MOSTAR
THE DIVIDED CITY
Information
Read
The name ‘Mostar’ means ‘bridge keeper’ [6].
The city was first recorded in 1474 [6].
Largest city in Hercegovina [6].
Contains the Balkans most celebrated bridge [6].
[expand title=””]
Once a key transport gateway of the Ottoman Empire [6].
Before the Yugoslav wars, Mostar was one of the most ethnically mixed towns in the federation; with 35% Bosniaks, 35% Croats, and 19% Serb [6].
Now the population is 48% Croats, 44% Bosniaks, and 4% Serb [6].
The city is divided by the Croats and Bosniaks, as the city contains 2 bus stations and 2 postal systems, one for Bosniaks and one for Croats [6].
[/expand]
On April 1992, Serbian and Montenegrin units of the Yugoslav army occupied and bombarded the town [6].
This brought the Bosniaks and Croats to rally together and seize the Yugoslav army [6].
However, on the 9th of May 1993, a conflict between the former allies erupted [6].
A de facto division of the two ethnics emerged along the Bulevar river; Croats to the west and Bosniaks to the east [6].
[expand title=””]
For 2 years, the two groups exchanged artillery fire, and by 1995 the town had look like the German city of Dresden after WWII [6].
All its bridges (including Stari most), numerous buildings, and 26 of the 27 ottoman era-mosques were destroyed [6].
After the war, 2000 people had lost their lives [6].
The town had a major international assistance to rebuild most of its old town core, yet there are a significant amount of buildings that remind the horrors of the war [6].
[/expand]
Attractions
Read
A 16th century bathhouse [6].
A 16th century UNESCO building, that was once a Harem [6].
Now it’s one of Mostar’s most interesting buildings [6].
The house contains original artifacts [6].
17th century (1618) Mosque, which was significantly rebuilt after the war [6].
You can climb the tower, which provides stunning views of the city [6].
A cemetery dedicated to the 810 Mostar Partisans who died during WWII [6].
The memorial was completed in 1965, and was designed by leading Yugoslav architect Bogdan Bogdanovic [6].
However the cemetery has been neglected and badly vandalized, with a non-functioning water feature [6].
Mostar is famously known for its famous bridge ‘Stari Most’ [6].
The translation means ‘old bridge’ [6].
This bridge is the most visited landmark in the country [6].
The town got its name from the bridge keepers who guarded the bridge [6].
They were called ‘Mostari’ [6].
[expand title=””]
The bridge was built by the Ottomans in 1557 by the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent [6].
Prior to the stone bridge, there stood a wooden suspension bridge that would terrify traders who would cautiously cross the fast flowing river [6].
On the 9th of November 1993, after 427 years, the bridge got destroyed by the Croat forces during the Yugoslav wars (footage of the explosion is on YouTube) [6].
For 11 years, after a strenuous reconstruction which used 16th century building techniques, the bridge was re-opened on the 23rd of July 2004 [6].
If you’re lucky, you may get the honor to watch daredevils plummet 20 metres into the river from the bridge, which is a tradition that dates back centuries [6].
The divers tend to only leap if they have collected 50BAM in the summer, and 100BAM in the winter [6].
[/expand]
Trips
Read
Situated on the Buna River [6].
The main attraction of the site comprise of Buna cave, a spring, and a historical Ottoman monastery [6].
Other notable amenities include restaurants and ottoman-era homesteads [6].
You can enter the Buna cave during the summer, a 5 minute boat ride pulled along a rope will get you into the cave [6].
[expand title=””]
The Turkish Monastery, Blagaj Tekke, is the signature attraction [6].
The last Sheik (leader) of the Dervish Islam religion, died in 1923 [6].
The monastery is an active worship place, it has service 3 nights a week [6].
[/expand]
GUIDE
INFORMATION
The name ‘Mostar’ means ‘bridge keeper’ [6].
The city was first recorded in 1474 [6].
Largest city in Hercegovina [6].
Contains the Balkans most celebrated bridge [6].
[expand title=””]
Once a key transport gateway of the Ottoman Empire [6].
Before the Yugoslav wars, Mostar was one of the most ethnically mixed towns in the federation; with 35% Bosniaks, 35% Croats, and 19% Serb [6].
Now the population is 48% Croats, 44% Bosniaks, and 4% Serb [6].
The city is divided by the Croats and Bosniaks, as the city contains 2 bus stations and 2 postal systems, one for Bosniaks and one for Croats [6].
[/expand]
On April 1992, Serbian and Montenegrin units of the Yugoslav army occupied and bombarded the town [6].
This brought the Bosniaks and Croats to rally together and seize the Yugoslav army [6].
However, on the 9th of May 1993, a conflict between the former allies erupted [6].
A de facto division of the two ethnics emerged along the Bulevar river; Croats to the west and Bosniaks to the east [6].
[expand title=””]
For 2 years, the two groups exchanged artillery fire, and by 1995 the town had look like the German city of Dresden after WWII [6].
All its bridges (including Stari most), numerous buildings, and 26 of the 27 ottoman era-mosques were destroyed [6].
After the war, 2000 people had lost their lives [6].
The town had a major international assistance to rebuild most of its old town core, yet there are a significant amount of buildings that remind the horrors of the war [6].
[/expand]
ATTRACTIONS
A 16th century bathhouse [6].
A 16th century UNESCO building, that was once a Harem [6].
Now it’s one of Mostar’s most interesting buildings [6].
The house contains original artifacts [6].
17th century (1618) Mosque, which was significantly rebuilt after the war [6].
You can climb the tower, which provides stunning views of the city [6].
A cemetery dedicated to the 810 Mostar Partisans who died during WWII [6].
The memorial was completed in 1965, and was designed by leading Yugoslav architect Bogdan Bogdanovic [6].
However the cemetery has been neglected and badly vandalized, with a non-functioning water feature [6].
Mostar is famously known for its famous bridge ‘Stari Most’ [6].
The translation means ‘old bridge’ [6].
This bridge is the most visited landmark in the country [6].
The town got its name from the bridge keepers who guarded the bridge [6].
They were called ‘Mostari’ [6].
[expand title=””]
The bridge was built by the Ottomans in 1557 by the orders of Suleiman the Magnificent [6].
Prior to the stone bridge, there stood a wooden suspension bridge that would terrify traders who would cautiously cross the fast flowing river [6].
On the 9th of November 1993, after 427 years, the bridge got destroyed by the Croat forces during the Yugoslav wars (footage of the explosion is on YouTube) [6].
For 11 years, after a strenuous reconstruction which used 16th century building techniques, the bridge was re-opened on the 23rd of July 2004 [6].
If you’re lucky, you may get the honor to watch daredevils plummet 20 metres into the river from the bridge, which is a tradition that dates back centuries [6].
The divers tend to only leap if they have collected 50BAM in the summer, and 100BAM in the winter [6].
[/expand]
TRIPS
Situated on the Buna River [6].
The main attraction of the site comprise of Buna cave, a spring, and a historical Ottoman monastery [6].
Other notable amenities include restaurants and ottoman-era homesteads [6].
You can enter the Buna cave during the summer, a 5 minute boat ride pulled along a rope will get you into the cave [6].
[expand title=””]
The Turkish Monastery, Blagaj Tekke, is the signature attraction [6].
The last Sheik (leader) of the Dervish Islam religion, died in 1923 [6].
The monastery is an active worship place, it has service 3 nights a week [6].
[/expand]
Mostar Experience
My experience of Mostar comprised of 2 nights. In my stay I got to explore the entire town and visit Vrelo Bune. If I could sum up the town in one word, it will be beautiful. With the nature in the background, the Neretva River splitting the town into two divisions, and the iconic bridge (Stari Most) that connects them together, it’s just stunning on the eyes. It’s probably one of my favorite places to take a photo in Europe. It’s unfortunate that the town suffered a lot from the Yugoslav Wars, as a lot of its old town architecture and mosques were destroyed. The thoughts of seeing Mostar before its prewar days would have been even more spectacular. Throughout the town, you can still see the war damage that the town experienced. A notable daytrip which can be achieved by taking the local bus is Vrelo Bune. This place was known and is still currently practicing spiritual worship. The scenery of the monastery, cave, and nature makes it another sight that is pleasing to the eyes.
[expand title=””]
Overall, if I had to choose one city to visit from Bosnia, then Mostar would be my pick, not only because it’s beautiful, but because it’s an easy fit in a travel itinerary. Mostar is in the middle of Split and Dubrovnik of Croatia, which are both outstanding towns. Thus, including all 3, would give you a pleasant Balkan experience
[/expand]
