Mostar Travel Guide
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About Mostar
Mostar (pronounced [mǒstaːr] ) is a city and the administrative centre of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the historical capital of Herzegovina. Mostar is situated on the Neretva River and is the fifth-largest city in the country. It was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva during the Ottoman era. The Old Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most visited landmarks, and is considered an exemplary piece of Islamic architecture in the Balkans. Mostar was also the capital of the predominantly Croat proto-state known as the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War. == History == === Ancient and medieval history === Human settlements on the river Neretva, between Mount Hum and the Velež Mountain, have existed since prehistory, as witnessed by discoveries of fortified enceintes and cemeteries. Evidence of Roman occupation was discovered beneath the present town. The name Mostar was first mentioned in a document from 1474, taking its name from the bridge-keepers (mostari); this refers to the existence of a wooden bridge which was used by traders, soldiers, and others. During this time, it was also the seat of a kadiluk (district with a regional judge). Since Mostar was on the trade route between the Adriatic and the mineral-rich regions of central Bosnia, the settlement began to spread to the right bank of the river.
Mostar fun facts
- The Stari Most (Old Bridge) was so precisely engineered that when rebuilt in 2004, each stone was carved using the same 16th-century techniques.
- Local divers claim the Neretva River has an underwater current that pulls objects toward the bridge foundation - they say it's the souls of drowned lovers.
- The Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque supposedly has a minaret that cures vertigo when you climb to the top during a full moon.
- The 'authentic' Bosnian coffee served to tourists in the old town is actually Turkish coffee with local branding - locals drink it differently at home.