Meet Mostar

Mostar is the administrative centre of Herzegovina and its largest city. It has always had a reputation as a nice place for living because of its mild and favourable climate, with over 230 sunny days a year and winds that make the air in town so intoxicating.

Because of its history, Mostar has two parts: an ancient, Old Town, which dates from the beginning of the 16th century, and the modern part of town from the half of the 20th century. No matter from which direction you come into the city, you will be welcomed with traces of mixing cultures and civilizations, so you will see within a hundred meters the mosque and the Catholic church and place of the new synagogue. In some ways Mostar is crossroads of the Mediterranean towards the interior of the continent.

Whether you go on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje or visiting Dervish Tekke in Blagaj, Mostar will be a part of your time. Since there is less than an hour’s drive from the Adriatic coast and just two hours by car  to the capital, Sarajevo. Mostar is an ideal place for a holiday.

The town is open for tourists throughout the year. During the summer part of the season, the city offers a multitude of locations, one of which is certainly the largest and most famous Old Bridge, that was originally built in 1566 and completely renovated in 2004. The core of the Old City, including the bridge, was declared a protected area by UNESCO because of its importance and beauty. For all these reasons, almost all travel agencies necessarily put Mostar to their destinations. Come and see why so many tourists are visiting Mostar.

What to see in Mostar

Old Bridge

Old Bridge in Mostar is a symbol of the city of Mostar. Old Bridge was built back in 1566. It’s one arch construction that bonds the left and right bank of the Neretva River. From Old Bridge are held high jumps in July each year. Mostar was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 2005. With arriving at the Old Bridge you will enjoy a memorable view of the Neretva River and the surrounding antiquities.

The Old Bazaar

The Old Bridge is the main character in the story of the whole neighbourhood.  The Old Bazaar represents a suggestive section of architecture and is presented in the liveliness of the shops, small restaurants (where you can enjoy in excellent traditional cuisine) and crowded coffee shops.

Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque

This mosque was built at the beginning of the seventeenth century by Mehmed-Pasha. From the minaret that is only a few meters from the river Neretva, is possible to enjoy in the beautiful panorama of the city.

Biscevic House

From preserved residential house from the Ottoman period in Mostar is the most important Biscevic house known as Biscevic corner or Turkish house. This old Ottoman house was built in the 17th century. Corner is protruding over the Neretva on two very high and boldly set of stone stairs, this house is composed as the most daring act of residential architecture from the Ottoman period in Mostar.

Karadjoz-Bey Mosque

Karadjoz-Bey mosque is the largest preserved Mostar mosque. It was built in 1557. The mosque suffered considerable damage in the last war.

The Crooked Bridge (Kriva Cuprija)

At the Radobolja River, near its delta in Neretva near the Old Bridge, is the Crooked Bridge of Kriva Cuprija, a miniature version of the Old Bridge. It was built in 1558, eight years before the Old Bridge.  The bridge was destroyed in a flood in 2001 and recently renovated. According to some legends the Old Bridge was built on the model of the small bridge.

Bishop’s Residence

The new Bishop’s residence is situated in the west part of the city, at Balinovac, between the former Bishop’s residence and the Cathedral. It was built in 1906. The building was designed in the spirit of the renaissance revival – historical style in architecture at the transition between the 19th and the 20th century on the broader area of Austro-Hungaria.

Franciscan Monastery

Franciscan monastery was built 1866 years. The church was damaged in the war of 1992, and in 2000, at the same place was built a new church of greater dimensions. This complex boasts a library with 50,000 ancient writings, and is the largest, with such characteristics, in Herzegovina. In the monastery is also an important collection of paintings by Italian masters of the XVI and XVII century and the exhibits from more recent times.

Spanish Square

At the Spanish Square is the building of the Old Gymnasium built in 1898 in pseudo-Moorish style.

Rondo – „Herceg Stjepan Kosaca“

Rondo was built in Austro-Hungarian times and from the circuit continues 6 alleys. There is a Croatian centre „Herceg Stjepan Kosaca”, where maintained most of cultural events in the city.

Synagogue

Synagogue was built in 1889, during the World War II was partially destroyed, and in 1952, Jewish Community Mostar gives synagogue to the city of Mostar. Since then, the area of synagogue is Puppet Theatre.

Cim – Archaeological Site

The remains of an early Christian basilica in Cim represent the most significant archaeological site from the early Christian period.

Monastery in Zitomislici

The Orthodox monastery was built in 1566 and is one of the most important Herzegovina Orthodox monasteries from the 16th century and dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. It is located south of Mostar on the road Mostar – Capljina.

Blagaj

The source of Buna is one of the largest and most beautiful in Europe. Water flows out of the 200 meters vertical cliffs and on the topped by the ruins of the Old Town of Herceg Stjepan Kosaca, the last ruler of Herzegovina, before the Ottoman rule. Seeing that amount of water which by itself constitutes the river, probably the Ottoman sultan was impressed, and ordered that to the source of the Buna build a beautiful Dervish House. The Dervish Tekke represents the most mystical places in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina today. This house was built in the 16th century for the Dervish with the beautiful courtyard which overlooking on the source of the Buna.

What to do in Mostar

Cycling

You have two bike parks around Mostar

Bike Park Prenj consists of 360km of forest and gravel roads which have been mapped and marked on the Prenj Mountain, and which are primarily intended for mountain biking but also for other recreational purposes.

Bike Park Velez consists of 200km of forest and gravel roads which have been mapped and marked on the Velez Mountain, and which are primarily intended for mountain biking but also for other recreational purposes.

At five main “entrance” points, info panels have been placed showing the map of the entire area as well as other useful information.

Use only marked trails with the help of the small maps or GPS units.

Hiking

Popular mountains for hiking around Mostar are certainly Velez, Prenj and Cvrsnica. Since Mountaineering Association has been active for many years in Mostar and the trails are marked. Your mission is to be in good shape and walk in safe marked trails.

Paragliding

Paragliding is a sport that fulfils ancient human desire to be soaring like a bird… If you want to explore sky over Mostar you can send a request for a tandem flight on e-mail address tandem.letovi@gmail.com

Rafting on the Neretva River

Rafting, wheeling on a raft, for centuries has characterized the life of the people along the river. In modern conditions of life, this is almost forgotten tradition revived in a new way. Ancient wooden rafts replace modern inflatable boats, and rivers instead of passengers navigating adventurers. Rafting on the Neretva River is a special experience.

Gastronomy

The gastronomic offer of the city of Mostar is rich. With traditional Herzegovina dishes you can experience the excellent taste and drink the best wines from Herzegovina. Roast lamb and grilled dishes, using always fresh meat, as well as old recipes of our grandmothers will take you on a journey into Herzegovina’s past. The offer also includes the preparation of fish and fish dishes, which include the preparation of sea fish and seafood. Herzegovinian cuisine becomes a blend of traditional and Mediterranean cuisine that is a feast for your taste buds.

Wine Roads

Herzegovina boasts a long tradition of winegrowing and a large selection of quality local wines.

You can visit the wine roads, which are abundant on the way from Mostar to Medjugorje and visit many wine cellars where you can taste smoked ham, bacon and cheese with a glass of homemade brandy or wine.

These are just some of the things you can experience in Mostar and Herzegovina, of course, that the offer is much more diverse, especially in the summer months.