Old Bridge in Mostar

Mostar is the chief city and, historically, the capital of Herzegovina. It is situated in mountainous country along the Neretva River and lies on the Sarajevo-Ploče rail line.

First mentioned in 1452, Mostar became a Turkish garrison town in the 16th century.

In 1566 the Turks replaced the town’s wooden suspension bridge over the Neretva with a stone arch one, whence the name Mostar (from Serbo-Croatian most, “bridge”).

This stone bridge had a single arch 90 feet (27 metres) wide and was a masterpiece of Ottoman engineering. In November 1993, during the Bosnian civil war, the bridge was destroyed by artillery fire from Bosnian Croat forces.

A major rebuilding project was undertaken to restore the bridge and nearby buildings that had also been damaged; the bridge reopened in 2004. The bridge and the surrounding area were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2005.

The town served as a centre for crafts and trade, and its reconstructed coppersmith’s bazaar is a tourist attraction.

The region is noted for its quality wines (žilovka and blatina), tobacco, fruit, and vegetables.