On Fortica hill there is a mountain lodge with a lookout point that offers food and drink and adrenaline activities: zipline, large swing, via ferrata, climbing, jeep safari, etc.
Park Fortica
The initiative for the development of the SPORTS-ADVENTURE PARK "FORTICA" was launched at the beginning of 2016, when 8 benches were built with the support of the HNK Tourist Board.
In the wider area of Podvelež, vertical cycling signage has been installed, marking mountain biking trails and maps with more than 200 km of trails in the entire Velež mountain area.
At the Fortica location, a very attractive downhill cycling track has been marked, where a competition was held in 2012 with competitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Also in 2016, an XC race was held as part of the ŠKODA League in mountain biking.
In addition to the mountain biking potential, the site of Fortice also has a rock climbing area with 13 directions leading to a bunker on top of the hill called "Stolac". In addition to the mentioned sports activities, the locality of Fortica is also popular because of the beautiful view of the city of Mostar and the local mountains, and the remains of military fortifications from the First and Second World Wars can also be found in this place.
At the beginning of 2018, a pole with the national flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina was erected at Fortica. In the same year, the longest ZIP LINE in Bosnia and Herzegovina was opened, which attracts a large number of visitors and is the main attraction of this park.
History
Although it is not an official name, Fortica is the established name for the hill above Mostar through which the local road to Podveležje leads, and most likely comes from the Italian word fortezza = fort, according to the Austro-Hungarian and Italian forts on it. .
Fortica hill has always been a haven for many locals who go out to its slopes in the summer heat to enjoy the view of its city. In addition, Fortica is also a place where the people of Mostar paid and paid due attention and love to certain people and events that marked the city on the Neretva in the past hundred years.
Thus, at the time when Austria-Hungary ruled this region, the name of Emperor Francis Joseph I was on the very top. At the beginning of the seventies of the last century, young people from the Mostar settlement of Carina came up with the idea of expressing their love for Josip Broz Tito at Fortica. It was, as far as is known, the first case in Yugoslavia of expressing love and respect for the president of the SFRY. The symbol of the "Relay of Youth" is made of stones and "TITO" is written next to it.
When Josip Broz Tito died on May 4, 1980, the young people of Mostar once again expressed their love for him under the name Tito with the inscription "WE LOVE YOU", which was synonymous with the old Yugoslavia. The letters were 10 feet high and 8 feet wide. That name stood until the last war. Then, at Fortica, the stone started rolling again. They left "MI TE VOLIMO", and the name "TITO" was changed to "BiH".
For the last twenty years, the name "BIH VOLIMO TE" has been written on this hill, with the subsequently created symbol of the Old Bridge. This inscription was written by the youth of the city, thus expressing their loyalty and love for their homeland - Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During the First and Second World Wars, a large number of military forts and bunkers were built on this site, the remains of which have been preserved, and it is particularly interesting that the Italian soldiers built a cable car to transport food and ammunition from the city.
Mountain lodge
The Association's mountain lodge is located in a former Italian bunker from the Second World War, which has been restored and is today the central part of the Fortica park and also the starting point for all the activities the park offers.
The mountain lodge has 12 beds, and in addition to accommodation, the house also provides catering services for traditional meals and drinks for all visitors.
Would you like to experience the Zip Line Fortica first hand, enjoy the stunning architecture, picturesque views of the Neretva River and learn all about its rich history? Contact our partners - ERO Travel Tour Agency.
ERO Traveand teamrofessionals will create a trip according to your preferences.
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