bed, we closed the door to our rooming house in Sarajevo and set sail towards the sea.
With every kilometer the sky became clearer, the weather got better, the views were simply fantastic, and finally we could open the windows and enjoy the warmth.
Road to Mostar from Sarajevo 
When we arrived in Mostar, one of the most famous and richest cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was about +27. At that moment, such a temperature seemed somewhat unreal.
There are so many tourists in Mostar, everyone takes pictures on the bridge, buys magnets and eats ice cream. These are mainly Italian grandmothers and German couples vacationing in Croatia or coming to Mostar on an excursion to diversify the cultural program of their holiday.
The main attraction is the Old Bridge over the Neretva River, built during the Ottoman Empire in the mid-16th century. The bridge stood intact for 420 years, but during the Yugoslav conflict it was hit by a bomb.
The structure was restored only in 2004, and since then it has been a symbol of reconciliation, and the area around the bridge is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Mostar is a rather large city. It is the unofficial center of the historical region of Herzegovina. About 100 thousand people live there, 50% of them are Croats.
Perhaps this is why one of the tallest buildings in the city is a Catholic church, and not mosques, as in other cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
However, about 50% of the city's residents are Muslims, so there are also mosques in Mostar, and the most famous are Koski Mehmet Pasha (17th century; a pleasant view of Mostar opens from the minaret) and Karadoz Bey (16th century).
Catholic Church 
During the war in Yugoslavia, Mostar was under siege for 18 months, during which time 14 mosques, a Franciscan monastery and a Catholic cathedral were destroyed. In the historical center you can often see traces of bullets on most buildings; some houses remain dilapidated.
The city is pleasant, but too touristy for my taste. I liked Visegrad much more in this regard. There is also beauty there, also an ancient bridge, but there are many fewer people.
We wandered around Mostar, walked along the cobbled streets, took pictures on the bridge, visited the church and quickly moved on towards the sea.
What is famous for the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina? Sights of Mostar and the surrounding area, hotels, city map, photos and reviews.
Mostar, like many Bosnian cities, is multi-ethnic. The bulk of the population are Bosnians (Muslims) and Croats (Catholics), as well as Serbs (quite a few, Orthodox). This ethnic-religious structure determined the development of the city and created a unique multinational culture. Besides, The Neretva River, on the banks of which the city is located, also gives Mostar its charm.
The parts of the city are connected to each other by the Old Bridge, built by the Turks in the mid-16th century. The name of the city, which attracts travelers, comes from the name of the bridge. The architectural ensemble is complemented by old buildings, mosques, and churches.
Walk around the city
The Old Bridge is the main character of the historical center of Mostar
The first place to visit in Mostar is the Old Bridge. It was restored relatively recently - in 2004, after the Croatian army destroyed it during hostilities in the early 1990s. Thanks to the joint efforts of the EU, UNESCO and the countries of the Balkan region, the bridge was reconstructed in its original form. This became a significant event in the life of the city of Mostar and the whole country, since many ancient traditions are associated with the bridge.
These include, for example, dates of lovers, as well as annual jumps from a height of twenty-one meters. Local residents, mostly men, jump from the bridge for entertainment and symbolic monetary reward.
The parts of the city are connected to each other by the Old Bridge, built by the Turks in the mid-16th century. The name of the city, Mostar, comes from the name of the bridge.
Nearby there is a historical museum dedicated to the Old Bridge. It contains archaeological finds that tell the long and tragic history of the structure. In addition, visitors can go down to the excavation level to see stone blocks from the 16th century.
In Mostar, it is also customary to preserve the memory of the conflict of the 1990s. Therefore, residential buildings and buildings that were damaged by shelling remain in a destroyed and dilapidated state. Most of them are located on Revolution Boulevard.
Video: jumping from the Old Bridge
This is what jumping from the Old Bridge looks like in reality. For residents, for example, this may remind them of similar extreme entertainment in Kamenets-Podilskyi. Overall, it’s not a spectacle for everyone, but it’s worth a look!
What to see in Mostar
The most famous architectural monuments include the house of the wealthy Turkish-Bosnian Muslibegovic family. The building in the center of Mostar was erected three hundred years ago and is a wonderful example of Turkish architecture. The house has four floors, on which there are rooms for the men's and women's parts of the building. Inside, the way of life of the family members was restored, thematic photos and documents were hung on the walls.
Two mosques, Karadoz Bey and Koski Mehmet Pasha, are also important architectural monuments. The first was built in the 16th century, and the second in the 17th century.
Neighborhoods of Mostar
Dervish monastery in the village of Blagaj (Mostar)
The suburbs of Mostar are open-air museums containing ancient buildings and cities. For example, the traditional way of life of the Bosnians can be seen in the village of Blagaj. Also near the city is the fortified city of Pocitelj, built between the 13th and 16th centuries.
Lovers of nature and beautiful landscapes can be advised to go on an excursion to, which can safely be called one of the main attractions of the country. Distances in Bosnia and Herzegovina are short, so the journey to Kravice from Mostar does not take much time.
In addition, Medjugorje has been considered a holy place, located in the suburbs, for many centuries, where, according to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared before children.
Where to stay in Mostar
Panorama of the most tourist city of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mostar city on the map
Video: Mostar from the height of a helicopter
A breathtaking panorama of Mostar from a helicopter's bird's eye view. Very beautiful!
Despite its favorable location, mild climate and many attractions, Bosnia and Herzegovina for a long time could not compete with its more famous tourist neighbors. But in recent years, this small country has been attracting more and more visitors.
Tourists from all over the world are attracted by ski resorts, wonderful beaches of Neum, picturesque landscapes and original local cuisine. Bosnia and Herzegovina is deservedly called the easternmost European state. Catholic and Orthodox churches here peacefully coexist with mosques, and medieval buildings and streets coexist with new buildings in recent years.
Fans of philosophical reflection should definitely visit the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on the Latin Bridge and the fortified bunker of Marshal Tito in a cave near Drvar.
As a souvenir of your visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can bring very beautiful embroidered textiles, leather clothes and shoes, as well as a variety of delicacies - baklava, sujuk cookies, strong fruit brandy or local wine.
Popular hotels and inns at affordable prices.
from 500 rubles/day
What to see in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photographs and brief descriptions.
In the Old Town of Mostar, many examples of medieval architecture are perfectly preserved. The Muslibegovits house-museum deserves special attention, where visitors are introduced to the way of life of a Turkish family in the 19th century. The picturesque mosques of Koski Mehmet Pasha and Karadoz Bey are open to everyone.
The unusually picturesque Neretva River flows through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the Middle Ages, river pirates operated here, and in 1943, one of the most important Balkan battles took place on Neretva, during which partisan detachments managed to disrupt the Wehrmacht operation. The most expensive Yugoslav film, “The Battle of Neretva,” was shot about this in 1969.
The picturesque park is located on the territory of the state entity Republika Srpska. The relict forest of Peručica, Lake Trnovač, Mount Maglić, and the memorial complex “Valley of Heroes” are some of the attractions of these places. The park was formed in 1962. You can walk along the mountain paths and look at the three-hundred-year-old pine trees by coming here from the nearest town of Foča.
The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, is located at the crossroads of ancient trade routes, so it is no wonder that its main square has always been used as a place for trade. Today, on Marcale Square there is a market where you can buy a lot of delicious goodies.
This is perhaps the most infamous bridge in the world. Here on August 28, 1914, the event that caused the outbreak of the First World War took place. Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were killed by pistol shots from Serbian student Gavrilo Princip. In its current form, the bridge has been preserved without much change almost since the end of the 18th century. There is a museum dedicated to the bridge nearby.
The waterfall is located 40 kilometers south of Mostar on the Trebižac River. Its height is about 25 meters and its width is approximately 120 meters. Kravice is a very popular holiday destination in the spring and during the summer. During the tourist season, small cafes operate around the waterfall and picnic areas are organized. Nearby there is a beautiful grotto with stalactites; there is also an interesting old, no longer working water mill.
The oldest mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina, named after Suleiman I, is also called the Royal Mosque. It was built in the 15th century, and upon completion of the work it was almost completely burned down in a severe fire. Work to restore the building was completed only in the 16th century. Today the Royal Mosque is open to everyone.
The pedestrian Old Bridge over the Neretva, built by the Turks for defense back in the 16th century, connects the two parts of the city of Mostar. In 1993, the Old Bridge was destroyed. For its restoration, all the medieval elements that were recovered from the bottom of the Neretva River were used.
The perfectly preserved Moricha Khan caravanserai was built in the 16th century to provide safe accommodation for traders traveling from the country to the Adriatic and back. Today there are several cafes with national cuisine and souvenir shops, and the rooms and galleries of Moricha Khan are open to tourists.
The picturesque Vrelo Bosne Park is located in the center of the state. It was founded during the time of the Austro-Hungarians, but the military conflict of the 20th century caused significant damage to the park. And only thanks to the caring public, Vrelo Bosne was restored in 2000. Here you can ride a horse-drawn carriage, take pictures against the backdrop of wooden bridges or visit a local open-air restaurant.
The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina is famous for its extensive collections of exhibits. It also houses stečki – carved tombstones, which are a national treasure of the state. The building that houses the National Museum was built in 1888.
This is a mountain near Sarajevo, the slopes of which are covered with a meter-thick layer of snow from October to May. Thanks to such wonderful natural conditions, a world-famous ski resort is located here. Hotels and chalets for every taste, red slopes and nine ski lifts - Jahorina has everything you need for comfortable skiing.
The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina is called the European Jerusalem because it seamlessly combines the eastern buildings of the Old City and the western buildings of the Austro-Hungarian period. Pigeon Square with a fountain, located in the Bascarsija district, is considered the heart of Old Sarajevo.
The private museum, created by the Kolar family, includes 20 meters of a special tunnel. It was used by residents of besieged Sarajevo for the exit of civilians and the supply of food during the recent military conflict. In the past, this military tunnel was more than 700 meters long and took about six months to build.
The small village of Medjugorje became famous in the 20th century when six local children saw the image of the Virgin Mary on a hill. And although this phenomenon was not officially recognized by the church, more than a million pilgrims regularly visit the local Hill of the Apparition. Also noteworthy is the Church of St. James, built in the classic Balkan style, and the Park of Candles, where believers thank the Mother of God for helping them fulfill their wishes.
The Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque was built in the 16th century and is a perfectly preserved example of buildings from the Ottoman period. The mosque received its name in honor of the philanthropist Gazi Husrev Bey, who actively participated in the construction and development of Sarajevo. Anyone can visit the mosque, you just need to wait until the prayer ends.
The heart of Sarajevo is its main shopping area. Built in 1462, Bascarsija Square is still the cultural and historical center of the capital. There is a clock tower, the Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, as well as a market where tourists can buy original souvenirs to remember their visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Climbing Mount Maglic is a popular tourist route. Majestic landscapes, clean air and the relative simplicity of local mountain trails attract outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world. The height of the mountain is 2387 meters and is the highest point in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Not far from Maglic there is a very beautiful glacial lake Trnovacko.
A famous example of Turkish engineering from the Middle Ages, the Visegrad Bridge over the Drin River was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007. This structure, which is also called the Mehmed Pasha Bridge, consists of 11 stone spans and connects both parts of the city of Visegrad. The Mehmed Pasha Bridge was immortalized in a book published in 1945 by Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić.
From November to April, the town of Kupres, located in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, becomes a center of ski tourism. If there is not enough natural snow, all four local ski slopes are maintained in excellent condition with the help of special snow cannons. There are also several hotels and inns in Kupres to suit every taste.
The main Catholic church of Sarajevo, which is located in the central quarters of the city, was built in 1889. Architect Josip Vancas built this cathedral in the neo-Gothic style based on Notre Dame de Paris. The interior of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is decorated with elegant stained glass windows.
Tito's Refuge is a famous cave near the town of Drvar, where Yugoslav Marshal Josip Broz Tito hid during World War II. To capture and destroy Tito along with the Supreme Headquarters of the Liberation Movement, the Germans carried out Operation Resselsprung, during which Tito took refuge in a cave near Drvar and then fled. In 1944, the cave was turned into a museum.
The city of Mostar is really as good as a picture. This place is chosen to come and relax in the Balkans (especially since a visa to Bosnia and Herzegovina is not yet required for a vacation for up to 30 days), and during the vacation to also enjoy the beautiful architecture and natural splendor of the local landscapes.
The city's population is 113 thousand people. The name “Mostar” translates as “guardian of the bridge”, since the city performs precisely this function, which includes guarding the Old Bridge, built by the Ottoman Turks back in 1566 and today included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Mostar: history and architecture
Situated in an emerald green flowering valley, surrounded by mountains, Mostar offers beautiful views of the Bosnia and Herzegovina countryside and is considered the informal capital of Herzegovina. The cobbled, winding streets of the old town, running past colorful local shops, cheerful restaurants and cafes, beckon to discerning travelers. Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Catholics coexist peacefully in the ancient town, but traces of the Turkish rule of the Ottomans are firmly rooted in everyday life, in architecture, and in cuisine...
Be sure to climb the Old Bridge - the most famous landmark in all of Bosnia, built in the mid-sixteenth century. Travelers who have repeatedly visited Mostar unanimously declare that they love this town very much, they absolutely love it, despite the remaining consequences of the Balkan war in 1993, destroyed residential buildings that have not yet been restored, and poverty on the outskirts...
Mostar is an organic combination of West and East, which played a cruel joke on the townspeople in the nineties of the last century.
Traveling along the cobbled streets, you remember the local legend about how Muslim men decided to lay smooth pebbles of different heights as a road surface, so that women, walking along the street, would not raise their faces, but would look closely at where to step (so that strange men could not stare at them , because women’s faces were always tilted)...
The preserved architecture of the city, delicious Turkish coffee, which is served here with lokum, Bosnian special fried sausages (they are called cevapcici here) will delight both the eye and the heart of the tourist... So much time has passed since the beginning of the city’s construction (dating back to 1520), it has changed empires that owned these lands, and Mostar remained a city of three religions. Even the war in the Balkans in the nineties of the last century could not change history and overthrow any of the faiths...
In the 16th century, during the Ottoman Empire's occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mostar was practically a hamlet built near a trade route, next to a wooden bridge over the Neretva River. In total, at that time the settlement consisted of 19 houses.
In 1878, during the era of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Mostar already had 16 thousand inhabitants. But the changes on the geopolitical map of the world, which transferred Mostar to the power of Austria, did not please many Muslims (read - South Slavs who converted to Islam), so some of them left these lands and went to Turkey for happiness.
Today's Mostar is divided into Catholic and Muslim halves, located on two banks of the Neretva River. According to the latest census, which also includes the population of the suburbs, 113 thousand people live in Mostar. After the war, completely new residential areas appeared in the city.
Mostar attractions
If we talk about the main attraction of the city - the Old Bridge over the Neretva River, built in 1566 by the Ottomans, then it should be noted that Western travelers visiting these parts in the 19th and 20th centuries called the bridge Roman, without even suggesting that it could have been created by the Ottoman architect. But in fact, the bridge is a striking example of classical Ottoman architecture; it is decorated with finely crafted ornaments and harmoniously fits into the surrounding space of the mountains and river.
In November 1993, during one of the interethnic battles between Catholic Croats and Muslim Bosniaks, the old bridge, unfortunately, was completely destroyed. The front line brought devastating consequences: 86 large-caliber shells practically broke the bridge to completely cut off two different religions from each other, Christian from Muslim...
Now, in November, Bosniaks (Muslims) come to the new, rebuilt bridge on the 21st (the date of the bridge’s destruction) and throw bouquets of flowers into the Neretva as a sign of memory of those difficult events. Catholics, unfortunately, ignore this day...
Regarding the restoration of the bridge, it must be said that the old-timers claim that the newly rebuilt bridge is absolutely identical in architecture to the old one that was destroyed. Some of the stones from which the bridge was restored are its own, from which it was built earlier. They were specially taken from the bottom of the river, and the missing ones were brought from local quarries. The cost of the project and work to restore the Old Bridge amounted to $15 million. The restoration was financed by the World Bank and the governments of several countries - Turkey, Italy, Croatia, France and Holland.
The bridge also has a water supply system; an aqueduct appeared here back in 1630 to supply water to mosques, madrassas and hammams on the opposite bank; its length is 3 km.
Today the Old Bridge is rich in tourist visits. And to surprise them, local extreme sports enthusiasts regularly demonstrate an attraction for money - jumping from the surface of a bridge into the water of the Neretva River. I must say that this is a completely unsafe activity: the height is about 25 m, the river is very cold, and the bottom is rocky... But the tradition has been preserved for about 450 years and today in Mostar (in July) there are even official competitions in diving with Ottoman decoration of the city.
When going to Mostar, get ready to enjoy delicious, cheap food, classic Turkish coffee, feel at the crossroads of West and East and feel simple human concern: Catholics and Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina still do not live very friendly in these lands...
Therefore, in conclusion, I would like to wish them respect for each other, understanding, and prosperity and prosperity for the country, moving forward!
And Mostar will long be remembered for the streets of the Old Town, buzzing like a colorful oriental bazaar, coffee shops, the Mediterranean landscapes of Herzegovina, the azure waters of the Neretva River, oriental charm and delicious Balkan food. It is these advantages that put the unofficial capital of Herzegovina on the list of the best cities in the Balkans and made it a must-see!
P.S. Returning to the hotel, go shopping and buy gifts for family and friends. Mostar is an ideal place for souvenir and gift shopping. You can take a morning train to Sarajevo to see the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.