Bosnia and Herzegovina

Overview

Best known for the Balkan conflict of the 90s, Bosnia has moved on and has a great deal to offer travellers. Beautiful countryside, a thriving arts scene, sports opportunity, and fresh open space. A beautiful gem, still unknown for many.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. North, west and south-west boundary lines divide BiH from the Republic of Croatia, and east and south boundary lines from Serbia and Monte Negro. The coastal line of Bosnia and Herzegovina lies upon the Adriatic Sea, around the town of Neum, and is about 21 km long. Bosnia and Herzegovina is administratively divided on the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (51%) and the Republika Srpska (49%). The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists 10 Cantons that further consist of the municipalities. Republika Srpska is administratively divided on regions and further on municipalities. The territory of Brčko, which was under arbitration, did not become a part of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina nor of Republika Srpska. In accordance with the decision by the Arbitrary Commission for Brčko, it became a separate district under the authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of four large geographic units. Central Bosnia (12.920 sq. km, population of 1.249.000) includes the mountainous area in the central part of Bosnia. This is the most developed part of the country that for a long time was a crossroad of various influences and interests of neighbouring Pannonian, Karst, and Mediterranean regions....more

History

Bosnia & Herzegovina is country with one of the richest history in world. It has always been a place where many cultures meet, stay unchanged, or mixing become a new culture never seen before. Bosnia & Herzegovina's cultural and historical treasure is very good kept, and gives you an opportunity to see all historical ages, from ancient history until the newest events, all over the country. A main mark of Bosnian-Herzegovinian history is that it has always been the product of many nations that have made up Bosnia & Herzegovina. Even today, Bosnia & Herzegovina has three official nations(Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats), three official languages(Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian) and three official religions (Orthodoxy, Islam and Catholicism). These are the real riches of this country and it makes it one of the most interesting but the least known of tourist destinations.   Some finds near Sarajevo prove that the territory of Bosnia & Herzegovina was populated during the Stone Age. The leap from Neanderthal man in the middle Palaeolithic, to the homosapiens of the Late Palaeolithic is signifed by the first cave drawings of that period, some of which are found in Badanj Cave near Stolac in Herzegovina. This rare sample is dated at 12 000 BC and there have been similar finds in only three other locations : Spain, France and Italy. Much of the fine pottery, arts and craft of this age are on display in the National Museum in Sarajevo.   The ancient settlement of Butmir, presently a suburb south of Sarajevo at the...more