Bosnia-HerzegovinaThe Inside StoryBosnia-Herzegovina h<strong>as</strong> firmly established itself on thetourist trail with visitors drawn by dramatic alpine scenery,thundering rivers, ancient towns, hidden mon<strong>as</strong>teries,medieval fortresses and isolated villages. In a countrywhere Byzantine and Ottoman civilisations meet Romanand Austro-Hungarian influences, you can find mosques,synagogues, Orthodox churches and Catholic cathedralsjust a stone’s throw away from each other.Wander along the narrow cobbled streets of B<strong>as</strong>carsijain Sarajevo and join the locals for a strong Turkish coffee.Visit striking Mostar and watch divers leap off its rebuiltlandmark bridge over the Neretva River. See the pilgrimsflocking to Medjugorge and the site where an apparitionof the Virgin Mary appeared.Step back in time in sleepy Kraljeva Sutjeska, probe thecatacombs in Jajce which were used <strong>as</strong> shelter during therecent war, hike along trails through the glorious DinaricAlps and stumble across remote villages and mon<strong>as</strong>terieson Bjel<strong>as</strong>nica Mountain, where the way of life h<strong>as</strong> changedlittle for its residents.Storyto tell -AndreaGodfreyWhy I loveBosnia-HerzegovinaI loved my visit to Blagaj,a lovely village at thesource of the River Buna.The River Buna flowsout of a 200m cliff andbeside this gurglingwater is the impressiveTekke, a DervishMon<strong>as</strong>tery. EvenI managed theenergetic climbto StepjanGrad, a ruinedfortressoverlookingthe village, forsplendid sunsetviews.7th CSlavs settle in territories ofmodern day Bosnia1463Ottoman Turks conquerBosnian region1914Bosnian Serb student, GavriloPrincip, <strong>as</strong>s<strong>as</strong>sinates ArchdukeFranz Ferdinand in Sarajevo1941Annexed by pro-HitlerCroatian puppet state9th CControl of Bosnia splitbetween Serbia andCroatia1878Given to Austro-HungarianEmpire <strong>as</strong> a colony1918Austro-Hungary Empirecollapses; Bosnia becomespart of Kingdom of Serbs,Croats and Slovenes1945Liberated by Tito; becomesrepublic within YugoslavSocialist Federation
Days like theseOur recommendations for the perfect holiday in Bosnia-HerzegovinaSarajevo City BreaksFrom £430pp twin-shareTake comfortable shoes <strong>as</strong> Sarajevois a city you won’t want to stopexploring. Start in the Old Town,Baščaršija with its narrow cobbledstreets crammed with shops sellingcopper, leather and souvenirs.Find a mosque, Orthodox church,Catholic cathedral and a synagogueall within walking distance of eachother. Spend time in the eveningsdrinking raki and eating deliciouscrumbly burek.Prices include 3 nightsaccommodation with breakf<strong>as</strong>t,return flights in economy cl<strong>as</strong>s withCroatian Airlines via Zagreb fromLondon Heathrow or Gatwick, andall airport taxes.Ada Hotel HHHExperience true hospitality whenyou stay at the tiny Ada Hotel. Herethe helpful English-speaking staffwill ensure you get the most out ofyour stay. Just 5 minutes from theOld Town and with lovely views of thesurrounding hills, this friendly pensionh<strong>as</strong> seven light and characterfulrooms. Even though it is at the heartof the city, it is in a quiet location andclose to public transport.Loving LukomirOne of our favourite excursionsfrom Sarajevo is to Lukomir. Thisis the highest and most isolatedvillage in Bosnia-Herzegovina andis only accessible for six monthsof the year by car. However, ifyou fancy putting on a pair of skisor snowshoes then it can be anall-year-round destination! Thehouses are typical of those foundin traditional Bosnian villages. Thekitchen is at the heart of the housewith its stove, coffee table, smiling‘grandmothers’ and the ubiquitousTurkish coffee. Enjoy a heartyhome-made meal at one of thefamilies’ homes before wanderingover to the edge of the village, wherethe views of the Rakitnica Canyonare truly impressive.CROATIACazinBihacBosanskiNoviUnaBosanskaKrupaDrvarSamaBosanskaGradiskaPrijedorD i n a r i c A l p sBosanskoGrahovoKljucMrkonjicGradJajceVrbusSavaBanja LukaTeslicTravnikVitezDonjiVakufBosanskiBrodDerventaDobojModricaBosnaZenicaGradacacMaglajGracanicaLukavacVisokoBosanskiSamarBOSNIA &HERZEGOVINABijeljinaTuzlaZvornikVl<strong>as</strong>enicaBreckoSERBIASrebenicaSARAJEVOCROATIALivnoJablanicaVran2074 mKonjicSARAJEVOFocaDrinaGorazdeNeretvaMostarNevesinjeAdriatic SeaCapljinaStolacMONTENEGROBilecaTrebinjeCROATIABosnia-Herzegovina - Perfect ForBosnia-Herzegovina h<strong>as</strong> been through more than most European countries inrecent years, so those wishing to experience a country that is restoring whatmade it great while at the same time confidently re-inventing itself , will finda trip here a true eye-opener. The revitalised charms of Mostar evoke theBosnia-Herzegovina of old, long before bloody conflict gripped the region,while up-and-coming Sarajevo is a buzzing testament to ethnic diversity andsocial regeneration.1991Communism falls; Bosnia-Herzegovina forms a coalitiongovernment of nationalistSerbs, Muslims and Croats1995Bosnian Serbs m<strong>as</strong>sacrethousands of Muslims atSrebenica2001Hague war crimes tribunalfinds Radislav Krstic guiltyof genocide2011Serb, Croat and Muslimpolitical leaders agree onformation of a new centralgovernment1993Conflict grips the region,culminating in partialdestruction of Mostar1996Dayton peace accord createstwo entities; one for BosnianMuslims and Croats, theother for Serbs2004Mostar’s bridge is restoredand reopened25Call 020 7666 1244 | www.regentholidays.co.uk | visit your local travel agent
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