Bosnia and Herzegovina is the heart shaped land that lies in the heart of southeast Europe. It is here that eastern and western civilizations met, sometimes clashed, but more often enriched and reinforced each other throughout its long and fascinating history.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a long name for a country that measures just over 50,000 km2. Bosnia covers the north and centre of the country with its name probably derived from ‘bosana’, an old Indo-European word meaning water, which Bosnia has no short of.
The southern region of ancient Hum, ruled by Herceg Stjepan (Duke Stjepan),was later named Herzegovina after the region was conquered by the invading Ottomans. Perhaps what is most important for the visitor to know today, though, is that Bosnia and Herzegovinais a stunningly beautiful country with a vast array of landscapes, cultures, traditions and people. And as the old cliche goes ‘people make the place’ – and BiH prides itself on its hospitality and treating our guests as if they were family members. And family we take to heart.
One of the first tourist villages in Bosnia and Herzegovina was built in the upper Sanica between Kljuc and Sanski Most. In the summer months, the area around this ‘City of Flowers’ springs to life.
Hundreds of people sit around in Banja Ilidza, famous for its healing waters. It has a large picnic area, an outdoor swimming pool and a mud pool.
Also close to Sanski Most is the source of the Dabar River that swells from an enormous cave, and the Blihi River that creates a beautiful waterfall by tumbling 72m. In town itself the Hamza-begova Mosque, dated 1557, is worth a visit. It was built on the place where Sultan Mehmed Fatih first prayed after conquering the town in 1463.
