Bosnia and Herzegovina

Before visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, I had a scarred, gloomy and sad capital city in my mind - Sarajevo. However, it turned out completely different from what I had thought it would be: modern city center, skyscrapers, a charming Ottoman style old market and the districts of different architectural styles - all mixed up but kept in order at the same time.

Sarajevo was clean, beautifully located in a green valley surrounded by the rolling hills. It's quite a nice place to see for the weekend, it's definitely off the beaten path and unique...

...but not as unique and spectacular as Mostar and Blagaj - those towns look as if they were taken straight from a Disney film or a beautiful fairy tale. Nearly completely destroyed during the war in Yugoslavia, now perfectly restored and getting quite popular with tourists - so hurry up before they lose their authenticity like so many other European towns.

More on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the articles below:

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Mostar and Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Living Fairy Tale

Mostar is a really living fairy tale town. The stone bridge, the cosy houses and the unreal, green river will transport you to a different, fantasy world. Mostar is very easy to get to, not so expensive and still considered off the beaten path. However, due to its tiny size, during the peak season, you may find it hard to believe as there are so many crowds everyhwere that it's difficult to squeeze through while walking down the narrow, little streets.

It's unbelievable that this unique, one of a kind place was almost completely destroyed by the devastating war as recently as 30 years ago. You won't find many traces of it in the old town area, however. It’s been perfectly restored but it’s a bit sad to realize that the amazing bridge is rebuilt, not original. There are still a few bullet holes in some of the walls that are silent witnesses of those tragic events. Nevertheless, nowadays, the overall atmosphere is idyllic and Mostar is extremely picturesque. If you didn’t hear about the war, after visiting Mostar, you wouldn't even notice that it actually happened. It’s perfectly safe and it's one of those many amazingly charming towns you must see in the Balkans.

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina - A City At The Crossroad of Civilizations

Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is probably one of the least known and visited European capitals. It's not big, populated by less than half a million people. However, the history of Sarajevo is so rich, complex and turbulent that even if the city had given half of its past away to some of the world's greatest metropolises, it would still be enormously interesting for a foreign visitor. Strolling down the streets of the old town, you'll get the impression that it was glued together from pieces that came from all parts of Europe and the Middle East: at one corner, you'll think you're in Prague admiring Christian churches and a street later when you notice oriental stalls, bazaars and Ottoman Mosques, you'll feel as if you were transported to Istanbul.