Capital of Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina map in Russian. Detailed map of Bosnia and Herzegovina with cities, regions, roads, airports

Rest should occupy a significant place in the life of every person. Tired of the everyday hustle and bustle, we often look for a place where we can escape from problems at least for a while and feel like a free person. Many people prefer to relax in the mountains. Clean air, snowy peaks, skiing - all these are integral attributes of such a holiday in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Peculiarities

Today, few countries can offer a truly good holiday with high-quality service for little money. Resorts in France and others European countries very prestigious, but not available to everyone. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a real salvation for lovers of active pastime. This small country on the Balkan Peninsula is almost completely hidden in the mountains. Cozy location, mild climate for the mountains, many beautiful landscapes - this country has everything to be called a tourist center.

General information

The state of Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the center of the Balkan Peninsula, and occupies an area of ​​almost 52 thousand square meters. km. The population is 4 million people. Official languages: Bosnian dialect of Serbo-Croatian, Croatian and Serbian. The currency is the convertible mark (BAM). 100 BAM = $BAM:USD:100:2. Time zone is UTC+1, local time is 2 hours behind Moscow. Mains voltage 220 V at a frequency of 50 Hz, C, F. Country telephone code +387. Internet domain.ba.

A brief excursion into history

Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a state, originated in the Middle Ages and gained independence in 1992. In ancient times, these territories were inhabited during the Paleolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages, as evidenced by cultural monuments and images in caves. The Slavs came to these lands in the 6th century. 7th centuries, during the Middle Ages, the Bosnian Banate was formed, and then the Kingdom included Herzegovina. After the Ottoman conquest, the state was under Turkish rule. In 1929, the state entity Yugoslavia was formed, which included the Kingdoms of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the Second World War, the country was occupied by German troops and incorporated into the fascist Independent State of Croatia. During the Yugoslav Liberation Army in 1945, Bosnia and Herzegovina was liberated and incorporated into Yugoslavia as a federal republic, and the state gained independence in 1992.

Climate

The temperate continental climate prevails over most of the country, but in fact, due to the peculiarities of the local topography, a large number of microclimatic zones are observed here. The southwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a subtropical Mediterranean climate, characterized by dry, hot summers and warm, wet winters. In the valleys the average temperature is +16..+27 degrees in summer, and in mountainous areas +10..+21, in winter – 0..-7 degrees, and can drop to -16 degrees.

Visa and customs regulations

To enter Bosnia and Herzegovina, citizens of Russia and Ukraine do not require a preliminary visa; for a short stay at the border, an entry stamp is issued. Customs rules comply with generally accepted standards.

How to get there

There is no national airline in the country, as well as direct connections with. There are regular connecting flights with European and other air carriers: Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Malev Hungarian Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Adria Airways and Jat. The most economical flights from Russia to Bosnia and Herzegovina are via, or, and then by ground transport to the resort. By train you can get from Russia to Bosnia and Herzegovina only with a transfer through other major cities:,.

Transport

The country has a well-developed bus service. The buses are new and modern. Even if you get picked up somewhere along the way, the steward issues you a coupon, a ticket and a receipt.

Cities and resorts

There are four ski resorts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which were even Olympic venues in 1984:

Jahorina– a ski center with all the necessary paraphernalia for skiing. 20 km of trails are equipped for alpine skiing. There is its own instructor school where they provide training for beginners. A very popular European ski resort.

Belashnitsa– the place is simply amazing for skiing. There are several special lifts to the peaks, including for children. There are several hotels where you can stay near the snow elephants.

Vlasic– located between several large cities. In the very center of Vlašić, a health center was built, which is famous throughout Bosnia. Also on its territory there are many hotels and separate apartments where you can relax. Four operating lifts, experienced instructors.

Kupres– the resort is available for skiing 5 months a year. In addition to skiing, dog sledding, sledding and snowmobiling are also available.

Thus, finding a suitable resort will not be difficult. However, in addition to such active recreation, cultural recreation with sightseeing of local attractions is also possible in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For example, in the capital of the country, the city, you can see many architectural and historical monuments. The city was founded back in 1263 and still retains the special charm of antiquity.

Sometimes a tourist may feel that he has really found himself in a medieval place with all its flavor: a Turkish bazaar, narrow streets, ancient buildings, mosques and noisy markets. Before the Second World War, Sarajevo had virtually no resemblance to a modern city, but now a vibrant life is already beginning to boil there. New houses and centers are being built, and the city center is being developed. However local residents they do not want to completely modernize their ancient city and try to preserve the mystery and enigma of the Middle Ages in everything. Besides Sarajevo, there are many other cities in the country whose history dates back to ancient times.

The beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina is that, along with modern high-class hotels and luxury apartments, there are simple old houses from centuries ago. And this complements the image of this amazing country, paints it in different colors.

Any tourist who visits Bosnia and Herzegovina will remain impressed by this trip for a long time. The different types of holidays offered here contrast perfectly with each other. The fabulous mountain plains and the charm of medieval buildings will not leave even the most spoiled traveler indifferent.

Accommodation

In Bosnia and Herzegovina from large number hotels, you can choose the best accommodation option for yourself. In the seaside town of Neum you can book 2-4* hotels; in other cities there are many 3-4* and several 5* hotels. The best hotels in Banja Luka are: Cezar, Palas, Bosna, Atina, Cubic and Talija. The best hotels in Sarajevo are Hollywood, Holiday Inn, Bosnia, Saraj, Park, Grand and Astra. Camping is not very common.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnian and Croatian: Bosna i Hercegovina, BiH, Serbian: Bosna and Herzegovina, BiH) is a state in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula.

But the city landscape is dominated by colorful Muslim buildings, most of which are considered masterpieces of Ottoman architecture - the Tsareva-Jamia mosque ("Royal Mosque", 16th century), the largest in the country, "Begova-Jamia" (15th century), Ali- Pasha-Jamia (1560-1561) and about a hundred more mosques, the Kursumli madrasah (1537) with a library, today numbering about 50 thousand manuscripts and books, the Barcharshiya tower (XV century), shopping mall Brusa Bezistan, an old caravanserai (15th century) on Morika Khan, a Turkish fortress with 12 towers on a rocky outcrop, and many trade buildings of the Turkish era.

Surrounded by picturesque ridges Igman(height up to 1502 m.) and Trebovich, which protect the resort from cold winds, this geographical center of the former Yugoslavia is widely known as one of the best thermal resorts in Europe.

Medieval city ​​of Jajce A colorful mixture of old mountainside houses, cobbled streets and fortified walls, it was the capital of Bosnia's Christian rulers until the 15th century. Here, on the banks of the Pliva and Vrbas rivers, during the Nazi occupation the temporary capital of the country was located, and here the capital of independent Yugoslavia was proclaimed and a Constitution was created, formalizing the principles of the new federal country. The arena of brutal battles of the recent war, the city still inexplicably retained its ancient appearance, still attracting the attention of tourists. The main attractions of Jajce are the famous complex of buildings of the Esma-Sultan Mosque (1753 - 1763), the Church of St. Luke, many colorful old houses, as well as a cascade of small but very colorful waterfalls and a complex of ancient water mills on the Pliva River.

Mostar is the unofficial capital of southern Herzegovina and the second largest city in the country. It was founded, approximately, in the 15th-16th centuries as a bridgehead fortification on the trade route between the Adriatic coast and the interior of the Dinaric Highlands. The ancient Kuyunjiluk district is literally replete with monuments of Islamic architecture: medieval buildings, cobblestone streets and shops in a colorful oriental style. Business card city ​​- Stari Most, arching its steep back 20 meters above the green waters of the Neretva. This unique engineering structure of the Middle Ages is considered one of the main architectural monuments of the country and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Also preserved (or restored) were the University of Mostar, the Kriva Kuprija ("crooked bridge") bridge, the Halebija and Tara towers that supported the Stari Bridge, mosques and a monument in honor of those who fell during the struggle against fascism.

In the town Blagai, 10 km south of Mostar there is a massive fortress of the same name.

Tiny village of Medugorje, located 17 km southwest of Mostar, on June 24, 1981, literally in one hour, became world famous. On this day, six teenagers from this, at that time, wretched village, lying almost on the top of the mountain between Citluk and Lyubushki, saw the appearance of the Virgin Mary, and immediately Medugorje was swept by an economic boom. You can visit the Church of St. James and the rocky hill of Podbrdo, 5 kilometers from it, where the event that glorified the village actually took place.

Banja Luka- a once modest city on the banks of the Vrbas River ("vrba" - willow), in the northwestern part of the country, is now known to the world as the capital of the Serbian Republic. Banja Luka (“the bath of St. Luke”, the first mention of it dates back to the end of the 15th century) was never known as a tourist center, it was a large industrial city that attracted little visitors to the country, and it also lost part of its historical heritage in 1993, when Serbian militias blew up all 16 mosques in the city. Therefore, now only the fortress (16th century) on the banks of the Vrbas, the recreated Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Presidential Palace and the famous warm sulfur springs near the city, considered one of the most famous balneo-climatic resorts in Europe, deserve attention here.

Also worthy of attention is the most southeastern city of the country - Trebin, on the outskirts of which stands the national shrine of the Serbs - the Hercegovac-Gracanica church, the Kravice waterfall on the Trebižat River in Herzegovina, the Žitomislić monastery in the valley of the Neretva River, as well as the old residence of the Turkish governor in the city of Travnik (between Jajce and Sarajevo).

This flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina was one of three presented to the parliament appointed by the UN High Representative. All flags used the same colors: blue is the color of the United Nations, but it was replaced with a darker color. The stars symbolize Europe. The triangle symbolizes the country's three main population groups (Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs) and the outline of the country on the map. After the declaration of independence in 1992, the approved flag of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was a white panel with the coat of arms of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina placed in the center - a blue shield with six golden lilies and a diagonal white stripe. During the Bosnian War, this flag was used by Bosnian Muslims and the RBiH government in controlled areas. Currently, the RBiH flag (popularly known as the “flag with lilies”) is used by Muslim national organizations, football fans of Bosnian nationality, as well as among Bosnian nationalists.
Coat of arms of Bosnia and Herzegovina- the state symbol of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a blue shield with a yellow triangle. The triangle symbolizes the country's three main population groups (Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs) and the outline of the country on the map. White stars symbolize Europe.

NATURE

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a mountainous country. Most of it is located within the Dinaric Highlands - a complex system of mountain ranges, ridges, intermountain basins and valleys. In the far north there is a wide lowland strip along the Sava River. To the south it gives way to mid-altitude mountains composed of shale and sandstone. Further to the south follow high mountains composed of limestone. Karst (bare limestone rocks, fields, karras, caves) is widespread here. The highest mountain Maglic (2386 m) is located in the southeast, on the border with Yugoslavia. Parallel mountain ranges extend from northwest to southeast. Most of the rivers belong to the Danube basin and flow in a northern direction (Una, Sana, Vrbas, Bosna, Drina - tributaries of the Sava river bordering Croatia). Only a few rivers flow into the Adriatic Sea, and the largest of them is the Neretva. The valleys of the Sava's tributaries expand northward and smoothly transform into a fertile plain, which occupies the northern third of the country.

The territory of BiH is located at the southern border of the temperate climate zone. This area is characterized by average annual temperatures of 9-11 ° C, warm summers (average July temperatures 19-21 ° C on the plains and 12-18 ° C in the mountains), moderately cool winters (average January temperatures from 0 to -2 ° C in plains, from -4 to -7 ° C in the mountains) and abundant and uniform precipitation throughout the year (800-1000 mm on the plains and 1500-1800 mm in the mountains). The extreme southwest (Herzegovina) is characterized by a subtropical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers (average July temperature 25°C) and warm, wet winters (average January temperature +5°C). TO characteristic features The local climate also includes rapid changes in local weather during the day, which is associated with different heating of mountain slopes under the influence of sunlight, changing their azimuth and angle of incidence during the day. The average summer temperature in the valleys is from +16 to +27 C, and up to +10-21 in mountainous areas (in the capital the average July temperature is +21 C). In winter from 0 C to -7 C, respectively (in the capital in January it is about -1 C, but the temperature can drop to -16 C). Precipitation ranges from 400 (eastern mountain slopes) to 1500 (western) mm per year, mainly in summer and early winter.

Fertile alluvial soils are common in the Sava valley and its tributaries, and brown forest soils are common in the mountains.

Forests occupy 41% of BiH's territory. There are almost no native broadleaf forests left on the northern plains, which are now occupied by agricultural land. In the north in the foothills and on mountain slopes up to a height of approx. 500 m grow oak and hornbeam forests with an admixture of maple and linden. Beech trees are common in the central regions, and above 800-900 m above sea level. - beech-fir forests with an admixture of maple, pine and spruce. In the upper mountain zone, above 1600-1700 m above sea level, subalpine meadows are common. In the subtropics in the southwest of BiH, evergreen forests (maquis) and deciduous shrubs are common up to an altitude of 300-400 m; higher in the mountains there are forests of southern species of oak, hornbeam and maple.

In the mountains of BiH there are chamois, red deer, roe deer, brown bears, wolves, wild boars, lynxes, wild cats, otters, martens, and many hares. Lizards, snakes, and turtles are common in karst areas. The avifauna is rich. Large birds include eagles, falcons, and wood grouse. The mouth of the Neretva River is characterized by swampy landscapes. There are great and little white egrets, various waterfowl, and birds of prey - golden eagle, great spotted eagle, and white-tailed eagle.

In the highlands of southern Bosnia lies the large Sutjeska National Park.

Many minerals are concentrated in the depths of Bosnia and Herzegovina: large deposits of brown coal, iron and manganese ore, bauxite, rock salt, building stone and small deposits of copper, barite, lead, silver. Mountain rivers have significant hydropower potential.

Geographical data

Almost the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the exception of the north, lies within the Dinaric Highlands, the highly dissected ridges of which extend parallel to each other from northwest to southeast. Between the ridges there are vast intermountain basins in which the country's populated areas are located. The height of the ridges decreases from the center to the border with Croatia in the north and south.

The highest peak is Mount Maglich (2386 m). In the mountains composed of limestone strata, karst landforms are common (karst caves, underground rivers, karrs), and in the intermountain basins there are extensive karst fields (the largest Livansko-Pole is 405 km²). In the south of the Dinaric Highlands, near the city of Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina has a small access to the Adriatic Sea (but the coastal waters belong to Croatia). In the north, in the valley of the Sava River, the southern part of the Middle Danube Lowland is located.

The territory of the country was formed during the Alpine folding and is located within the Alpine-Himalayan mobile belt, which explains the high seismicity of the Dinaric Highlands. On October 27, 1969, a catastrophic earthquake completely destroyed the city of Banja Luka. The subsoil of Bosnia and Herzegovina is rich in bauxite, lignite, brown coal, iron, manganese, mercury ores, and rock salt. Most of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a temperate continental climate with warm summers and moderately cool winters.

The rivers Una, Vrbas, Bosna (river), Drina flow to the north, flowing into the Sava, which belongs to the Danube basin. The Neretva River flows into the Adriatic Sea. About 30 hydroelectric power stations (Buško Blato, Yablanitsa) were built on mountain rivers with great hydropower potential. Forests occupy about half of the country's territory (mainly in the mountains). Agricultural land has displaced forests from lowland areas. In the lower belt of mountains on the northern slopes, broad-leaved forests grow, giving way above 900 m to spruce-fir forests, and above 1700 m to pine forests and subalpine meadows. The southwestern slopes are occupied by evergreen Mediterranean vegetation.

Geological structure

Most of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs to the Dinaric fold system (Dinarids).

In the south of the country there is an external Dinarid zone, which is composed of Mesozoic carbonate rocks, Cretaceous and Paleogene flysch, and is complicated by a system of folds and thrusts. The middle Dinarid zone, located to the north, is distinguished by a wide distribution of limestones that form large blocky folds. The internal Dinarid zone, stretching through Bosnia and Herzegovina towards Serbia, is a complex folded system formed from geosynclinal troughs that existed until the Paleogene.

In the north of the country, in the area of ​​the Middle Danube Plain, the territory is represented by limestones, sandstones and clays of the Neogene, which in the Pleistocene were covered by other deposits of loess, alluvial and aeolian nature.

POPULATION

There is no complete information about the size and structure of the population. According to unofficial data, four and a half million people currently live in BiH. The country ranks 120th in the world in terms of population. Before the outbreak of hostilities (according to the 1991 census), 4.36 million people lived in the country: Bosnians - 43.6%, Serbs - 31.4%, Croats - 17.3%. Official languages ​​are Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian. The predominant religions are Islam, Orthodoxy, Catholicism.

The average life expectancy in the country is one of the highest in Europe. The country ranks 45th in the world in terms of life expectancy. Men live on average 78 years, and women 84 years. The share of the urban population is 49%. Natural increase - +1.80

Religious composition

There are three main national-religious communities represented in the country: Bosnian Muslims (43.7% of believers as of 1991, mostly Sunnis); predominantly Orthodox Serbs (31.4%) and Catholic Croats (17.3%). Among the small groups, Protestants stand out (4%).

STATE STRUCTURE

The most complex system in Europe government structure BiH and the diversity of political parties at the national and republican levels are determined by the historical development of the country in the 1990s. According to the Yugoslav Constitution of 1946, Bosnia and Herzegovina was one of the country's six republics. According to the current constitution contained in Annex 4 of the Dayton Peace Agreement reached in the United States on November 21, 1995 and signed in Paris on December 14, 1995 (Paris Peace Treaty for BiH), the democratic state of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of two entities - the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Muslim-Croatian) and Republika Srpska (RS). Each of these entities has its own president, parliament and government. Government bodies at the federal level include the Presidium, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Council of Ministers.

The highest federal legislative body is the Parliamentary Assembly, or Assembly of BiH. It consists of two chambers: the House of Peoples (15 deputies: 5 Muslims and 5 Croats from the Federation of BiH, 5 Serbs from the Republika Srpska, elected by the parliaments of the two entities) and the House of Representatives (42 directly elected deputies: 14 Muslims and 14 Croats from Federation of BiH, 14 Serbs from Republika Srpska). The term of office of parliament is limited to two years. All citizens who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote, and workers - 16 years.

The highest executive body is the collegial Presidium of BiH. The Presidium consists of three presidents elected by the population: a Bosnian and a Croat from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a Serb from the Republika Srpska. The rotation of the presiding officers of the Presidium of BiH with a term of office of 4 years occurs every 8 months. The competence of the Presidium includes foreign policy issues, the appointment of ambassadors and other international representatives of BiH, co-chairs of the Council of Ministers, presentation of budget proposals to parliament, etc. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers is appointed by the Presidium and approved, like the entire composition of the government, by the House of Representatives. In February 2001, a coalition government was formed from representatives of the Social Democratic Party of BiH, the Party of Democratic Progress, the New Croatian Initiative, the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Serbian People's Union. The minister and his two deputies must be different nationalities. Government meetings are held alternately in Sarajevo and in its suburbs, located on the territory of the Republika Srpska.

Along with the national (federal) authorities of BiH, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska have their own power structures (parliament, president and government).

Legislative power in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs to a federal parliament consisting of two chambers, which are elected by universal suffrage for 2 years (in the future - 4 years). The House of Representatives includes 140 deputies, the House of Peoples - 74 deputies (Bosnians - 30, Croats - 30, representatives of other nationalities - 14).

To the highest executive bodies The authorities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina include the institution of the presidency and the cabinet of ministers. Two candidates are elected to the post of president - from the Bosnians and from the Croats. One of them becomes vice president. The President and Vice President rotate annually. The House of Peoples elects one Croat and one Bosnian to serve as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the Federation, who alternate as Prime Minister for 4 years.

Legislative power in the Republika Srpska is exercised by the People's Assembly, whose 83 deputies are elected by universal suffrage. The term of office of the People's Assembly must be 4 years, but it is temporarily elected for 2 years.

Judicial system

The Constitutional Court consists of 9 members: 4 of them are elected by the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2 by the People's Assembly of Republika Srpska, and 3 non-Bosniak members are appointed by the President of the European Court of Human Rights after consultation with the Presidency of BiH. The Constitutional Court considers appeals to establish the constitutionality of laws adopted at the state level, and appeals sent from the main territorial entities. Each of these entities has a Supreme Court and lower courts (in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina - 10 cantonal courts and municipal courts; in the Republika Srpska - 5 municipal courts).

The supreme judicial authorities in modern BiH are under the control of the OSCE, which seeks to coordinate the work of lower courts within individual parts of the Federation.

Political parties and coalitions in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Coalition for a United and Democratic BiH (FED) was formed on the basis of the Democratic Action Party. This also included representatives of the Liberal Party, the Civic Democratic Party and the Party for BiH. Has 17 seats in the House of Representatives (14 elected to the FBiH and 3 to the RS), as well as 68 deputies in the House of Representatives of the FBiH and 15 in the People's Assembly of the RS.

The Union for Peace and Progress (UPP) is an electoral coalition formed in 1996 by the Independent Social Democratic Party (NSDP), the Socialist Party and the Social Liberal Party.

Sloga (Union) coalition - consists of the Socialist Party, the Serbian People's Union and the NSDP. Has 4 seats in the federal House of Representatives and 28 in the People's Assembly of the Republic of Sakha.

The Democratic Action Party (DAP) is the largest Muslim party in the federation. Created in 1990 by A. Izetbegovic and H. Silajdzic. Transformed from a multi-ethnic and federalist into an ethnic and Muslim party. Advocates for political and economic unity of the country under Muslim dominance, as well as cultural autonomy for ethnic groups. Chairman - A. Izetbegovich.

Croatian Democratic Union of BiH (HDZ) - 6 deputies in the federal House of Representatives; 28 seats in the federal House of Representatives of the FBiH and 1 seat in the People's Assembly of the RS. Bosnian branch of the “mother” HDZ, founded by F. Tudjman. Its political platform includes a demand for ethnic autonomy, with options ranging from legalizing a Muslim-Croat federation to forming a confederal structure with Croatia. Supports the decentralization of the state of BiH at the political, economic and cultural levels. After the violent death of party leader Jojo Leutar, all CDU leaders decided to leave the federal, federal and local government structures. The representative in the Presidium of BiH is Ante Jelavic. The chairman of the party is Bozo Rajic.

Serbian Democratic Party (SDP) - 4 deputies in the House of Representatives (all of them elected to the RS) and 19 seats in the People's Assembly of the RS. Adheres to nationalist orientations. One of its founders, R. Karadzic, was forced to withdraw from it after the Dayton Agreements came into force. Leader - Dragan Kalinic.

Serbian Radical Party of the RS (SRP RS) - 2 seats in the federal House of Representatives, 11 seats in the People's Assembly of the RS. Founded by V. Sheshel, the leader of a similar party in the FRY. Advocates for international recognition of the Republic of Sakha as an independent state. Leader - Nikola Poplashen.

The Party of Serbian Unity (PSE) is an ultranationalist party. Leader - Zlatko Raznatovic.

Political parties in the Federation of BiH

Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina - founded in 1996 by former Prime Minister under the rule of Izetbegovic and co-founder of the Party of Democratic Action H. Silajdzic. Although the party is open to all ethnic minorities, it has a strong Muslim orientation and maintains a strong position in urban areas such as Tuzla and Sarajevo. The leader is Haris Silajdzic.

The Civic Democratic Party (CDP) is a centrist party, a member of the KCD coalition and is therefore represented in the federal parliament and the federal government.

Liberal Party (LP), leader - Rašim Kadic.

Croatian Peasant Party (HKP) - 1 seat in the federal House of Representatives, but there is not a single deputy mandate in the federal parliament. Consistent supporter of the state of BiH. The principles of the Bosnian HKP are close to social democratic ones, some of its leaders adhere to centrist positions. Leader - Ivo Komcic.

Democratic People's Union (DPU) - 1 seat in the federal House of Representatives and 3 seats in the federal parliament. CDN (formerly known as the National Democratic Union) was founded in 1993. The leader is Fikret Abdić.

Republican Party (RP) - not represented in parliament, pursues a centrist line. Founded in 1994 in Sarajevo, the number of its members soon after its creation reached 12 thousand people. Leader - Stepan Klyuich.

The Bosniak Organization (BO) was founded in 1990 after leaving the SDA under the name Muslim-Bosniak Organization. Currently, it is a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional liberal party that opposes any ethnic domination, for the return of refugees to their places of former residence, and for trans-ethnic and inter-ethnic cooperation. The leader is Adil Zulfikarpasic.

Liberal Bosnian Organization (LBO) - has no representation in parliament. Founded in 1991. Leaders: Mohammed Filipovich and Salih Foko. Bosnian Social Democratic Party (BSDP) - founded on February 27, 1999 as a result of the merger of two social democratic parties of the BiH Federation: the Social Democrats of BiH and the Social Democratic Party of BiH. The leader of the party is Z. Lagumdzhia.

Political parties in Republika Srpska

The Social Liberal Party (SLP) is a liberal-oriented party that has no representation in parliament. Founded in 1992 in Banja Luka. Leaders - M. Zivanovic and M. Tukic.

The Serbian Civil Committee (SCC) was established in 1994 to protect the rights of Bosnian Serbs living in the territory of Herzog Bosna and then in the FBiH. Advocates recognition of the state-forming status of the Bosnian Serbs, similar to the status of the Muslim and Croat populations. The leader is Mirko Pejanovic.

Socialist Party of the RS (SP RS) - 2 seats in the federal parliament and 10 seats in the People's Assembly of the RS. The leader is Zivko Radisic.

Serbian People's Union (SNS RS) - 12 seats in the People's Assembly of the RS. It has undergone an evolution from a nationalist to a centrist party. Founder and leader - Biljana Plavsic.

Independent Social Democratic Party (NSDP) - founded in February 1992 in Banja Luka. It is oriented towards the West and focuses on cooperation with parties of other ethnic groups. Leader - Milorad Dodik.

Armed forces

Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) Conscription into the armed forces was abolished in 2006. Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who are male and over 18 years of age are eligible for voluntary military service. The term of military service is 4 months. Transfer to the reserve occurs after 15 years of service or upon reaching 35 years of age.

Currently, there are 1,180,000 people in the country suitable for military service. Each of the entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska, has its own armed forces and is staffed, respectively, by Bosniaks and Croats in the first case and Serbs in the second. Each of these armies has an air fleet and an air defense unit. In 2000, military expenditures in BiH amounted to approx. 8% of GDP, and the armed forces numbered 40 thousand people. The country's military leadership believes that it has every reason to join NATO. BiH is part of the NATO Partnership for Peace program.

ECONOMY

Until 1990, BiH remained one of the least developed republics of the SFRY. Nevertheless, the mining industry was developed here, including the mining of coal, iron ore, and rock salt. Before the outbreak of hostilities, there were mechanical engineering enterprises (production of machine tools, bicycles, agricultural machines), ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical, timber and light industries.

The civil war (April 1992 - November 1995) caused serious damage to the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Approximately 80% of light industry, which dominated the country's economy, was damaged or destroyed, and oil imports decreased due to the blockade of Croatian ports on the Adriatic Sea. Unemployment reached its highest levels since World War II. During the war years, the economy and social sphere of BiH were almost completely destroyed. The total material damage is estimated by various sources from 20 to 80 billion dollars. The level of industrial production decreased sharply and amounted to approx. 15% pre-war.

After 1995, large-scale international assistance was focused on the process of economic recovery, although the consequences of interethnic conflict continue to have a negative impact on its development.

The restoration of the country's economy is carried out mainly within the framework of the international reconstruction program, which provided for the allocation of $5.1 billion for these purposes in 1996-2000.

In 2000, GDP amounted to 6.5 billion dollars (in 1999 - 6.2 billion dollars); per capita - $1,770. The country's GDP in 1998 was equal to a fourth of the pre-war level, and industrial production - 10-15%. In 1996, the service sector dominated the structure of GDP - 58%, the share of industry was 23%, and agriculture - 19%. Despite the high rates of GDP growth (in 1996 - 50%, in 1997 - 37%, in 1998 - 28%, in 2000 - 8%), its pre-war level has not yet been reached.

The mining, metallurgical, oil refining, textile industries, production of components for automobiles and the aviation industry, household appliances, etc. are gradually being restored. By the beginning of 2000, with the help of the German Volkswagen and the Czech Skoda, car production began; due to their low cost, they are in demand in neighboring countries. One of the main investors in the industry is Slovenia.

The inflation rate in 2000 was estimated at 8% (in 1997 - 5%). The economically active population is 1026 thousand people, the unemployment rate is 35-40%. The emerging growth in industrial production in 1999-2000 reached 10%. In 1999, BiH produced 2.6 billion kWh of electricity. Hydroelectric power plants produce 61% of electricity, thermal power plants - 39%. Electricity production is estimated at 2585 million kWh, consumption - at 2684 kWh, export - 150 million kWh, import - 430 million kWh.

Agriculture is the main sector of the country's economy. The main crops are tobacco, sugar beets, corn and wheat. The regions bordering Serbia are famous for the production of fruits, mainly plums, and viticulture is developed in the north. In the mountains, the population raises sheep, and on the plains, cattle. Forest resources are an important component of the country's economy.

Before the civil war, BiH had a railway network with a length of 1020 km (of which approximately 800 km were electrified). The length of highways reached 21,850 km (about 14 thousand km with hard surface). The Sava River was navigable for a considerable length. All transport routes were heavily damaged as a result of hostilities and require restoration, and the Sava river bed needs to be cleared. An oil pipeline with a length of 174 km and a gas pipeline with a length of 90 km run through the territory of BiH. There are 9 airports in the country with paved runways.

Foreign trade is reviving: in 2000, exports of goods and services were estimated at $950 million, imports at $2,460 million. The main export partners are Croatia, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and the import partners are Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, and Italy. Since 2001, trade relations with Russia have been established. In 1999, external debt amounted to $3.4 billion.

BiH has a persistent budget deficit. In 1999, budget revenues amounted to $1.9 billion, and expenses - $2.2 billion.

Analysis of the macroeconomic situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first half of 2011

Although exports from Bosnia and Herzegovina increased by more than 20 percent in the first half of 2011 compared to 2010, imports increased in almost equal proportions resulting in a significant deficit trade balance. Although exports to CEFTA countries, mutual trade turnover may be negatively affected by the unilateral imposition of duties on parts of Kosovo. The influx of foreign direct investment increased, but reached only 122,700,000 and well beyond the pre-crisis years.

According to the published results of foreign exchange trade of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the world from January to June 2011, the turnover totaled 12040 million km (6.16 billion), including exports 4.74 billion km (2420000000 EUR), which is 20.5% more than the same period in 2010, and imports 7,300,000 km (3.7 billion), an increase of 18.2% more. The trade deficit reached 3.3 billion km (1.68 billion). Coverage of imports by exports reached 55.2%. The degree of import coverage by exports has been gradually decreasing since the beginning of 2011.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's main trading partners are Germany, exports and imports to Croatia. The top 10 importing countries included the United States, Russia and China. The US imports most automobiles, Russia oil and gas, and China in particular consumer goods of all kinds. Although the mutual foreign trade turnover of Bosnia and Herzegovina with CEFTA countries in 2011 compared to 2010 increased in the first six months by more than 20%, these values ​​may be affected in the second half of the unilateral actions of the Kosovo government (the introduction of a 10% duty on imported products from Bosnia and Herzegovina Herzegovina), which is due to the non-recognition of Kosovo and Kosovo customs documents by Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Kosovo, most imports are made of steel, mineral fuels and oils, wood and its products (26 million euros in 2010). It imports most of the raw materials of leather, rubber, vinegar and various alcoholic beverages (1 million in 2010).

According to Czech statistics, the foreign trade turnover achieved between the Republic and Bosnia and Herzegovina is 719 million (compared to 2010 index 102%), exports 573 million (index 101.6%), imports 147 million (index 104.2%). The balance of 42,700,000 is at the 2010 level.

Industrial production in June 2011 compared to the 2010 average increased by 7% compared to the same month in 2010, even by 10.4% compared to May 2010 by 2.4%. Manufacturing increased in June over the 2010 average by 11% compared to June 2010's 7.3%.

The unemployment rate at the end of May 2011 reached 43.1%. A total of 526,791 unemployed people were registered, which is 0.4% more than at the end of 2010. Compared to April 2010, the unemployment rate increased by 0.2%. For legal entities, a total of 694,191 people were employed in May 2011, of which 282,666 were women. The economically active population is currently 1,120 thousand people, which is significantly less than in 2008, when there were 1,620 thousand people. Economically inactive population totals 1,430,000

Annual inflation reached 3.8% in June 2011 and was 0.5% per month. Bosnia and Herzegovina is part of the Western Balkan countries with very low inflation, especially compared to Serbia, where inflation has recently jumped to 12.7%.

The tourism sector records relatively good results. In June 2011 alone, almost 75 thousand tourists visited Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is 41.8% more than in May 2011 and 1.5% more than in May 2010. The main share of tourists is from the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, but the number of tourists from Western Europe, Turkey and abroad is also increasing, especially from the Far East (Japan, South Korea), and recently the number of tourists from China has been increasing.

The bank's total deposits amounted to 14,780 million at the end of the KM half (7.55 billion), representing a 0.41% increase since the end of 2011. Savings of the population increased by 3.9% and 6,790 thousand km (3.47 billion). The limit for deposit insurance in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 35,000 km (17,895 EUR). This limit is 98.7% covered by depositors and 68% of all deposits. Interest on short-term corporate loans is currently 7.5% and 10.2% on consumer loans. In addition, rates on deposit accounts in KM for the corporate sector decreased by 3.5% and 2.9% for consumer deposits for the population.

Gross GDP for 2010 at current prices amounts to 14.4 billion km (7.36 billion). GDP per capita is 6,371 km (3,257 EUR) and represents 30% of the EU average, which means that Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks near the bottom in Europe in this comparison.

Recently, funds mass media Articles are increasingly appearing from local economists and analysts who point to the fact that the rate of Bosnian KM marks at a fixed level of 1.95583 per euro is overvalued, and there are no more realistic ones (talking about the real exchange rate to 1:4). As a result of the lack of competitiveness of goods from Bosnia and Herzegovina, an increase in the trade deficit and a decrease in the level of import coverage by exports, a small increase in industrial production and high unemployment. Another problem is high government spending focused solely on consumption and low inflow of foreign direct investment. As a result of slow economic growth. Rumors about a possible course of treatment are categorically rejected by the governor of the National Bank, who considers the fixed exchange rate of convertible marks to the euro as one of BA's several fixed economic anchors. Some politicians have also begun to demand the introduction of a second VAT rate on “social goods”, despite warnings from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that such an adjustment will not produce the expected results (lower prices) and will only complicate the administration of tax collection.

The poor economic situation adds to the inability of local politicians to agree after nearly 10 months to build a national government, the adoption of adequate and much-needed economic reforms and restrictions on government spending and claims to be literally stifling economic growth. Because the disassembled central government and global recognition of the financial framework 2011-2013 is BA, the consent of the European Commission has pledged to provide macroeconomic assistance in the amount of 100 million euros in loans at very favorable interest rates. The risk also pumped 96 million euros for projects financed from the IPA in 2011. Due to the refusal to approve the 2011 budget and budget framework, the IMF, World Bank and EBRD will have their funds blocked for the next two years. All this causes serious concern for foreign investors in terms of continued development in the future.

Reflected by political and economic instability, there is cautious and very little FDI inflow into the country, which is among the lowest in the region. Above all, these reasons were the reason for the recent decision of the Standard and Poor rating outlook, to change the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina from stable to negative. Nothing in this fact changes the fact that, according to the Central Bank, the financial situation in the country is improving only slightly. To achieve the expected GDP growth of 2.8% in 2011, it is necessary to be prepared as soon as the central government has implemented significant economic reforms. Given that time is running out, and that the result of political disputes is likely to be a fairly broad coalition government with a weak mandate, the country faces difficult economic times. (Source: Embassy of the Russian Republic)

Industry

By the 1960s, Bosnia and Herzegovina accounted for 99% of iron ore production and 100% of coke production, 40% of coal production, 2/3 of iron production and 50% of steel production in all of Yugoslavia. Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked first in Yugoslavia in timber production and played a prominent role in the chemical industry (during the SFRY, only Bosnia and Herzegovina had the production of soda (Lukavac) and chlorine).

Heavy industry was located mainly in the east of Bosnia, between the Sava, Drina and Bosna rivers. In the south of this area, north and northwest of Sarajevo, large lignite mines produced most of Yugoslavia's coal. Brown coal and lignite were mined in the areas of Tuzla, Zenica, Kakani, Breza, Banovichi and others.

The Vares and Ljubija iron mines, a manganese mine and thermal power plants were also located here. The main center of ferrous metallurgy in Yugoslavia was located in Bosnia and Herzegovina - the city of Zenica, where there is a plant with a full cycle of metallurgical production. There were two more metallurgical plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina: an old plant in the city of Vares and a new plant in the city of Iljas. Bauxite was mined, mainly for export.

By the end of the 1950s, the most powerful hydroelectric power station in Yugoslavia at that time was put into operation on the Neretva River in Herzegovina, near the city of Yablanitsa. 2/5 of all hydropower resources of the SFRY were concentrated in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where cheap energy is available from hydroelectric power plants on the Neretva and Vrbas rivers, electrochemical enterprises (Jajce) and an aluminum smelter were established. Coke production was carried out at factories in Zenica and Lukavac. A nitrogen fertilizer factory was located in Gorazde.

The products of the timber industry of Bosnia and Herzegovina were used both for domestic consumption in the SFRY and for export. Large sawmills were located mainly in the western and central parts of the country: Zavidovichi (assembly house factory), Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Drvar. Tobacco production in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which took place in four relatively large factories - in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Travnik and Mostar, was of general Yugoslav importance.

Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked 1st in the SFRY in pulp production, with pulp factories located in Prijedor, Banja Luka, Maglaj and Drvar.

The country had mechanical engineering, food and light industries. The most important industrial hubs of Bosnia and Herzegovina were Sarajevo-Zenica, where coal mining was carried out, ferrous metallurgy and mechanical engineering developed; Tuzla-Banovichi with a specialization in coal and salt mining, chemical industry and mechanical engineering.

SOCIETY

Social Security

In 1996 in Bosnia and Herzegovina there were 4,500 doctors and 12 thousand junior medical personnel. By 2000, with the assistance of international organizations, many destroyed hospitals had been restored and new ones built. Throughout the 1990s, the international community provided humanitarian assistance to the country.

Religion

Up to the 10th century. the population of most of Bosnia was not converted to Christianity, although in Herzegovina this happened quite early. The territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina belonged to the jurisdiction of the Western (Roman) Church. The medieval Bosnian state (12th-15th centuries) was the center of Bogomilism. The last Bosnian kings were Catholics and contributed to the strengthening of the influence of the Franciscan order. The easternmost areas of the medieval state, especially eastern Herzegovina, remained largely Orthodox. Conquest of Bosnia by the Turks in the 15th-16th centuries. accompanied by a massive conversion of the population to Islam. Many Bosnian nobles (Serbs or Croats), in order to maintain property, privileges and dominant position, were forced to take this step. The results of the Turkish occupation were as follows: thousands of Bosnians of both sexes were sold into slavery or recruited into the Janissaries. The Turks announced that those who converted to Islam received tax exemptions and other privileges: Slavic nobility who converted to Islam were equated with the Turkish nobility. However, the majority of Bosnian Serbs and Croats remained Christian.

At the turn of 1520-30, according to the Turkish historian Omer Lutfi Barkan, in the Bosnian Sanjak the population was 38.7% Muslim. In Herzegovina, conquered by the Turks only in 1482, Islamization proceeded less actively. In 1624, the Albanian priest Peter Masareci wrote that 150 thousand Catholics, 75 thousand Orthodox and 450 thousand Muslims live in Bosnia. After the Austrians conquered Hungary and Croatia from the Turks, Muslims from these territories moved to Bosnia in 1690. In 1875, an uprising of Christian peasants against Turkish rule began in Herzegovina, which spread to some areas of Bosnia, and in 1878 Bosnia was annexed to Austria-Hungary. According to the Austrian census of 1879, the population was 42.88% Orthodox, 38.75% Muslim, and 18.08% Catholic.

In 1910, out of 1,898,044 inhabitants, there were 43.49% Orthodox, 32.25% Muslim and 22.87% Catholic. In the cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Muslims predominated, followed by Catholics and only then Orthodox. The trend of an increase in the share of Orthodox and Catholics while the share of Muslims fell continued after the collapse of Austria-Hungary and the entry of Bosnia into Yugoslavia.

The collapse of Yugoslavia led to an intensification of confrontation between three nations speaking the same language and having common origin, but professing different religions. In October 1991, Croat and Muslim deputies of the Bosnian parliament adopted a memorandum on the sovereignty of the republic. In November 1991, the Bosnian Serbs voted in a referendum for the creation of a renewed Yugoslav state together with Serbia. On January 9, 1992, the Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina was proclaimed, and on July 3, 1992, the Croatian state of Herzeg-Bosnia was proclaimed. In the interethnic and interreligious war, about 100 thousand people died, 1.4 million became refugees (most have now returned), a large number of mosques, Orthodox and Catholic churches were destroyed and damaged. The proportion of Muslims in Sarajevo's population increased from 50% to 90%.

At the end of 1995, NATO peacekeepers were stationed in the country, the Muslim-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (51% of the territory) and the Republika Srpska (49%) were created.

The number of Catholics during the war decreased more than the number of Muslims or Orthodox Christians: many Croatian refugees remained in Croatia.

Currently, adherence to a particular confession is determined mainly by nationality: Serbs profess Orthodoxy (31%), Croats profess Catholicism (15%). Serbs and Croats who profess Islam call themselves Bosniaks or Muslims (40%).

CULTURE

Education system

In 1990-1991, 720 thousand people studied in the country's schools. In the first half of the 1990s, educational institutions were severely damaged as a result of hostilities. With the return to peaceful life, the government first of all set about restoring the public education system. It includes pre-school institutions, basic compulsory schools, general secondary schools, special secondary schools, technical secondary schools, universities. Kindergartens are attended by children aged 3 to 7 years. In BiH there is compulsory 8-year education. Basic compulsory schools have two levels: for children aged 7 to 11 years and from 11 to 15 years. Upon completion of basic school, adolescents aged 15 to 19 years can continue their education in a general 4-year secondary school (gymnasium) or in 4-year special secondary schools, which are divided into pedagogical, artistic, musical, religious and technical. A profession can also be acquired at a three-year vocational school.

Graduates of secondary school for higher education, based on the results of entrance exams, can enter one of four universities (Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar or Tuzla), one of the academies (including pedagogical ones in Zenica and Bihac) or an open one at the beginning 2000s Special Pedagogical College in Bijeljina. Upon graduation, the graduate receives a 1st degree diploma of higher education (2-3 years of study), a 2nd degree diploma of professional education in the field of various sciences and arts (4-5 year course of study), a 3rd degree ( master's degree with preparation research project), 4th degree (doctor with thesis defense). Kindergarten teachers are trained in two-year pedagogical academies. In addition, these academies train basic and secondary teachers secondary school. Universities graduate teachers from special secondary schools.

The University of Sarajevo was founded in 1949. Before the military events of 1992-1995, an average of more than 30 thousand students studied annually at its 25 faculties. As a result of the bombing, 5 faculties and a library containing 1.8 million books were completely destroyed, 9 faculties were largely destroyed. The remaining universities were opened in the 1970s. The heavily damaged University of Mostar, which included the Western (Croatian) branch and the Eastern branch, was evacuated to Neum and Jablanica respectively.

The Academy of Sciences was created in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1966. Several research institutes operate in BiH, including the Oriental Institute and the Balkan Institute.

Literature

Early books in Bosnia and Herzegovina were written in Glagolitic and Cyrillic alphabet and are works of religious content. In addition to church literature, many records and fragments of individual documents have been preserved. After the Ottoman conquest, literary activity continued within religious communities. Bosnian Muslims wrote in Arabic, Turkish, Persian and Croatian. The Talmudic works of the Sephardic Jews of Sarajevo and Travnik are known.

National revival of Croats and Serbs in the 19th century. contributed to the activities of many writers in Bosnia. Among the Croats, the Franciscan monk Ivan Frano Jukic, editor of the first literary magazine in Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Bossanski Friend,” became famous. Among the writers, a representative of early Serbian romanticism, a native of Sarajevo, Sima Milutinović (Sarajlija, 1791-1847), stands out, who spent most of his life in Serbia.

At the end of the 19th century. The National Museum in Sarajevo and libraries were opened, and scientific societies were created. At the same time, the number of literate people in Bosnia barely exceeded a tenth of the total population. The Austro-Hungarian government decided to change the situation and after 1908 introduced compulsory universal education.

Famous writers of the 20th century, immigrants from Bosnia, were a native of Travnik, Ivo Andrić (1892-1975), laureate Nobel Prize 1961, and Mehmed Mesha Selimovic (born 1910 in Tuzla).

Long years of Ottoman rule left their mark on the culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Islamic motifs are clearly expressed in the architecture of inns, bridges and other structures. Islamic manuscripts decorated with colored drawings have been preserved. Islamic melodies can be traced in Bosnian folk music, primarily in lyrical songs.

Media

The largest publications in BiH are the daily morning newspaper Oslobodzhene (Liberation, 56 thousand copies) and the daily evening newspaper Vecherne Novine (15 thousand). State Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina broadcasts on four radio channels and two television channels.

Cuisine of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnian cuisine was formed as a result of a mixture of South Slavic, German, Turkish and Mediterranean culinary traditions. The basis of local dishes is meat and vegetables, and if the Turkish influence is clearly visible in meat products, then in terms of vegetables and herbs the Bosnians are not inferior to their neighbors in the Mediterranean region. And from the Slavic peoples they inherited an abundance of dairy products, primarily cheese, and the widespread use of bread and grains.

National holidays

Official holidays and days off in Bosnia and Herzegovina
January 1-2 - New Year.
January 6-7 - Orthodox Christmas.
January 9 is Republic Day in the Serbian part of the country.
January 14-15 - Old New Year.
January 27 is St. Sava's Day.
February 2 - Eid al-Adha.
March 1st Independence Day.
April 5 is a national holiday.
April 15 is Army Day.
April-May - Easter.
May 1 - Labor Day.
May 9 - Victory Day.
August 15 - Velika Gospa (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary).
November 1 is All Saints' Day.
November 25 is Republic Day of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
December 25 - Catholic Christmas.

In addition to the above dates, the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina sets aside 2 days a year for religious ceremonies, regardless of religion. These days are not considered official holidays, but are non-working days.

Festivals and holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Winter Festival (February 21 - March 7) is a series of festive events accompanied by theatrical and musical performances. The Bosnian Orchestra Festival is held in March. Sarajevo Culture Days are celebrated in June and July. On July 12-16, Language Week takes place, accompanied by both a variety of ethnic performances and various scientific and practical conferences. On August 19-27, Sarajevo hosts the annual Sarajevo Film Festival, and in September theater festival TheaterFest. The Jazz Fest music festival is held in Sarajevo on November 2-6.

STORY

Early history. Central Bosnia was one of the regions of Europe in which the art of ceramics appeared already in the Neolithic. Traces of the artistic and material culture of that time were discovered near Butmir (near Sarajevo), therefore the Neolithic culture of Bosnia is usually called Butmir.
In the 3rd millennium BC. a number of tribes who owned iron tools and weapons invaded the area and destroyed the Butmir culture. However, very little is known about the past of Bosnia before the appearance of Illyrian tribes in the Hallstatt era (2nd and 1st millennium BC). The Illyrians were the main inhabitants of the country until the 4th century. BC, when the Celts moved here from the north. In the 1st century BC The present territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina was occupied by the Romans, who turned it into part of the large province of Illyricum.
The linguistic map of the Balkans in general and Bosnia and Herzegovina in particular acquired its modern form in the 6th and 7th centuries, when Slavic tribes, mainly Croats and Serbs, captured the western parts of the Balkan Peninsula that belonged to the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, leaving it with fortified Adriatic cities, and then Slavicized the Illyrian population.
Middle Ages.
Bosnia was the last of the regions of the southern Slavs to create its own state and the last to be converted to Christianity. The geographical position of Bosnia isolated its central part from the influence of the cultures of neighboring countries - Byzantium from the south, the culture of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire from the north, Italy from the west.
Original Bosnia, the region of the upper reaches of the Bosna River, was a vassal of Raska (Serbia), but after 960 AD. became a self-governing territory. In 1018, Byzantium established nominal power over Bosnia. At the beginning of the 12th century. Hungary occupied part of Bosnia, including the Rama River valley. The Hungarian king received the title "Ramae rex" (King of Rama, i.e. Bosnia) and appointed bans (king's viceroys) to govern the province. After a period of control by Byzantium, Ban Kulin of Bosnia (reigned 1180-1204) again recognized the power of Hungary. Nevertheless, he behaved as an independent ruler, granting trade privileges to merchants from Dubrovnik, encouraging the resettlement of artisans, miners and craftsmen from the coastal cities of Croatia and the mining of silver and iron ore.
In 1203, the papal legate obliged Kulin and the elders of the monastic communities, called simply krstjani (Christians), to renounce heresy and recognize the supremacy of the Roman Catholic Church. This meant that the Bogomil heresy already existed in Bosnia. After the death of Kulin, Hungary undertook a series of crusades against the “Bosnian heretics” and in 1250 forced the Bans to submit to her again.
For one century, bans were associated with Hungary and the Catholic Church. Economic prosperity increased the political ambitions of the Bosnian bans and aristocrats. Tvrtko I Kotromanich (ruled 1353-1391) began his reign as a ban and vassal of Hungary, but in 1377 he crowned himself king.
In the 13th-14th centuries. the Bans and kings of Bosnia expanded the territory, which became the last great medieval kingdom of the South Slavs. Their expansion led to an increase in the country's population, mainly due to the Croats, and after the acquisition of Herzegovina (Hum or Hum Land) the country gained access to the Adriatic.
After Tvrtko's death, the state fell into decay. Hungary recaptured the central and northern parts of Dalmatia, which Tvrtko acquired in 1390. In addition, in the 15th century. Bosnian kings lost power over the feudal lords. Hum, in particular, was ruled by representatives of local dynasties such as Sandal Hranić and his nephew Stjepan Vukčić. The latter in 1449 chose the title “herceg” (duke), and after that medieval Hum began to be called Herzegovina.
Ottoman rule.
In 1463, most of the fragmented Bosnia came under Turkish rule; Herzegovina resisted a little longer, but in 1482 both provinces were united by the Turks under a single administration. The last Bosnian territories (the Jajce region) passed to the Turks in 1528, after the Ottoman victory over the Hungarians at the Battle of Mohács (1526). All of Bosnia and Herzegovina remained under Ottoman rule until 1718, when part of its territory went to the Habsburgs for two decades.
After the Turkish conquest, the Bosnian Bogomils were converted to Islam en masse. Some joined church Christians, particularly Catholics. This mass conversion, unique in its scale, gave Bosnia a special status within the Ottoman Empire. The territory of Bosnia was preserved and expanded to include a number of Croatian territories. The Muslim elite of Bosnia received the status of hereditary nobility.
Bosnia's religious landscape became more complex after migrants called Vlachs, who considered themselves Orthodox Christians, enlisted as Ottoman border guards in northwestern Bosnia. Over time, they began to identify themselves with the Serbs. In addition, during Ottoman rule, a significant proportion of Herzegovina's Catholic population converted to Orthodoxy.
After several centuries of struggle against feudal landowners, the government in 1839 declared the equality of all subjects of the Ottoman Empire before the law and abolished the feudal military system.
In 1848, the governor of Bosnia abolished the so-called. korve - free labor of serfs for their landowner. Less wealthy landowners (duh) did not want to lose their corve, but their rebellion was suppressed (1849-1851). The feudal landowners were completely reconciled with the government when it issued a decree (1859) declaring the feudal lords the full owners of the land and turning the peasants into sharecroppers. The law of 1859 gave freedom to the peasants; By at will or under pressure, many of them gave up their land lease rights. In 1875 there were several hundred beys or large landowners, more than 6 thousand agas, 77 thousand peasant families (mainly Muslim) and 85 thousand families of sharecroppers, mostly Orthodox (Serbs) and Catholics (Croats).
Some landowners sought to receive both corve labor and the higher rents that were granted to them by the law of 1848. In addition, a crop failure in Herzegovina in 1875 led to famine. But the uprising that broke out in 1875 was both political and economic. Ideologically, it split into several movements that spoke out for unification with Serbia, for unification with Croatia, or for autonomy. The Congress of Berlin (1878) transferred Bosnia and Herzegovina to the rule of Austria-Hungary.
Austro-Hungarian rule.
During the Austro-Hungarian rule of Benjamin von Kalay (1883-1903), the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina developed rapidly. Railroads were built, banks were founded, wood processing plants and tobacco factories were opened. However, dissatisfaction with the policies of Kalai, which established a semi-colonial regime based on bureaucratic personnel who arrived from Austria-Hungary, also grew. In addition, Bosnia and Herzegovina increasingly found itself at the center of rivalry between Croats and Serbs. The Austro-Hungarian administration discouraged the province's ties with Croatia and encouraged regional national feelings.
The struggle for Bosnia and Herzegovina reached its climax in 1903 with the accession of Peter I Karageorgievich to the throne in Serbia. Amid growing Serbian nationalism, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908, bringing Europe to the brink of war.
Even before the annexation, control of the Serbian nationalist movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina began to gradually shift from conservatives to radicals. The younger generation of Serbian nationalists wanted to achieve unification with Serbia, using, among other methods, terror. The terrorists, who were assisted by Serbian military intelligence, managed to kill Archduke Franz Ferdinand in June 1914 after the failure of a number of assassination attempts on Austro-Hungarian officials. This political assassination in Sarajevo prompted Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia and started the First World War.
Yugoslav period.
At the end of the First World War, Austria-Hungary collapsed, and Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (in 1929-1945 - the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). During the interwar period, the dominant Muslim party - the Yugoslav Muslim Organization (YMO) - fought for the autonomy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but King Alexander Karadjordjevic, after declaring a royal dictatorship in 1929, divided Bosnia and Herzegovina into several banovinas. In 1939, Yugoslav Prime Minister Dragisa Cvetkovic reached an agreement with Vladko Macek, leader of the Croatian opposition, to create an autonomous province of Croatia. Subsequently, parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a Croat majority were incorporated into Croatia. This strategic mistake demoralized many Muslims and encouraged both Serb and Croat nationalists to consider the remainder of Bosnia as a legitimate part of Serbia.
During World War II, Germany and its allies divided Yugoslavia into several regions, incorporating Bosnia and Herzegovina into the independent state of Croatia, an Axis satellite led by the fascist Ustasha movement. This period was characterized by the persecution of Serbs by the Ustaše and the killing of Muslims by the Serbian Chetniks.
Post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina had the status of a republic in the Yugoslav federation created on the Soviet model by Marshal Josip Broz Tito. During the first post-war years until 1966, the governing bodies of the republic were dominated by Serbs, who continued to persecute Croatian and Muslim nationalists, as well as all religious communities. After 1966, Tito increasingly relied on the communist leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take a hard line to thwart the ambitions of both Serbia and Croatia. Tito simultaneously supported the Bosnian Muslims as an already established national group, creating an increasingly favorable position for them as payment for compliance with his regime. After Tito's death in 1980, Serbian claims to Bosnia began to grow.

The history of Bosnia and Herzegovina covers the period from the appearance of man on the current territory of this country to the present day. Despite this, the state itself arose only in the Middle Ages. Bosnia and Herzegovina gained independence in 1992.

In the 6th - 7th centuries, the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina was inhabited by the Slavs.
In the 12th century, the Bosnian Principality was formed (since the 14th century, a kingdom, including Herzegovina).
Since 1463, the territory of Bosnia, and since 1482 - of Herzegovina under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.
After the uprising of 1875-1877, it was occupied by Austria-Hungary (annexed in 1908). See "Bosnian Crisis".
Since 1918, part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (since 1929 - Yugoslavia).
In 1941, it was occupied by German troops and included in the fascist Independent State of Croatia. During the war of 1941-1945. liberated by the troops of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia under the command of Josip Broz Tito and in November 1945 incorporated into Yugoslavia as a federal republic.
In the spring of 1992, it announced its secession from the SFRY. Adopted the official name of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was admitted to the UN in May 1992.
In mid-1992, there was a sharp escalation of interethnic tensions, which led to the Bosnian War.
On November 21, 1995, peace agreements to resolve the Bosnian conflict were initialed in Dayton (USA). Signed in Paris on December 14, 1995. The official name was changed to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Since the signing of the Dayton Accords, peace in the country is still fragile.

Despite its favorable location, mild climate and many attractions, Bosnia and Herzegovina for a long time could not compete with its more famous tourist neighbors. But in recent years, this small country has been attracting more and more visitors.

Tourists from all over the world are attracted by ski resorts, wonderful beaches of Neum, picturesque landscapes and original local cuisine. Bosnia and Herzegovina is deservedly called the easternmost European state. Catholic and Orthodox churches here peacefully coexist with mosques, and medieval buildings and streets coexist with new buildings in recent years.

Fans of philosophical reflection should definitely visit the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on the Latin Bridge and the fortified bunker of Marshal Tito in a cave near Drvar.

As a souvenir of your visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can bring very beautiful embroidered textiles, leather clothes and shoes, as well as a variety of delicacies - baklava, sujuk cookies, strong fruit brandy or local wine.

Popular hotels and inns at affordable prices.

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What to see in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photographs and brief descriptions.

In the Old Town of Mostar, many examples of medieval architecture are perfectly preserved. The Muslibegovits house-museum deserves special attention, where visitors are introduced to the way of life of a Turkish family in the 19th century. The picturesque mosques of Koski Mehmet Pasha and Karadoz Bey are open to everyone.

The unusually picturesque Neretva River flows through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the Middle Ages, river pirates operated here, and in 1943, one of the most important Balkan battles took place on Neretva, during which partisan detachments managed to disrupt the Wehrmacht operation. The most expensive Yugoslav film, “The Battle of Neretva,” was shot about this in 1969.

The picturesque park is located on the territory of the state entity Republika Srpska. The relict forest of Peručica, Lake Trnovač, Mount Maglić, and the memorial complex “Valley of Heroes” are some of the attractions of these places. The park was formed in 1962. You can walk along the mountain trails and look at the three-hundred-year-old pine trees by coming here from the nearest town of Foča.

The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, is located at the crossroads of ancient trade routes, so it is no wonder that its main square has always been used as a place for trade. Today, on Marcale Square there is a market where you can buy a lot of delicious goodies.

This is perhaps the saddest thing famous bridge in the world. Here on August 28, 1914, an event occurred that caused the outbreak of the First World War. Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were killed by pistol shots from Serbian student Gavrilo Princip. In its current form, the bridge has been preserved without much change almost since the end of the 18th century. There is a museum dedicated to the bridge nearby.

The waterfall is located 40 kilometers south of Mostar on the Trebižac River. Its height is about 25 meters and its width is approximately 120 meters. Kravice is a very popular holiday destination in the spring and during the summer. During the tourist season, there are small cafes around the waterfall and picnic areas. Nearby there is a beautiful grotto with stalactites; there is also an interesting old, no longer working water mill.

The oldest mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina, named after Suleiman I, is also called the Royal Mosque. It was built in the 15th century, and upon completion of the work it was almost completely burned down in a severe fire. Work to restore the building was completed only in the 16th century. Today the Royal Mosque is open to everyone.

The pedestrian Old Bridge over the Neretva, built by the Turks for defense back in the 16th century, connects the two parts of the city of Mostar. In 1993, the Old Bridge was destroyed. For its restoration, all the medieval elements that were recovered from the bottom of the Neretva River were used.

The perfectly preserved Moricha Khan caravanserai was built in the 16th century to provide safe accommodation for traders traveling from the country to the Adriatic and back. Today there are several cafes with national cuisine and souvenir shops, and the rooms and galleries of Moricha Khan are open to tourists.

The picturesque Vrelo Bosne Park is located in the center of the state. It was founded during the time of the Austro-Hungarians, but the military conflict of the 20th century caused significant damage to the park. And only thanks to the caring public, Vrelo Bosne was restored in 2000. Here you can ride a horse-drawn carriage, take pictures against the backdrop of wooden bridges, or visit a local open-air restaurant.

The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina is famous for its extensive collections of exhibits. It also houses stečki – carved tombstones, which are a national treasure of the state. The building that houses the National Museum was built in 1888.

This is a mountain near Sarajevo, the slopes of which are covered with a meter-thick layer of snow from October to May. Thanks to such wonderful natural conditions, a world-famous ski resort is located here. Hotels and chalets for every taste, red slopes and nine ski lifts - Jahorina has everything you need for comfortable skiing.

The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina is called the European Jerusalem because it seamlessly combines the eastern buildings of the Old City and the western buildings of the Austro-Hungarian period. Pigeon Square with a fountain, located in the Bascarsija district, is considered the heart of Old Sarajevo.

The private museum, created by the Kolar family, includes 20 meters of a special tunnel. It was used by residents of besieged Sarajevo for the exit of civilians and the supply of food during the recent military conflict. In the past, this military tunnel was more than 700 meters long and took about six months to build.

The small village of Medjugorje became famous in the 20th century when six local children saw the image of the Virgin Mary on a hill. And although this phenomenon was not officially recognized by the church, more than a million pilgrims regularly visit the local Hill of the Apparition. Also noteworthy is the Church of St. James, built in the classical Balkan style, and the Park of Candles, where believers thank the Virgin Mary for helping them fulfill their wishes.

The Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque was built in the 16th century and is a perfectly preserved example of buildings from the Ottoman period. The mosque received its name in honor of the philanthropist Gazi Husrev Bey, who actively participated in the construction and development of Sarajevo. Anyone can visit the mosque, you just need to wait until the prayer ends.

The heart of Sarajevo is its main shopping area. Built in 1462, Bascarsija Square is still the cultural and historical center of the capital. There is a clock tower, the Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, as well as a market where tourists can buy original souvenirs to remember their visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Climbing Mount Maglic – popular tourist route. Majestic landscapes, clean air and the relative simplicity of local mountain trails attract outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world. The height of the mountain is 2387 meters and is the highest point in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Not far from Maglic there is a very beautiful glacial lake Trnovacko.

A famous example of Turkish engineering from the Middle Ages, the Visegrad Bridge over the Drin River was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007. This structure, which is also called the Mehmed Pasha Bridge, consists of 11 stone spans and connects both parts of the city of Visegrad. The Mehmed Pasha Bridge was immortalized in a book published in 1945 by Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić.

From November to April, the town of Kupres, located in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, becomes a center of ski tourism. If there is not enough natural snow, all four local ski slopes are maintained in excellent condition with the help of special snow cannons. Also in Kupres there are several hotels and inns to suit every taste.

The main Catholic church of Sarajevo, which is located in the central quarters of the city, was built in 1889. Architect Josip Vancas built this cathedral in the neo-Gothic style based on Notre Dame de Paris. The interior of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is decorated with elegant stained glass windows.

Tito's Refuge is a famous cave near the town of Drvar, where Yugoslav Marshal Josip Broz Tito hid during World War II. To capture and destroy Tito along with the Supreme Headquarters of the Liberation Movement, the Germans carried out Operation Resselsprung, during which Tito took refuge in a cave near Drvar and then fled. In 1944, the cave was turned into a museum.