We bring you intriguing facts about Bosnia and Herzegovina that are sure to shift your focus to travelling to this remarkable country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a rich history told through ancient structures, food, and culture. The country has a lot to offer! Although it’s a small country located between Montenegro, the Adriatic Sea, Serbia, and Croatia, it will not disappoint but continue to fascinate you.
The country has gone through a lot over the years, starting with the Bosnian War. However, it sprang back up and now is trying to find its place among the other equally historical European countries. You may have not thought about visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, but trust us, you will!
Here’s a List of Interesting Facts about Bosnia and Herzegovina:
1. Sutjeska National Park
The national park, located along the border of Montenegro, features 3,500 acres of tropical rainforest. There are 170 tree species in the tropical rainforest, including thousands of plants and animals. The 20,000-year-old rainforest comes under the protection of UNESCO. When you’re there, you’ll also come across the Skakavac Waterfall, which is the country’s highest waterfall.
2. UNESCO Sites in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina is home to the following three famous UNESCO sites:
Mostar Bridge
Stari Most is located in the historic city of Mostar. The Mostar Bridge is one of the most visited destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Old Bridge is built on top of the Neretva River. During the Bosnian War, the bridge was destroyed. However, in 2004, the bridge was restored to its old glory.
Stari Most symbolises the rebirth of the city after the damage it sustained in the past. The bridge showcases architectural themes such as West European, Eastern Ottoman, pre-Ottoman, and Mediterranean design elements.
Additionally, it has become a famous diving sport for both locals and tourists. Mostar bridge jump has been a tradition for more than 500 years. Young men have been jumping into the water below from the bridge. The three-second freefall will leave you amazed.
Stecci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards
The Stecci Medieval Tombstones Graveyard features 28 sites, stretching across western Serbia, central and southern Croatia, western Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The cemeteries contain monumental medieval headstones and limestone stećci.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can find 22 tombstones. The headstones go back from the 12th to the 16th century and are placed next to each other in rows. You can visit the Radimlja Necropolis to see the beautifully adorned stecci.
Mehmed Pasa Sokolovic Bridge
Located in Visegrad, Mehmed Pasa Sokolović Bridge was constructed in 1577. The extraordinary bridge stretches over the Drina River. Mimar Koca Sinan, an architect appointed by the court, constructed the bridge after the Grand Vizier Mehmed Paša Sokolović ordered its construction.
The bridge features 11 uniquely-designed arches and is a beautiful reminder of the architecture during the Ottoman era. However, the bridge — although a masterpiece — has a dark history. There are some historical facts that you simply can’t ignore when talking about Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the start of the Bosnian War, the bridge was a sight of several atrocities during the Visegrad Genocide.
3. Zilavka — Country’s Most Famous Wine
Do you want to taste the best wine in the country? If you do, you need to try Zilavka. Made from white grapes, the wine has gained a loyal fanbase because of its unique taste. When you take a sip of the wine, you will taste herbal and citrusy notes.
You can pair the wine with lamb, vegetable dishes, and freshwater fish. It also tastes good with cold cuts, cheese, and seafood. Herzegovina is a wine nation with most of the wines originating from there. They use white grapes to create this wine because its deep and strong roots can withstand severe droughts and high temperatures. Is white wine not for you? In that case, you can try their red wine made from Vranac grapes.
4. Sarajevo Film Festival
Sarajevo Film Festival — have you heard about it? If you’re not a film connoisseur, the answer is most likely a no but if you are a movie buff, you may have either already visited it or plan to do in the future.
Believe it or not, the film festival is one of Europe’s largest film festivals, drawing over 100,000 people each year. The festival takes place in the summer.
So, how did this festival come about?
We’re glad you asked! After the four-year blockade of Sarajevo ended, the Obala Art Centar established the Sarajevo Film Festival in 1995. The festival aimed to help re-establish civil society and preserve the city’s cosmopolitan roots. It took decades for the film festival to gain international recognition among the audience and film professionals.
5. Interesting Facts about Bosnia: First Electric Tram in Europe
On May 1, 1895, Sarajevo made history. The city launched the first 24-hour electric tram in Europe hence effectively replacing horse-drawn trams. It ran from Sarajevo’s train station to the Latin Bridge.
The first electric tram featured two doors and had room for 24 passengers. In the trams, there was a smoker and a non-smoker compartment, and a separate compartment for men and women. Each year, the city puts the replica of Sarajevo’s first electric tram on the railway for tourists and locals.
6. Intriguing Facts about Bosnia: Sarajevo’s Role in WWI
Why was Sarajevo important in WWI? Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the next in line to the Austria-Hungarian throne, was assassinated along with his wife on Jun 28th, 1914. This incident set the stage for WWI.
In those days, Bosnia was under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Gavril Princip who was a local Bosnian-Serb student and nationalist assassinated the Archduke and his wife in the centre of Sarajevo’s Latin Bridge.
Following the events, Austria retaliated and went to war with Serbia. The rising tensions between the two countries drew other countries in with each nation taking sides. If you want to see the site that started it all, you can see a stone plaque placed on the exterior of the Sarajevo Museum. You can also cross the Latin Bridge.
7. Bruce Lee Statue in Mostar
Why is there a Bruce Lee statue in Mostar? The country has a long history of ethnic divisions, which resulted in clashes between the Bosnians, Serbs, and Croats during the Bosnian civil war. They erected the 1.68-m Bruce Lee statue in Mostar’s Zrinjevac City Park to serve as a symbol of solidarity between the different ethnicities residing in the city.
8. Sahat Kula in Sarajevo
The Sahat Kula or the Old Sarajevo Clock Tower, created in the 16th century, is a 30-m high lunar clock. It’s believed that it is the world’s only public lunar clock. The Old Clock Tower follows a lunar system with a new day starting at sunset at 12:00.
9. Interesting Facts about the Self-governing City of Brcko
Brcko, a small historic city established on the Sava River, is situated in northeastern Bosnia. After the Bosnian civil war ended, they established state and political lines. However, when it came to Brcko, they were clueless on where to place the town in Bosnia. Therefore, they decided to allow the town to function as a free, self-governing town. In all of Europe, Brcko is the only free, self-governing district. The city is worth a visit! Some of the tourist attractions you can see there include the Trg Mladih, Fontana Mladosti, Sacred Heart Church, and more.
10. Herceg Novi
The coastal town of Herceg Novi is situated in Montenegro and found at the entrance of the captivating Bay of Kotor and the base of Mount Orjen. The town wouldn’t exist without King Tvrtko I – Bosnia’s first king — who founded it during his reign from 1377 to 1391. Since the Kingdom of Bosnia ruled from 1377 to 1463, you can find the country on a 14th-century map.
Want to Know More Facts about Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- The Slavic people settled in the region in 500 to 800 AD. In 1154, they established the Banate of Bosnia, a medieval country, which lasted more than 200 years until it became the Kingdom of Bosnia in 1377.
- Bosnia originates from an Indo-European word Bosana, which means water.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina are serious coffee drinkers, placing tenth as the nation that drinks the most coffee.
There are even more surprising facts about the country: there are more than a million people who travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina each year.
From 1995 to 2000, the country had the third-highest tourism growth rate in the world according to the World Tourism Organisation.
Conclusion
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a momentous country that has journeyed through history to give us a glimpse of its past through its mesmerising sites.
Every corner of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a staunch reminder of a nation that has witnessed battles and divisions. Through it all, it has embraced unity. It continues to develop itself as a tourist destination among travellers. Although the country has seen an increase in tourism, it still has a long way to go. Visiting the quaint country will be a trip like no other!
