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If God created the world anywhere, then he created it in Stolac.
-Ivo Andrić, Nobel Laureate
Traveling from Split, Croatia, we crossed the border into formerly war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina. Up first was a stop in Stolac to see the medieval stećci tombstones illustrating the town's tumultuous past. After an incredible river-side lunch, we went to the village of Blagaj, the source of the Buna River. Our final destination was Mostar, a beautifully situated town with fascinating cultural traditions. We ended our evening with and orientation walk and group dinner.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
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Stolac (Day 9)
Stolac is the oldest town in Bosnia-Herzegovina, having been inhabited for at least 16 millennia. As we toured the city, the marks of war are still visible with buildings and houses heavily scarred by shelling. Yet, the town remains incredibly green and calm where the top of the hill offers a panoramic view over the town and beautiful deep-green Bregava River.
Blagaj Tekke (Day 9)
The Tekija was built at the source of the Buna river, one of the biggest in Europe. A very high cliff stretches above the Tekija for some 240 meters. It is surrounded by unique natural gardens and vegetation, as well as distinctive fauna.
Mostar (Day 10)
Our local tour guide took us on a walk through Mostar, teaching us about the siege of the city in the 1900s. We also visited Mostar's rebuilt Old Bridge, the lively Kujundžiluk bazaar, and a traditional mosque. In the evening, we enjoyed a traditional Bosnian dinner together.
This historic house is one of the best-preserved residential buildings from the Ottoman period in the city. It was built in 1635, surrounded by a high wall. We were given a wonderful tour and a coffee experience where the history, lifestyle and culture was explained.
Koski-Mehmed Pasha Mosque (Day 10)
Built in 1618/1619, the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque represents an extraordinary piece of Ottoman architecture. During the war in Bosnia (1992-95), it was badly damaged by the Croatian military forces, but was restored from 1996-2001. The Mosque used to have an extraordinary collection of the manuscripts of the Qur'an, from which some were preserved but today they belong to other collections. The Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque represents also one of the most popular touristic destinations in Mostar.
We made our way to a Serbian Orthodox monastery, one of the most important religious and cultural centers of Herzegovina. During the Bosnian War in the 1990s, the monastery was severely damaged and looted. However, thanks to the efforts of local and international organizations, it was restored and reopened in 2001 and is considered a National Monument of Culture.
