Sightseeing stop in Blagaj: discover beautiful places in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Blagaj highlight

monastery is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

We at Monterrasol Transfers specialize in private car transfers. Together with the transfer itself, we propose that you visit some beautiful places along the transfer route. We call such places optional sightseeing stops (short excursions).

One of the places we selected to propose as a sightseeing stop is a beautiful Blagaj in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Sightseeing stops are a perfect easy opportunity to see new places during your transfer across Bosnia-Herzegovina, especially during long distance transfers. Take it as a great option to get in touch with local culture and history. It's good to combine transportation and sightseeing together!

Blagaj is a village in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of Bosnia-Herzegovina, located in about 15 km from Mostar, and is one of the most valuable mixed urban and rural built environments in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Blagaj has eleven national monuments, and is famous for the spring of the Buna river coming from cave, historical Dervish monastery (tekija) built around 1520, and medieval fortress Blagaj Fort, town-fortress complex built on a 310 meters high karst hill. Blagaj is also known as a residential area of Bosnian rulers and royal families.

Last reviewed: 5 April 2022

Blagaj description

In historical sources Blagaj was first mentioned in 1423. Blagaj was most likely named for its mild weather patterns since blaga in Bosnian means "mild". The earliest Blagaj settlement was located at the foot of the Blagaj fort. The urbanization of the area as it is visible today was originated in the second half of the 15th century, and its structure was shaped during the 16th century.

During the classical antiquity there existed an Illyrian fortress, and a Roman castrum later. In the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, the Latin word castrum was a military-related term. The singular form castrum meant 'fort', while the plural form castra meant 'camp'. By that, Blagaj Fort was initially a fortified military base, and this is what we call today as "Roman fort", "Roman camp" and "Roman fortress".

During the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian, several fortified towns were built in the area. Blagaj was mentioned in the work De Administrando Imperio written by Constantine Porphyrogenitus, the fourth Emperor of the Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire, as Bona. The area later become part of Zahumlje.

Zachlumia, also known as Zahumlje, was a medieval principality located in the modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia (today its parts of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, respectively). In some periods it was a fully independent or semi-independent South Slavic principality. It maintained relations with various foreign and neighboring powers, such as Byzantine Empire, First Bulgarian Empire, Kingdom of Croatia, Principality of Serbia, and later was subject of Kingdom of Hungary, Kingdom of Serbia, Kingdom of Bosnia, Duchy of Saint Sava and at the end of the Ottoman Empire.

In the late 12th century, during the rule of Stefan Nemanja, the Grand Principality of Serbia, prefect Jurko raised a church dedicated to saints Cosmas and Damian. In the 14th century Zahumlje became part of the Bosnian state until the arrival of the Ottomans in 1466.

During the period of the Ottoman Empire, Blagaj was the seat of the Blagaj Vilayet, and was divided into several neighborhoods. The city had seven mosques, two inns, four guest houses, a islamic school, seven mills and four stone bridges on the river Buna.

Vrelo Bune, the source of the Buna river, is a strong karstic spring. The river, famous for its crystal clear water and amazing color, flows west for approximately 9 km and joins the Neretva river near the village Buna.

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The Blagaj Tekija

The Blagaj Tekija, a beautiful monastery built for the Dervish monks, was built around 1520, with elements of Ottoman architecture and Mediterranean style and is considered a national monument.

Dervish in Islam are members of a Sufi fraternity, or more narrowly to a religious mendicant, who chose or accepted material poverty. Their focus is on the universal values of love and service, deserting the illusions of ego to reach God, and noted for devotional exercises such as bodily movements leading to a trance.

Nowadays, the whirling dervishes performed whirling dance is the best known in the West by the practices of the Mevlevi order in Turkey. This practice, due to their famous practice of whirling as a form of remembrance of God, though not intended as entertainment, has become a tourist attraction in Turkey.

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Medieval fortress Blagaj Fort

The historic site of the Old Blagaj Fort (locally known as Stjepan grad), unlike other fortifications serving as residences in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is located on a natural level area above steep cliffs to the south, west and north. The high inaccessible karst hill where Blagaj Fort was built is about 310 meters toll. The walls of Blagaj Fort have survived for much of their length to a height of 12 or 14 m.

It is possible that this complex consisted of two parts in the early medieval period – the Old Fort (Stjepan grad) and Mala gradina, and that this twin settlement lasted at least until the mid-tenth century. The earliest writing source about this fortifications is the "Treatise on Peoples" by the Byzantine Emperor and writer Constantine Porphyrogenitus, dating between 948 and 952, where two forts are mentioned and referred as Bona and Hum.

After the 10th century, Blagaj played an important role in the development of Zahumlje. A major influence on its development was the proximity of a major route called via Narenti, linking the Adriatic sea with the Bosnian hinterland via the Neretva valley.

In May 1404 Blagaj became one of the residences of Duke, and then of count (herzeg) Stjepan Vukcic Kosaca, after whom the people named the fort as Stjepan grad. The first written reference to it is a peace accord between Duke Sandalj Hranic and the Venetians, from November 1, 1423, issued "in our town of Blagaj". It was also mentioned in the 15th century charters of the King of Aragon and Naples, Alphonse V.

The Ottomans occupied Blagaj in 1465, and repaired the fort twice: in 1699, when the west tower was repaired, and again in 1827. A garrison was stationed there until 1835, although the fort's former strategic role had long since been taken over by Mostar.

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Blagaj today

The synchronization of artisan crafts and construction techniques on the one hand and the development of the settlement on the other has left a mark on the Blagaj's image as a distinctive urban center in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today, Blagaj has eleven national monuments which attract numerous tourists. These monuments include the Blagaj Fort, the attractive Velagicevina residential complex right next to the river, the mosque of the Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the Karadozbeg bridge, and a beautiful Dervish House constructed by the order of the Ottoman sultan at the very source of the river Buna.

The Dervish House and its magnificent garden overlooking the source of Buna is one of the most mystical places in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The complex of old residential houses Velagicevina is a true example of how people used to live in the olden days and how they spent their time in Blagaj houses and gardens. Medieval fortress Blagaj Fort attracts hikers and is a great place for scenic images.

We know good things to see in Bosnia-Herzegovina. We know the roads, well-known tourist attractions like UNESCO sites, and off-the-beaten-path places.

If you would like to learn more about Bosnia-Herzegovina and explore it by visiting different attractions, come with us for a private tour. We can travel all across Bosnia-Herzegovina and we will show you all the important tourist attractions together with the hidden gems of this beautiful country. Feel free to contact us!

We have developed numerous itineraries for private car tours in Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as in neighboring countries, including tours passing through several countries as one journey. Solo private tours and tours for Seniors are available also.