Short Herzegovina history:
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian geographical region, it is sometimes asserted that the borders of the region are Dalmatia to the southwest, Montenegro to the east, Mount Maglić to the northeast, and Mount Ivan to the north. The name Herzegovina means ‘land of the Herzeg’; it comes from the medieval duchy of Stjepan Vukčić Kosača, who took the title Herceg [duke].
Mostar, Konjic and Blagaj tour is the most popular tour that you can find when you’re visiting this country. It’s includes so many beautiful landmarks and amazing landscapes with unspoiled nature. Apart from Mostar, you can also visit Pocitelj, Blagaj, Konjic, Medjugorje and Kravice waterfalls. All these landmarks offers and amazing history and cultural lessons as well as enjoyment in wonderful nature.
Things to do and to see in Herzegovina region:
Kravice waterfalls:
In Herzegovina there are many beautiful and well-known natural landmarks, such as the falls of Kravica. These consist of several waterfalls near the city of Ljubuški and a popular spot for the local people. Here you can take a bath in the hot Herzegovinian weather, or just to enjoy the view. Kravica waterfall, is a large tufa cascade on the Trebižat River, in the karstic heartland of Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is 10 kilometres (6 mi) south of Ljubuški and 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of Mostar. Its height is about 25 metres (80 ft) and the radius of the lake in the base of the waterfall is 120 metres (390 ft). Kravica is a popular swimming and picnic area and, during the summer, it is frequently visited by tourists from Mostar, Medjugorje and Dubrovnik.
On our Kravice tour you can enjoy these beauties and also there is an option for a boat trip on Trebizat river.
Hutovo Blato:
Hutovo blato is a bird reserve, one of the most important in Europe. It is a gathering place for many international ornithologists. The valley along the last 30 km of the Neretva River, and the river itself, comprise a remarkable landscape. The upper valley, the 7,411 hectares in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is called Hutovo Blato. This Herzegovina tour it for the ones who love to explore more and especially it’s very famous for nature photographers.
Vjetrenica cave:
Vjetrenica cave is a cave system near the border with Croatia, in the Ravno municipality. The cave has not been explored totally yet, but it is open to visitors. More and more species are being discovered there and it is a unique ecosystem with many cave species. Vjetrenica is located in Popovo Polje which is itself located in a southernmost regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, West Herzegovina, near the Adriatic coast. Its entrance is near the village of Zavala, in west – south-western corner of Popovo Polje. In the warmer parts of the year a strong blast of cold air blows from its entrance. This is considered an attraction in the middle of the rocky, hot and waterless terrain.
Blagaj:
Blagaj is a village-town in the south-eastern region of the Mostar basin, in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This small city is also known as the origin of the Buna River, inside a cave system. Blagaj is situated at the spring of the Buna river and a historical tekke (tekija or Dervish monastery). Blagaj Tekija was built around 1520, with elements of Ottoman architecture and Mediterranean style. Tekija is considered a national monument. Blagaj Tekke is a monastery built for the Dervish cults.On our Blagaj tour you can enjoy beautiful river Buna and visit the oldest monument in our country the Dervish Tekke (House).
Mostar:
Mostar is situated on the Neretva River and is the fifth-largest city in the country. The city was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who in the medieval times guarded the Old Bridge over Neretva. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most visited landmarks. It is considered an exemplary piece of Islamic architecture in the Balkans. The oldest single arch stone bridge in Mostar, Kriva Cuprija was built in 1558 by the Ottoman architect Cejvan Kethoda. It is said that this was to be a test before the major construction of the Stari Most began.
The Old Bridge was completed in 1566. It was hailed as one of the greatest architectural achievement in the Ottoman controlled Balkans. Bridge was destroyed in 1994 during the war in Bosnia. This single-arch stone bridge that stands now is an exact replica of the original bridge that stood for over 400 years. Bridge was designed by Hajrudin, a student of the great Ottoman architect Sinan. It spans 28.7 metres (94 feet) of the Neretva river, 21 metres (69 feet) above the summer water level. The Halebija and Tara towers have always housed the guardians of the bridge. During Ottoman times towers were also used as storehouses for ammunition.
Neum:
Neum at the Adriatic Sea, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s only coastal town, is also a popular tourist attraction. As the only coastal resort in the entire country, visit to Neum would be complete without taking a cruise or boat trip. The water here is so enticing that you will most likely have a hard time staying in the boat. You will surely option to dive into the inviting waters instead. During the summer you can either join a cruise of the coast or rent your own boat.
Medjugorje:
The name Medjugorje literally means “between mountains”. At an altitude of 200 m (660 ft) above sea level it has a mild Mediterranean climate. The town consists of an ethnically homogeneous Croat population of 2,306. The Roman Catholic parish (local administrative and religious area) consists of five neighbouring villages: Medjugorje, Bijakovići, Vionica, Miletina and Šurmanci. Medjugorje has one of the most visited sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina, receiving more than one million visitors each year.
Statue of Virgin Mary at Podbrdo, place of apparition
Since 1981, when six local children had visions of Virgin Mary, Medjugorje has become an destination of Catholic pilgrimage. “Most Blessed Virgin Mary”, “Queen of Peace” and “Mother of God” are words the apparition has allegedly introduced herself with. The visionary Marija Lunetti claims to receive messages from the Virgin Mary on the twenty-fifth of every month. The other visionary, Mirjana Soldo, reports receiving messages on the second of the month. The messages attributed to Our Lady of Medjugorje have a strong following among Catholics worldwide. Medjugorje has become one of the most popular pilgrimage sites for Catholics in the world. This small town turned into Europe’s third most important apparition site, where each year more than 1 million people visit. It has been estimated that 30 million pilgrims have come to Medjugorje since the reputed apparitions began in 1981.
In Herzegovina you can also taste:
Award winning olive oil
You might not associate Bosnia and Herzegovina with the production of olive oil. But there are in fact many award-winning olive growers in the region. Some of these local producers have been so successful in their home country that they now travel and attend other country fairs and competitions where they take top winning places.
Livno cheese
The Livno cheese is a cheese first produced in the 19th century in the area of Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is made on the basis of French technology of making the Gruyère cheese. Originally, it was made from sheep’s milk. Nowadays it is mainly made from a mixture of sheep’s and cow’s milk. Its maturation period is between 60 and 66 days in a controlled environment. The flavor is robust, and in more aged cheeses the taste is slightly tangy. The largest producers are Mljekara Livno and Lura Dairy d.o.o. Livno, with a yearly production exceeding 500 metric tons. While you are in Herzegovina, don’t miss the opportunity to try Livno cheese. It is considered as one of the best cheese in the whole country.
The best wine is in Trebinje:
During the summer, Herzegovinian climate provides intense sunlight and hot summer days. This climate give the ideal conditions for wine grape growth. Whereas winters are harsh and wet with northern bora wind during most of the winter days. Herzegovina is one of the world’s most productive regions in terms of wine. Famous for its white wine Zilavka and red wine Vranac.
Zilavka (white wine)
It is not easy to discover the origin of this wine’s name. It is said to refer to the thin fibers visible on the grapes in the period of full maturity. What is certain is that the word Žilavka is often preceded by the attribute “Herzegovina”. This is done to put an emphasis on the territory where this special and old variety of grapes is grown. The hard ground is also associated with the origin of its name, which means “tough”.
Vranac (Red wine)
Trebinje and south Herzegovina was introduced to grapevine variety during the era of Austro-Hungarian Empire. The origin of its name clearly indicates the characteristics of the wine. The word “vran” means black and is used in the South Slavic languages to indicate red wine. The name “Vranac” which means “black horse” was deliberately given to this wine to indicate the red grapes. But above all the name was given to highlight the strength, the power and intensity of this wine. Also flavor of this wine is hard to classify. Most known wineries are in Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina. There’s no family business like the wine business in Trebinje.