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Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Things to see and do in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Banja Luka

The country's second largest city and administrative capital of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka is home to the well-preserved Tvrdjava Fortress. In the countryside nearby are several Orthodox monasteries to visit.

Bascarsija district

Shop for souvenirs in Sarajevo's Bascarsija district, and stop to enjoy a traditional Turkish coffee at one of its many cafés.

Beach

For Bosnia & Herzegovina's only beach head to Neum at the short stretch of coast that divides Croatia's Dalmatian seashore.

Bihac

See the most western Muslim settlement in Europe in the Bihac pocket in northwestern Bosnia & Herzegovina, close to the Croatian border. As well as being home to the Fathija Mosque, formerly a church, the town is also a superb base for rafting on the Una River.

Blagaj

Visit the dervish tekkija at the base of a 200m (656ft) cliff in Blagaj, a peaceful village that lies just a half-day trip from Mostar.

Hiking

Bosnia & Herzegovina's mountainous landscape provides numerous hill-walking opportunities, although it is imperative to avoid areas where landmines still pose a threat. Bjelasnica Mountain offers the potential for combined hiking, rafting and village tourism.

Medjugorje

The world's second most visited Catholic shrine, Medjugorje, south of Mostar, is where many claim to have seen apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Despite hundreds of thousands of annual visitors, it is yet to be recognised as an official pilgrimage site by the Vatican.

Mostar

Visit Mostar to see the elegant Ottoman bridge that links the two sides of the town across the Neretva River. The original 16th-century bridge was destroyed in the war but it has since been reconstructed with Turkish help. In addition, the town also has 16th- and 17th-century mosques, medieval buildings and cobbled streets that survived the war completely.

Sarajevo

See how 500 years of Turkish rule have left their trace on Bosnia & Herzegovina's capital, Sarajevo. The Turkish quarter (Bascarsija) and the town centre have been largely rebuilt and the city, although scarred by war, is coming back to life. The colourful bazaars are testament to the city's Ottoman heritage and present-day energy.

Sarajevo Film Festival

Attend the Sarajevo Film Festival (www.sff.ba), the most popular of all of Sarajevo's festivals, held in August. The festival showcases films from mostly neighbouring countries that consistently produce films of an excellent artistic standard.

Sutjeska National Park

Witness the wildlife and the unspoilt beauty of Sutjeska National Park. It contains Maglic Mountain - at 2,368m (7,769ft), the highest point in Bosnia and Herzegovina - and Perucica Forest, one of the last remaining primeval forests in Europe.

Watersports

Go whitewater rafting along one of the country's many mountain rivers. Rafting tours are available along the Neretva, Una and Tara rivers, which offer some of the most exciting locations in Europe for this activity. Kayaking is another water sport for which Bosnia & Herzegovina offers great potential.

Winter Festival

The Winter Festival (www.sarajevskazima.ba) in Sarajevo (usually held in February/March) is an arts festival established long before the war in the 1990s and, indeed, was determinedly held every year during the siege (the festival is usually bi-annual). The festival is a two-month celebration of worldwide talent and is a symbol and celebration of creativity and freedom within diverse cultures.

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