Bosnia and Herzegovina attracts tourists with ski and sea resorts . And for many, the discovery of the presence of many natural and historical attractions. Some of them are legendary, while others surprise with their nature or form. In Bosnia, Catholic and Orthodox churches adjoin the mosques, which can cause some surprise among tourists. Equally curious are the medieval streets with ancient stone houses combined with modern buildings. Therefore, the difficulties in answering the question of what to see in Bosnia and Herzegovina you will not have. Since it can rightly be called the most paradoxical and harmonious European country.
Attractions in Sarajevo
The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo itself is a landmark. The city is called European Jerusalem. Such a comparison he deserved due to the fact that it perfectly coexists the eastern buildings of Old Sarajevo with the western buildings of the Austro-Hungarian period. The heart of the city is Pigeon Square with a fountain. It is from here that we begin to explore the sights of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sarajevo in ancient times was the intersection of trade routes, so its main square was used for trade. Today, the square of Marcala has preserved its purpose and in the bazaar with a deep history it is possible to purchase the most interesting and colorful souvenirs : national cookies "sujuk", baklava, fruit rakiyu, Bosnian wine, textiles from local craftsmen, leather shoes and much more.
| | |
Another historical place, which in a direct sense is associated with an event of world magnitude - is the Latin Bridge . It was here that a hundred years ago there was an event that caused the First World War. August 28, 1914 on this bridge was killed Archduke and his wife. This bridge was built at the end of the 18th century and has not changed its original form yet, which is even more valuable. Near the Latin Bridge there is a museum, the exhibits of which are entirely dedicated to the bridge and events related to it. Here you will see historical photographs, personal belongings of people who have anything to do with the bridge and everything that could demonstrate the role of the bridge in history.
| | |
In the vicinity of Sarajevo is the famous ski resort of Yakhorina . This picturesque place attracts not only inveterate skiers, but also connoisseurs of beauty. From October to May the slopes are covered with a meter layer of snow, so Yakharina looks fabulous.
The most interesting sight of Sarajevo , which is a local treasure, the oldest mosque in Bosnia is the Tsar's mosque dedicated to Suleiman I. The history of this temple is very unusual, since it was erected in the 15th century and immediately after the construction was completed, a fire occurred, after which it was restored almost 100 years ago . Today the mosque is open to all comers.
The main Catholic temple of Sarajevo is the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus , which is somewhat younger than other religious buildings, it was erected in 1889. The temple was built in the Neo-Gothic style on the motives of Notre-Dame de Paris, which attracts the attention of classical lovers. Inside the cathedral is decorated with stained glass windows, so you can admire the building both inside and outside.
Another mosque dedicated to the historical personality is the Ghazi Khusrev Bey Mosque . It was built in the 16th century and bears the name of patron of art, who took an active part in the development of the city, including the erection of buildings. The mosque is perfectly preserved and demonstrates the basic principles of the architecture of the Ottoman period.
| | | |
Historical places of interest
Bosnia and Herzegovina is rich in ancient sites that are of historical value, in some cases even for the whole of Europe. For example, the Old Town of Mostar , where medieval buildings are preserved. The same house is the Muslibegovitsa house museum, which acquaints tourists with the life of the Turkish family of the XIX century. All the exhibits of the museum are original objects of everyday life and historical artifacts. The city also has two old mosques that are open to visitors.
A separate historical object is the Old Bridge through Neretva . It was built by the Turks in the 16th century for defense purposes, but it is not only interesting. In 1993, the bridge was destroyed. It is worth noting the entire responsibility with which the Bosnian authorities approached the restoration of the bridge. For its restoration from the bottom of the Neretva, the medieval elements of the bridge were raised, from which it was "assembled".
Natural attractions
The most important natural landmark of Bosnia is - it is a landscape, it is almost completely covered with mountains and hills, and between them flowing picturesque rivers. One of the most beautiful rivers is Neretva. It is noteworthy that in the Middle Ages it was a favorite place of pirates. One can only guess how many battles, because of different levels of wealth, Neretva saw. And in 1943 the most important Balkan battle took place on the river, the result of which was the Wehrmacht's derailed operation. This event is so significant that it was not only printed on the pages of the textbook, but also deserved to be photographed about it. "Battle of Neretva" was filmed in 1969 and until then has the largest budget among all the cinematographic paintings of Yugoslavia.
The true Bosnia natural pride is the Sutyeska National Park , on its territory is the relic forest of Peruchitsa , Mount Maglich , Trnovach Lake and the Memorial Complex "Valley of Heroes" , which gives the reserve an ideological significance. The park offers hiking along mountain trails, as well as watching wild animals. Here pine trees grow, which are about three hundred years old.
Another reserve is located in the heart of Bosnia - Vloro-Bosne Nature Park . Founded it back in the days of the Austro-Hungarians, as a result of the military conflict it was destroyed and only in 2000 thanks to independent social organizations it was restored. The reserve tried to recreate the medieval atmosphere, offering tourists to ride a horse cart and walk along wooden bridges.
40 kilometers from the ancient city of Mostar on the river Trebizhat is the waterfall Kravice . Its height is 25 meters, and the width is about 120. It is better to admire the waterfall in spring or summer. At this time, you can spend a picnic on specially organized places for this or sit in a cafe, from which you can see Kravice.
With such a presence of historical sights, Bosnia can not do without the National Museum and there really is. It is housed in an old building, built in 1888. The National Museum stores the most valuable exhibits, collected from all over the country. The museum has several collections and each of them reveals certain pages of Bosnian history.
One of the most visited museums in the country is the private one, which was created by the Kolar family. It is presented in the form of a military tunnel, the length of which is 20 meters. This is not a sham, but a real tunnel, which, during a military conflict, saved the local inhabitants of life. When Sarajevo was besieged, the population lost the opportunity to receive food and then remembered the old military tunnels, the length of which was once 700 meters. Today an unusual museum is absolutely safe, but a walk along it is not for the faint-hearted.
In Bosnia, there is a small village Medjugorje , which is famous for the religious miracle that occurred in the twentieth century. For believers, this was a signal, and for another population, an unusual historical fact, which you can either believe in or not. More than 60 years ago, six local children saw the image of the Virgin on a hill near Mezhgorye. Rumors about this event have gone far beyond the borders of the country and today millions of pilgrims come here every year who want to visit the Hill of the Apparition .