Near the town of Blagaj in southwestern Bosnia-Herzegovina, an underground river flows out of a 600-foot high Karst limestone cliff to create the Buna River. In the 16th century, the Ottoman Sultan was so impressed by this site that he had a tekija (Ottoman monastery) built here. This Dervish House, as it is now known, … Read more
Pocitelj, located in the far southwest corner of Bosnia-Herzegovina, was most likely founded in 1383 by Bosnia’s King Stjepan Tvrtko I. Its hilltop fortifications and the thick stone walls evolved between the 16th and 18th centuries, survived occupation by Ottomans and absorption into the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a result, its unique mixture of medieval and … Read more
Kravice Waterfall on the Trebizat River, in the southwest corner of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The park is a popular destination for day-trippers from Mostar or even from Dubrovnik, across the border in Croatia. In addition to swimming, visitors can view the stalactites and stalagmites in caves behind the waterfalls. The site also offers cafes, picnic facilities, a … Read more
Bosnia-Herzegovina is one of those countries that raised eyebrows whenever I told someone I was headed there. Those who had no idea where it was had a vague notion that it was dangerous; those who knew the country were under the impression that it was still at war. Bosnia, as it is often called, does … Read more
Stari Most (Old Bridge in Bosnian), was built by the Ottomans in the 16th century and is considered to be one of the best examples of Islamic architecture in the Balkans. It was shelled to bits during the Bosnian War, but rebuilt to its original form after hostilities ceased. For generations, male teenagers were expected … Read more
