24 Facts About Mostar

Mostar is a city and the administrative center of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the historical capital of Herzegovina.

Mostar is situated on the Neretva River and is the fifth-largest city in the country.

Mostar was named after the bridge keepers who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most over the Neretva.

The name of Mostar was first mentioned in a document dating from 1474, taking its name from the bridge-keepers ; this refers to the existence of a wooden bridge from the market on the left bank of the river which was used by traders, soldiers, and other travelers.

Since Mostar was on the trade route between the Adriatic and the mineral-rich regions of central Bosnia, the settlement began to spread to the right bank of the river.

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Mostar is indirectly referred to in a 1454 charter of King Alfonso V of Aragon as Pons, for a bridge had already been built there.

An economically sustainable plan to preserve the old town of Mostar was implemented by the municipality, which drew thousands of tourists from the Adriatic coast and invigorated the economy of the city.

In early 1993 the Croat–Bosniak War escalated and by mid-April 1993 Mostar had become a divided city with the western part dominated by HVO forces and the eastern part controlled by the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The February 1996 Mostar Agreement led to the adoption of the Interim Statute of the city the same month, and to a 1-year period of EU Administration of Mostar, headed by former Bremen mayor Hans Koschnick, till early 1997.

Mostar has architecturally noteworthy buildings in a wide range of styles.

Traditional Mostar food is closely related to Turkish, Middle Eastern and other Mediterranean cuisines.

Mostar's economy relies heavily on the aluminium and metal industry, banking services and the telecommunication sector.

The city of Mostar alone has direct income of €40 million annually from Aluminij.

The city of Mostar has the largest population of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mostar is the sunniest city in the country with an average of 2291 solar hours a year.

The February 1996 Mostar Agreement led to the adoption of the Interim Statute of the city the same month, and to a 1-year period of EU Administration of Mostar, headed by former Bremen mayor Hans Koschnick, till early 1997.

However, Croat and Bosniak students in Gimnazija Mostar continue to have most courses according to the “national” curriculum, among them the so-called national subjects – history, literature, geography, and religion.

University of Mostar is the second largest university in the country and the only Croatian language university in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In basketball, HKK Zrinjski Mostar competes at the nation's highest level while the Zrinjski banner represents the city in the top handball league.

Mostar has plenty of talented swimmers despite having just one 25 meter pool and one 12.

Mostar is an important tourist destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Mostar Airport serves the city as well as the railway and bus stations which connect it to a number of national and international destinations.

Mostar's old town is an important tourist destination with the Stari Most being its most recognizable feature.

World War II Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar, designed by the architect Bogdan Bogdanovic, is another important symbol of the city.