Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mostar town is famous for its old bridge, Stari Mostar, that was built in the 16th century. It is connecting the old cobblestoned quarters on both side of Neretva River and was a local tourist magnet even before the war. In 1993, during the Yugoslavian war, it got a direct hit from some artillery fire and was completely destroyed. Pictures of the demolished bridge became iconic for the Yugoslavian war and suddenly Mostar was on the world map. Luckily, Stari Mostar was quickly rebuilt after the war and today spectators are again lining up when young daredevils dive from the top into the cold river 24 m below.

Sarajevo has a very distinct vibe compared to other capitals in the Balkan region, in Europe for that matter. Minarets loom over the city, trolley buses are old and almost falling apart, and some of the houses are still riddled with bullet holes from the civil war in 1990s. Bosnia and Herzegovina's ethnic diversity was the reason to all the trouble, but also the reason why the country, and Sarajevo in particular, are such fascinating places. A walk through the old city center will take you past cathedrals, churches, and mosques, and the Turkish Quarter reminds more of an oriental bazaar than a shopping street in Europe.