A settlement established as an urban structure in the 15th century on the crossing of a river and a land road was originally located in a valley of the Neretva River, between Hum Hill and the foot of the Velež Mountain. This relatively small settlement had two towers around the bridge, which dated 1459, as noted by written historical sources. The current name, Mostar, was mentioned for the first time in 1474 and derived from "mostari" - the bridge keepers. The historic town of Mostar, spanning a deep valley of the Neretva River, developed in the 15th and 16th centuries as an Ottoman frontier town and during the Austro-Hungarian period in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 1990s conflict, however, most of the historic town and the Old Bridge, designed by the renowned architect Sinan, was destroyed. The Old Bridge was recently rebuilt and many of the edifices in the Old Town have been restored or rebuilt with the contribution of an international scientific committee established by UNESCO. The Old Bridge area, with its pre-Ottoman, eastern Ottoman, Mediterranean and western European architectural features, is an outstanding example of a multicultural urban settlement. The reconstructed Old Bridge and Old City of Mostar is a symbol of reconciliation, international co-operation and of the coexistence of diverse cultural, ethnic and religious communities.
HOW TO GET THERE
Blagaj - Blagaj is less than 12 kilometers south from the center of Mostar. Getting from Mostar to Blagaj is very easy during the week when there is frequent public transport.
Bus#10 and bus #11 leave every hour from the United World College at the Spanish square in Mostar. It costs only 2.10 KM to Blagaj from where it is a pleasant walk to the dervish monastery.
Međugorje - Međugorje is about 27 km away from Mostar, and there are regular day bus lines to get there.
MUST SEE
Old Bridge Museum - it is located in the Tara tower complex and consists of three separate sections. The first, represented by the tower itself, exhibits specimens of archaeological significance discovered in 2002, during the reconstruction of the bridge, with information panels with explanations of the basic historical events with which the bridge is connected.
When you cross the five floors of this section, you go out to a beautiful lookout point at the highest point of the tower, from which the city can be viewed from all 360 degrees. The second section preserves the archeological finds that were located under the tower, the remains of two wooden bridges that preceded the stone and the foundation of the Old Bridge.
Finally, the third section called “Labyrinth” is actually a gallery of photographs dedicated to the Old Bridge, the damaged towers and their restoration. Multimedia panels with audio-visual support explain the process of rebuilding the bridge.
Franiscan Monastery - Church of St. Peter and Paul is a Roman Catholic church with a monastery in Mostar. It is located along the river Radobolja, at the foot of Hum. The church is run by the Franciscans.
Karadjoz- begs Mosque - It was built in 1557-1558. years according to the designs of the famous Ottoman architect Sinan.
Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque - It has been declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina
CAN'T MISS
- Blagaj tekija - The source of the Buna is one of the largest and certainly the most beautiful in Europe. The water erupts below 200 meters through vertical cliffs, on top of which are the ruins of the old town of Herceg. Stjepan, the last ruler of Herzegovina before the Ottoman rule, was impressed, ordering the construction of a beautiful tekke derviscia (Sufi monastery) near Vrelo Buna, which today is perhaps the most mystical place in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina .
- Medjugorje Shrine - Medjugorje is the largest tourist and pilgrimage center in Bosnia and Herzegovina and because of this it has a great diversity, which makes it the richest center in the region. Medjugorje is a Marian and world prayer center, often compared to Lourdes and Fátima. In the first 20 years Medjugorje was visited by 20 million pilgrims and every year more and more people come to testify that they have finally found peace and faith right here in the heart of Herzegovina in Medjugorje. The Blessed Virgin Mary first appeared to children, six of them, on June 24, 1981.
ASSOCIATED CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Chamber of the economy of the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Branislava Djurdjeva 10, - 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tel: +387 33/217 782, 566 300
Fax: +387 33/ 217 783
E-mail: m.velic@kfbih.com
Web: http://www.kfbih.com/
