Bosnia & Herzegovina sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a very old country with rich history and heritage. Many cultures have shaped the country, and every epoch has left its mark. Sarajevo is one of the oldest cities of the country. This is the capital and the largest cultural centre of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Travellers are traditionally interested in visiting the eastern part of the city as there are many architecture landmarks there. The main sights include Sacred Heart Cathedral, City Hall, Saint Josef’s Church, Old Synagogue and Old Orthodox Church. One interesting fact about Sarajevo – Christian churches border with Islamic mosques on the streets of the city.

For active traveler - national parks, landscapes and nature of Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bosnians are very serious about preserving wildlife, so there are many parks and protected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bijambare Nature Park …
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Many sanctuaries of the city were constructed in the 15th – 17th centuries and have survived till our days in almost pristine condition. The most famous mosques of Sarajevo are Emperor’s Mosque, Ali Pasha’s Mosque and Ferhadija Mosque. There are around one hundred mosques in the city in total, and many of them keep collections of ancient manuscripts and religious artefacts. Ferhadija is not only the name of the mosque, but also of a large pedestrian street. This is a favourite place for tourists as many souvenir and craft shops, as well as a big market, are located there.

Mostar is an unofficial capital of the country. The city is rich in places of interest; there are many old churches and historic buildings there. However, Stari Most (Old Bridge) remains the signature landmark of Mostar. The building of the bridge took place in 1566 under command of famous architect Mimar Hayruddin. The bridge is 20m high and is considered one of most famous constructions of its era. The bridge was severely damaged during the war with Croatia. Besides the Old Bridge, several hundred churches were destroyed in that war, so now only ruins remind of once magnificent sanctuaries. Tabacica Mosque is another famous landmark of Mostar. The mosque dates back to 1600. It was also damaged and later reconstructed precisely by local architects and builders. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Unique sights of Bosnia & Herzegovina from our series 'Extreme places on Earth'

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Banja Luka is a prominent city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a famous balneology resort and one of best recreation areas in Europe. There are several dozen healing springs in the city. As a rule, resorts and treatment centres were built near these springs. Baja Luka is also a city of rich heritage and can be proud of its beautiful parks and interesting museums.

History and Entertainment

In the prehistoric period, the territory of the modern country was populated by Illyrian tribes. In the 4th century BC, they were conquered by Celts. Later, the old country was under the Ancient Rome and then became a part of Byzantium in the 6th century. The first Bosnian country was formed at the turn of the 10th - 11th centuries but then lost its independence. The 16th century was marked by the Turkish reign, during which a lot of new big cities were established.

Top architectural sights of Bosnia & Herzegovina

Monuments and architectural objects, notable for the history and culture of the country. …
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In the Middle Ages, Bosnia was a large trade and artisanal center. For hundreds of years, local feudal lords had been fighting with Turkey against new reforms and defending their independence. To weaken an influence of the opposition, Turkey decided to separate a part of the country. In 1833, Herzegovina was separated. When the Ottoman Empire fell, the empire of Bosnia and Herzegovina was under Austria-Hungary. After the end of the Second World War, the country became a part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Bosnia became independent only after the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1992.

At present, the beautiful country with a rich past attracts travelers with its unique historical attractions and top-rated ski and wellness resorts. The most famous thermal resort is Banja Luka. The first thermal centers were constructed here in the times of the Roman Empire’s reign. The city is notable for its unique sulphurous springs, on the basis of which modern thermal centers are created. They perfectly suit family recreation and are popular not only with tourists, but also local residents.

National cuisine of Bosnia & Herzegovina - specialties, recipes and restaurants

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country of cultural diversity. This can not but be reflected in the national cuisine, which combines the influence of …
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The most popular ski resorts are located in the surroundings of Sarajevo. Most of the sports facilities were built in 1984 for the Olympic Games. Now, the resorts are distinguished by a perfect sports and entertainment infrastructure. Absolutely all of them are suitable for family recreation. It is important to note that these resorts are not desert in summer. They are notable for their natural beauties and proper conditions for paragliding. In summer, vacationers have a wide choice of hiking routes, during which you can visit the most beautiful mountainous districts.

This article about iconic landmarks and sights of Bosnia & Herzegovina is protected by the copyright law. You can re-use the content, but only under the condition of placement of an active link to www.orangesmile.com.

Bosnia & Herzegovina guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Bosnia & Herzegovina

Reference information

Map of all parks

National and city parks of Bosnia & Herzegovina
♥ National Park 'Sutjeska' . On the map Show on the map

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Map of all castles

Castles of Bosnia & Herzegovina
♥ Castle 'Bočac Fortress' Bočac. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Bužim Castle' Bužim. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Fazlagić Tower' Gacko. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Fortress of Doboj' Doboj. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Glamoč Fortress' Glamoč. On the map Show on the map

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Famous and uniques places in Bosnia & Herzegovina from our review series

Monument to Battle of Kozar

From the series “The most famous buildings of communism”

The unusual monument became known to the world thanks to the unique work of the famous Belgian photographer Jan Kempenars. This monument was erected in memory of the Battle of Kozara. The Battle of Kozara was one of the bloodiest for Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Second World War. German troops managed to destroy about 1,700 partisans during this battle. Almost the same number of them were sent to concentration camps. The competition for the design of this monument, which is symbolic for the country, was announced in 1969. Architect Dusan Dzamonja became its winner.

The construction of the unusual monument was fully completed in 1972. It has a non-standard cylindrical shape. Vertical segments form the structure of the monument. They are made of steel. Such a structure has a very … Read all

Livno Town

From the series “Small Flamboyant Towns Painted with Van Gogh Colors”

In Bosnia and Herzegovina there is the ancient town of Livno. The first settlement there was founded by the Dalmatians more than 4 000 years ago. Subsequently, these places were inhabited by the Romans. Today, the town is the centre of the eponymous community. The population is more than 10 000 people. The first mention of Livno dates back to the end of the 9th century. The town reached its heyday during the Ottoman rule.

During that period, the most magnificent palaces were built in the town. Now you can see several surviving mosques and other historical monuments. The town is very convenient to explore on foot. It has both the modern area with numerous shops and restaurants, and a picturesque historic district, which became a favorite place for tourists to walk. The city has modern … Read all

Lukomir Village

From the series “The Most Cozy Towns Full of Zen”

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the enchanting mountain area, there is the amazing village of Lukomir. Only a few travelers know about its existence. This village is securely hidden from prying eyes among insurmountable Dinaric Alps. It is the most isolated village that is far remote from major cities of the country. The ambience at the countryside remained unchanged for hundreds of years. A trip there becomes a real journey into the medieval Europe for many travelers.

You can see the old stone houses of local residents in the village. Numerous amazing attractions are situated in the nearest vicinity. Here you can walk through the picturesque mountain areas, see centuries-old forests, and admire the rapid waterfalls. The way of life in a village is very special. Its residents deliberately … Read all

All unique sightseeing Bosnia & Herzegovina

Sightseeing in popular cities of Bosnia & Herzegovina

Mostar

In the early Middle Ages, the territory of modern Mostar was a part of the Zahum province. Over the centuries, the territory changed owners several times. In different years, the Nemanjić dynasty, Bosnians, and Zahum princes reigned here. In the mid-15th century, two towers appeared on the different banks of the Neretva River. The fortification on the right bank became famous as Cim, and Nebojsa was the name of the fortification on the opposite bank. This is when the town of Mostar appeared. … Read more

Sarajevo

One of the magnificent old palaces houses the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded in 1945. The museum exposition includes over 300000 unique pieces concerning the most diverse aspects of the country's history and culture. Visitors can enjoy collections of old books, works of art, photographs and documents, as well as exhibits dedicated to wartime difficult for the country. An old brewery, founded in 1864, remained in Sarajevo. Now, it is one of the important sightseeing … Read more

Jajce

The earliest mention of Jajce dates back to 1396. Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić, a Grand Duke of Bosnia, was the founder of the settlement. Historians do not know the exact year when Jajce was founded but they agree that this event happened between 1391 and 1404. There was an ancient tower on the site of the modern settlement. This is where the duke decided to build a fortress. In the first half of the 15th century, Tvrtko II was the ruler in the kingdom, and Stephen Tomašević or Stephen II … Read more

Pocitelj

The first mentions of Pocitelj date back to 1444, the time when King Alfonso V was the ruler. Initially, the village was a part of the nearby Župa Dubrava. In the second part of the 15th century, people started building protective facilities in order to save the settlement from the Ottomans. There was a military garrison in Pocitelj for eight years starting from 1463. The army was successful in countering the attacks of the Turks for five years, but the fortress town eventually had to … Read more

Banja Luka

For those fond of interesting museums, Museum of Modern Art it is definitely worth a visit. It was opened in 2004, the museum is housed in a renovated old train station building. Today, the foundation of the museum collection consists of paintings of famous Yugoslav artists of the second half of the 20th century, also in the museum temporary exhibitions of famous contemporary artists and photographers are often held. In addition to paintings, the museum has a rich collection of sculptures … Read more

Bosnia & Herzegovina sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

History and Entertainment

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Bosnia & Herzegovina

Famous and uniques places in Bosnia & Herzegovina from our review series

Monument to Battle of Kozar

Livno Town

Lukomir Village

Sightseeing in popular cities of Bosnia & Herzegovina

Map of travel guides to Bosnia & Herzegovina cities