Bosnia and Herzegovina

Introduction

Mostar, the old town

© All Rights Reserved pampeliska

The attractions of Bosnia and Herzegovina have certainly been shrouded by the brutal conflict which raged here in the early half of the nineties. But while caution should still be exercised if travelling here, the smoke of the war is slowly rising, revealing a nation whose recent history is set against a background of hundreds of years of cross-cultural heritage.

Home to Muslims, Protestants, Catholics, Jews and the Eastern Orthodox church for centuries, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a melting pot of traditions. While the various religious groups may never be able to restore complete trust in each other, violent conflict between them has thankfully subsided, paving the way for tourists to trickle back into the region.

Brief History

Bosnia has been inhabited at least since Neolithic times. In the late Bronze Age, the Neolithic population was replaced by more warlike Indo-European tribes known as the Illyres or Illyrians. Conflict between the Illyrians and Romans started in 229 BC, but Rome wouldn't complete its annexation of the region until 9 AD. In the Roman period, Latin-speaking settlers from all over the Roman empire settled among the Illyrians and Roman soldiers were encouraged to retire in the region. Christianity had already arrived in the region by the end of the 1st century, and numerous artifacts and objects from the time testify to this. Following events from the years 337 and 395 when the Empire split, Dalmatia and Pannonia were included in the Western Roman Empire. By the 6th century, Emperor Justinian had re-conquered the area for the Byzantine Empire.

Modern knowledge of the political situation in the west Balkans during the Early Middle Ages is patchy and confusing. Upon their arrival, the Slavs brought with them a tribal social structure which probably fell apart and gave way to Feudalism only with Frankish penetration into the region in the late ninth century. It was also around this time that the South Slavs were Christianized. The Ottoman conquest of Bosnia marked a new era in the country's history and introduced drastic changes in the political and cultural landscape of the region. The Ottoman era lasted from 1463 until 1878. From that year until 1918 it was part of the Austria-Hungary empire.

Following the First World War, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the South Slav kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (soon renamed Yugoslavia). Following a period that saw attempts at appeasement, the signing of the Tripartite Treaty, and a coup d'état, Yugoslavia was finally invaded by Germany on 6 April 1941. Once the kingdom of Yugoslavia was conquered by Nazi forces in World War II, all of Bosnia was ceded to the Independent State of Croatia. Starting in 1941, Yugoslav communists under the leadership of the Croatian Josip Broz Tito organized their own multi-ethnic resistance group, the Partisans, who fought against both Axis and Chetnik forces. On 25 November 1943 the Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation of Yugoslavia with Tito at its helm held a founding conference in Jajce where Bosnia and Herzegovina was reestablished as a republic within the Yugoslavian federation in its Habsburg borders. Until 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of socialist Yugoslavia.
A declaration of Bosnia and Herzegovina sovereignty in October 1991 was followed by a referendum for independence from Yugoslavia in February and March 1992 boycotted by the great majority of the Serbs. The Bosnian war that followed lasted from 1992 until 1995. During the genocide, 200,000 people were killed.
Nowadays, Bosnia and Herzegovina is still partly recovering, but is looking bravely into the future as a relatively stable nation.

Geography

Bosnia and Herzegovina shares international borders with Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro.

Regions

Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided into two primary regions: Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This division was established in 1995 as part of the Dayton peace agreement, and reflects the country's split ethnic and religious demographic. Whereas the Republika Srpska's population is primarily Serbian, Muslim/Croats are the dominant group in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There is also a third, smaller, division: the Brcko District. It is located in the northeast and is separate from both of the other main regions.

Cities

• Sarajevo - The capital
• Mostar
• Medjugorje
• Zenica
• Banja Luka
• Bihac
• Neum - The place you have to drive through on your way south to Dubrovnik
• Srebrenica
• Tuzla

Sights and Activities

Mostar Bridge

Mostar, Old Bridge

© All Rights Reserved AAY

Old Bridge (Stari Most) is the key attraction in Mostar. Built in 1566 while the area was under Ottoman rule, Stari Most was considered a symbol of the friendship between the diverse nations and ethnicities inhabiting the area. Understood in this context, it's not hard to see why its restoration after the Bosnian War was considered an important task. The bridge that is there today was built according to the original design. Mostar and its bridge are placed on the Unesco World Heritage List.

Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge

Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge is a historic bridge in Višegrad that crosses the Drina River in the eastern part of the country. The bridge was built by the Ottoman court in 1577 by the architect Sinan. It is considered one of the highest examples of Ottoman architecture and civil engineering. The bridge is 179.5 metres long with 11 arches that are 11 to 15 metres each. The bridge was damaged during both World Wars but was quickly restored afterwards. Sadly in 1992 the bridge was the location of the brutal Višegrad massacre when 1661 Bosniaks were killed by Serbian forces. Today the bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bjelašnica Mountain

Bjelašnica Mountain is in the central part of the country and is directly southwest of Sarajevo. During the summer this mountain is a popular place to go hiking while in the winter it is a popular downhill skiing mountain. The Bjelašnica Ski Area has several nice runs and a large area above the tree line, which is ideal for fans of bald peak skiing. The mountain is 2067 m (6782 ft) high and is a day trip from Sarajevo. There is a accommodation on the mountain for people thinking of spending the night.

Other Sights And Activities

• Monument to the Battle of Sutjeska - Visit this stunning monument in eastern Bosnia.
• Ramsko Lake - Take in the beauty of this mountain lake and its wonderful islands.
• Doboj Fortress - Check out this 14th century hilltop fortress in Doboj.
• Vlašić (mountain) - Is stunning mountain in the central part of the country with a good ski area.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Temperatures in summer are well above 25 degrees Celsius during the day, while winter nights can drop below -10 degrees in large parts of the country. Rain (and snow in winter) falls evenly throughout the year. June and September are good months to travel around, avoiding cold or hot weather and crowds as well.

Getting There

By Plane

Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) is located a few kilometres to the southwest of the city. There are good connections within Europe offered by B&H Airlines to Amsterdam, Belgrade, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Gothenburg, Istanbul, Stockholm, Vienna and Zürich, Austrian Airlines to Viena, Adria Airways to Ljubljana, Croatia Airlines to Zagreb, Germanwings to Cologne/Bonn, JAT Airways to Belgrade, Lufthansa to Munich, Malév Hungarian Airlines to Budapest, andTurkish Airlines to Istanbul. There are also seasonal flights to Antalya, Bodrum, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Monastir, Jeddah, Medinah (latter two both during Hajj).

There are no public transport links directly from the airport making taxis the most convenient option. Taxi fares are regulated and should adhere to the following rates: ^[2]

• Flagfall: 2 KM
• Per km: 1 KM
• Per piece of luggage: 2 KM
• Waiting time: 10 KM per hour.

The rate is increased by 30% during the night (10:00pm - 05:00am) and on Sundays and holidays.

An option to save some money is to catch a taxi to the nearby tram terminus at Ilidza and then catch a tram from there into the city.

By Train

By Car

Bosnia and Herzegovina is becoming more and more popular with travellers also visiting Croatia. It's easy to take your own car or rental car across the borders. You need an international driving permit and a green card (insurance).

By Bus

Buses link quite a few place in Bosnia and Herzegovina with neighbouring countries and further away. For the latter, check Eurolines.
Međugorje, Mostar, Sarajevo and Bihać have bus connections with Split and ]]Dubrovnik on the coast of Croatia, and Zagreb. Sarajevo and Banja Luka have services to Belgrade and Podgorica in Serbia and Montenegro respectively.

Getting Around

By Plane

B&H Airlines has flights between Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka.

By Train

Train services are limited, although Sarajevo and Mostar have decent connections. It is also one of the most stunning train trips, with great views.

By Car

The road network in Bosnia and Herzegovina is improving and almost all roads are tarred. You can rent cars at the international airports or in major towns. Traffic drives on the right and you need an international driving permit to rent a car. Note that it is advised to stick to the main routes, as the risk of mines is still present.

By Bus

Several bus companies offer services throughout the country, the main connections terminating and originating in Sarajevo. The main routes go to Banja Luka and Mostar but many other towns are served as well, by bus or minibus.

Red Tape

Citizens of the following countries don't need a visa to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and Vatican City.

For more information about visas and who needs them, check the Governmental website or go to the nearest embassy or consulate.

Money

See also: Money Matters

The Convertible Mark (ISO code: BAM) is the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to singular and plural, Bosnians and Herzegovinans use an additional paucal form (two to four units) for the currency. The singular of the currency is known locally as marka, paucal (two to four) is marke, and plural (five or more) is maraka. One Convertible Mark is divided into 100 feninga (singular: fening; paucal and plural: feninga).

Banknotes come in 50 feninga; 1 marka; 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 maraka. Coins are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 feninga, 1 marka, 2 marke, 5 maraka.

Work

Study

Language

The official languages of the country are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian.

Eat

Sleep

Drink

Health

See also: Travel Health

There are no vaccinations legally required to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It's a good thing to get your vaccinations in order before travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The general vaccination against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) is recommended. Also a hepatitis A vaccination is recommended.

If you are staying longer than 3 months or have a particular risk (travelling by bike, handling of animals, visits to caves) you might consider a rabies vaccination. Vaccination against tuberculosis as well as hepatitis B are also sometimes recommended for stays longer than 3 months. It is also recommended to have a vaccination against tick borne encephalitis when you go hiking and/or camping for 4 weeks or more in the period of March to November.

Finally, other possible health issues include diarrhea and other general travellers' diseases like motion sickness. Watch what you eat and drink and in case you get it, drink plenty of fluids (to prevent dehydration) and bring ORS.

Safety

See also: Travel Safety

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

The country calling code to Bosnia and Herzegovina is: 387
To make an international call from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the code is: 00

Post