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The top 10 most popular tourist attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina
16 July 2023
travel
matthieu
Speaking of Bosnia and Herzegovina, maybe you are strange about it. But do you feel more familiar when we mention Sarajevo? Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the Balkans, bordering Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to the west and north. There are three main ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bosnian who mainly believe in Islam, the Croats who believe in Catholicism, and the Serbs who believe in Orthodox Christianity. It has been the place where different races, traditions and cultures have merged for centuries. It has a profound historical sediment and cultural heritage, and it retains the scars and remains of the heartbreaking war of the 1990s in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here is the list of top 10 most popular tourist attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
1. Mostar Bridge
The Mostar Bridge is a 16th-century bridge in Mostar and cross the Neretva River. The bridge stood for 427 years and it was destroyed 427 years later during the Bosnian War on November 9, 1993. It was then rebuilt and reopened in 2004. It is a symbol of peace and national reconciliation. The human war witnessed by the ancient bridge is indeed embarrassing. What the faith brings is not peace and goodness but separation and opposition.
The bridge is arched with width of 4 meters and length of 29 meters. There is a stone bridgehead at each end of the bridge. The bridge arch is constructed of local stone. The large amount of irregular deformation of the inner arc of the arch results in the shape of the current arch. The abutment of the bridge is made of limestone and connects to the wing wall on the edge of the water’s cliff.
Before the outbreak of the war, it was an annual event that the boys danced to the majestic when they dive on the bridge. They competed with each other to win the favor of the girls. In 2004, nine young men jumped together from the bridge to celebrate the reopening of the bridge.
2. Latin Bridge
Now the peace and calm of the city is exchanged by the blood. Please follow the tour guide and listen to the story if you aren’t familiar with the history. The Latin Bridge was originally a wooden bridge built in 1541 and was later destroyed by the flood. The current bridge was built in 1798. On June 28, 1914, the Serbian nationalist Principe assassinated the couple of the Austrian-Hungarian Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand, which led to the First World War. Now the corners of the bridge are full of pictures and documents. A stone tablet is engraved: “On June 28, 1914, Principe assassinated the Crown Prince of Ferdinand and his wife.” There’s a museum of The World War I across the bridge, which stores some historical materials including a detailed description of the assassination event.
3. Bascarsija
The old city, also known as the Old City of Turkey, is full of Turkish Islamic style because it was built by the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century. The old city retains its appearance of 500 years ago. The old city is like a labyrinth consisting of small streets and alleys, which is very lively. Don’t hesitate to go to those small stores and see how the craftsmen turn ordinary metal plates into sparkling vessels. The cobblestones on the pavement have been very smooth stepped by the pedestrians, and the streets are crisscross. It’s the soul of Sarajevo behind all the vanities. If you have watched the movie “Walter Defend Sarajevo”, you can find many movie scenes of this movie, such as the clock tower, the blacksmith’s street, the mosque and its green dome, etc.，which make you have a great experience!
4. Mostar Old Town
The Mostar Old Town is a deep valley across the Neretva River. It was first recorded in 1442. There are many Turkish-style buildings and old bridges in the city. There are stone arch bridges, prisons, umbrella factories, restaurants and other monuments. The valley is always beautiful whether looking from east or west. The river is clear and green and the ancient city is guileless. There is a martyrs cemetery in the distance where more than 600 soldiers buried for the independence of the motherland.
The Old City is a representative of the perfect blend of multiculturalism. The turquoise Neretva River divides the Old City into two, one side is a Muslim community, and the other is a Christian community. People of different faiths have exchanges. frequently. The grounds of the streets of the old city are all paved with cobblestones. On both sides of the road are row upon row of coffee shops, bars and restaurants. All kinds of handicraft products are mainly made of copper. There are Turkish-style tea sets, decorative paintings created with the background of the old bridge and various gold and silver jewelry etc., which are dazzling.
5. Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
The Gazi Husrev-Beg Mosque is a mosque built by Gazi Husrev-Berg in 1531. It is a beautiful Ottoman building. During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the mosque as the symbol of the Bosnians became the target of attack. It was greatly damaged during the siege of Sarajevo. The restoration work began in 1996 after the end of the war. However, most of the repair funds at that time were from Saudi Arabia and were affected by the Wahhabi faction. The restored mosque was stripped of color and decorative elements and changed to a white-based building. A complete restoration work began in order to return the mosque to the pre-war situation in 2000. It is now the largest and most important historical building in the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Islamic religious center. There are mausoleums in the temple, and many great figures in the history of Bosnia have been sleeping here.
6. Old Town Hall
The triangular building is a mixture of Islam and Austro-Hungarian style. The City Hall was built during the period of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was changed to the National Library during World War I. During the Bosnian War, the City Hall encountered arson by Serbs on the night of August 25, 1992, and more than 90% of the library collections were burned. With the assistance of the European Union, reconstruction began in 1996 and it was reopened on May 9, 2014. The interior is extremely beautiful with Turkish-style fresh painting combined with Roman arched columns. The second and third floors are for displaying, and the basement level introduces the history of the construction, the process of bombing and reconstruction of the city hall and the history of Savajevo.
7. Sacred Heart Cathedral
The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a Catholic church in Sarajevo and the largest church in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This church is the cathedral of the main parish of the Catholic Church of Sarajevo. The ‘red rose’ at the door of the church is shocking. Its interior is elegant with fascinating colorful glass windows and a huge organ.
8. Yellow Fortress
In the old city of Sarajevo, there were five castles in the city defense system. The Yellow Fort built in 1729 was one of them. Because the stone used was yellow, it was named ‘Yellow Fortress’ and it was irregular octagon. It was repaired twice in 1883 and 1903 and currently is as the park. It’s the best place to overlook the city at sunset. There is a coffee shop on the hill where you can have a seat with a cup of coffee and look at the beautiful sunset. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the artillery on the yellow fortress is released on time every day at sunset for reminding people that the fasting is over and it’s time to diner.
9. Blagaj tekija
The Blagaj tekija is located at the south of Mostar, surrounded by mountains and the beautiful Neretva River flows. The mosque was built by the Islamic mystical groups in the Ottoman Empire. It has been a holy place of Islam in the Mostar region over the years. The most beautiful scenery is on the way to see this mosque. Walking along the path into the village, you can hear the sound of the flowing water all the way. The river is clear and clean, and the naturally formed little dams of various shapes make the river splash white water.
10. Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Sarajevo
The Serbian Orthodox Cathedral is one of the largest churches in the Balkans. The church is dedicated to the birth of the Virgin. The murals in the church were shocking. There were at least hundreds of portraits of gods or bishops on the front wall staring at you with high gaze. If you are lucky enough to meet with prayer, the thorough voice of the clergy reverberates in the dome, which washes our soul.
