Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina has had a very interesting history, although too often that history has been sad and turbulent, but that is exactly what gives this country its peculiarity. When you arrive here for the first time you will notice that it has been ruled by various conquering peoples, all of whom have all left behind their individual heritage.

Even Bosnia & Herzegovina's main destinations, Mostar and Sarajevo, are still relatively undeveloped in terms of tourism and so provide fabulous 'off the beaten track' experiences. If you only have a few days at your disposal, southern Bosnia & Herzegovina, particulalrly Trebinje, Mostar, the Hutovo Blato nature reserve is close enough for a short break via easily accessible Dubrovnik in Croatia.

Bosnia & Herzegovina Highlights

MOSTAR is a city in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, straddling the Neretva River. It’s known for its iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge), a reconstructed medieval arched bridge. The nearby alleys are full of shops and market stalls, and the Old Bridge Museum explores the bridge’s long history. A narrow stairway leads up to the Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque’s minaret for panoramic city views.

SARAJEVO has always been one of the most popular cities in the Balkans and a destination drenched with a dynamic history. It is a place where every building tells a story; a place where the old world meets the new world; where The East meets The West. Sarajevo was founded by the Ottomans in 1461 and it was within the city of Sarajevo that Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, an event which sparked the First World War. Then in 1984 Sarajevo played host to the Winter Olympics and witnessed the triumph of Britain's ice dancers, Torville & Dean. The wars initiated by President Milosovic (of Yugoslavia) in the early 1990s led to the Siege of Sarajevo, a tragedy which lasted from 1992-1995 but as soon as the war ended the reconstruction of the city also saw an introduction of fabulous, state of the art, modern office buildings and skyscrapers and by 2003 much of the city of Sarajevo had been rebuilt.

TREBINJE is the southernmost city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, just a short drive across the hills from the famous city of Dubrovnik. Trebinje ranks with Mostar in terms of beauty and, fortunately, was not heavily damaged during the war, leaving its old town intact. The Old Town of Trebinje was established in the 18th century and soon developed into a trading & crafts centre named Kastel. Today, the town offers a lovely place to stay en route from the coast with a choice of traditional cafes and bakeries as well as a market in the main square; we would also recommend a walk to the ancient stone bridge a little way up river.

Other places of interest:

In the southern region of the country, within easy reach of Mostar and/or Trebinje there are some truly incredible places to visit. These include the Vjetrenica Cave, Dinara Hills, the stunning waterfalls at Kravice and also at Blagaj, the ancient hillside village of Pocitelj, the seaside resort of Neum and the Hutovo Blato Nature Park.

Further north the terrain is even more spectacular and is dominated by dramatic mountains, steep river valleys, lakes and so much history in its villages and monuments. Our pick of the places to visit would be Jajce, Gradacac, Travnik and Visegrad but follow the stunning courses of the Drina, Neretva or Una valleys in any direction and your gaze will be rewarded. More urban delights can be found in Banja Luka and Tuzla and getting even further off the beaten track is possible with some hiking in the Sutjeska and Tajan national parks.

JAJCE bears the epithet 'royal' having been the residence of the Bosnian kings; it is the place where Stjepan Tomašević, the last Bosnian king, resided until his death in 1463. The Waterfall is one of the "twelve most beautiful in the world", and the only one located in the very heart of a town - the River Pliva dives from a cliff into the River Vrbas at the point of their confluence. The Citadel in Jajce used to be the biggest and the best fortified in the whole country. Other places of interest include the Mithraic Temple, the Museum of the Second Session of the National Liberation Army of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ), the Bear Tower, the catacombs and the Esma Sultana Mosque.

Stečci - these monumental medieval tombstones that lie scattered across the landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina and are one of the country’s most legendary symbols. These are the tombstones of those who refused to swear allegiance to any kingdom but their own or to be swayed by any influence, staying true to themselves.

Medjugorje - since 1981, in a small village in Bosnia-Hercegovina named Medjugorje, the Blessed Virgin Mary has been appearing and giving messages to the world. She tells us that "God has sent Her to our world, and these years She is spending with us are a time of Grace granted by God."

We look forward to being of service.