Herzegovina – An inspiring piece of Heaven
Herzegovina is a historical and geographical region in the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina once called the Land of Hum, Zahumlje or simply Hum. It covers an area of about 10 000 km2 According to the 1991 census, Herzegovina had the population of 437 000 inhabitants.
As a natural region, it comprises of two micro-regions: lower (coastal or Adriatic) and higher (upper or highland) Herzegovina. The so called higher Herzegovina encompasses the river Neretva upper and middle basin, considerable section of the Dinaric region, mountains Velež, Volujak, Prenj, Čvrsnica and Crvanj, as well as the famous Nevesinje and Gacko karst plains. The lower or Adriatic Herzegovina stretches around the lower course of the river Neretva and the basins of rivers Bregava and Trebižat. It includes the large Popovo plain, Mostarsko plain and valley, and Trebinjsko plain.
With its sub-Mediterranean and Mediterranean climate, Herzegovina is one of those regions where Mediterranean fruit and vegetables thrive. Many people call it “California” of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Grape vine, figs, peaches, tangerines, apples, pomegranate, olives and other varieties are successfully grown here, including medicinal herbs such as sage, heather, immortelle, etc. Because of its mild climate, Herzegovina is the largest and the only producer of grapes and wine in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The sheer quantity and quality of grapes from the two autochthonous varieties, Žilavka and Blatina, which have long ago acclimated to this region, is unparalleled anywhere else. Herzegovina is the land of sun and rocks, and its glades and vales are covered with shrubs and trees such as thorn-bush, oak, ash, common rnaple, juniper and pine trees. To each passer-by this ambiance offers unforgettable scenes and atmosphere pleasing both the eyes and the soul.
As a historical region, Herzegovina offers a great number of historical sights such as the Old Town in Mostar, Počitelj, B1agaj, Mogorjelo, Radimlja, the fortress in Ljubuški, etc. Herzegovinian museums store many archaeological finds and fossils from ancient history. It is precisely because of this that Herzegovina offers to each of its guests a “walk” through time.
The capital of Herzegovina is Mostar which together with Međugorje – the famous pilgrimage site, the seaside resort Neum and other attractions make this region one of the most attractive ones in the southeast Europe.
Herzegovina is known for its rich gastronomic offer of the domestic, autochthonous products. The goal is to make gastronomic offer of Herzegovina as one of the known brand due to which tourists will gladly visit Herzegovina.
Mostar – A city which “wakes up with light for centuries”
The city of Mostar is fhe cultural, political and financial centre of Herzegovina. Already with fhe first encounter wifh this beautiful city, you will feel its diversity which makes it so special. Its charm rests in its streets interwoven with fhe spirit of many different civilizations which have dwelled here, the spirit felt in its numerous young and hospitable people and its architecture. This university centre of the region has always been and has remained fhe city of bridges and fhe city of youth. Ivo Andric, world famous Nobel Prize winner once wrote: “When you spend a night in Mostar, it is not the sound that wakes you up in the morning, but – fhe Iight”. Mostar is the city of flowers and greenery, famous for its blossorn. celebrated so many times by poets and poems, flowering sometimes as early as February and creating a strikingly beautiful and dreamy image that can offer only inspiration. Mostar has a very particular and pleasant Mediterranean climate that can be rarely found elsewhere. It lies at a distance of only 60 km from the Adriatic Sea.
In the city itself and in its vicinity there are many unice locations withhistorical and cultural treasures the most prominent beaing the Old Bridge, made stome and dating back to the Middle Ages , which joins the left and the right bank of the Herzegovinian pearl – the river Neretva. There ios some historical evidence testifying to the fact that life has continued in this region since pre-historic times. The oldest writtendocument mentioning Mostardates back to the 15th century.
Medjugorje – Place of prayer and peace
Medjugorje is a marian shrine and a world-famous pilgrimage site often times compared to Lourdes and Fatima. Some 20 million pilgrims have visited Medjugorje in the first 20 years and each year more and more people come testifying that it is precisely here, in the heart of Herzegovina, that they have finally found peace and faith The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the six children for the first time on June 24, 1981. According to the unanimous testimony of the seers, Virgin Mary conveys through them to all believers messages of peace, love, faith, fasting, prayer and promises. Each pilgrim visits the parochial Church of St. Jacob, located in the centre of fhe town, the Hill of Apparition in Bijakovići – the place where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared for the first time, the Hill of Cross where a huge cross was erected in 1993, as wel! as St. Francis’ Garden, Mother’s Village and Cenacolo Community.
Medjugorje is the largest tourist and pilgrimage site in Bosnia and Herzegovina and offers a variety of different elements making it also fhe richest centre in the region. Medjugorje is a standing witness that fhe differences in prayer may become a tremendous force which can change people and the world.
Mostar Medugorje Pilgrimage Neum at the sea Velez Mountain Region Blagaj – Buna Stolac Trebinje Konjic and Boracko Lake Jablanica Lake Region Prozor – Rama Blidinje Nature Park Kupres Livno Vjetrenica Cave Hutovo Blato Bird Reserve Ljubuski Capljina Rakitnica Canyon