To some, the name Bosnia & Herzegovina remains synonymous with the Yugoslav wars that ravaged the Balkan region in the 1990s. The country still bears the legacy of this, having a fractured infrastructure and a countryside that remains littered with mines in some regions.

Lush landscape
It's easy for even the casual visitor to quickly move beyond this prejudiced viewpoint and to appreciate the country's undeniable charms, most notably its lush, mountainous landscape, best seen from the vantage point of one of the national parks. There are plenty of positives to take from Bosnia & Herzegovina's urban centres too, especially the cosmopolitan capital of Sarajevo with its Turkish heritage and lively cafe scene.

Fortresses, mosques and monasteries
Elsewhere there are historic fortresses, splendid old mosques, monasteries and Catholic shrines to enjoy. But perhaps above all else, it is the reconstructed Ottoman bridge at Mostar that symbolises both the past and a positive new beginning for the country.