Mostar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the two-way radio, see List of Motorola products Mobile radios.
Mostar
??????
City
City of Mostar
Mostar, Top:Neretva River and Mostar Old Bridge, Middle left:Koski Mehmed Pasina
Moscue, Center:Mostar Clock Tower, Middle right:A entrance of old bridge, Bottom
left:Bazzar in Kujundziluk Street, Bottom right:Night view of old bridge and
Kujundziluk area
Mostar, Top:Neretva River and Mostar Old Bridge, Middle left:Koski Mehmed Pasina
Moscue, Center:Mostar Clock Tower, Middle right:A entrance of old bridge, Bottom
left:Bazzar in Kujundziluk Street, Bottom right:Night view of old bridge and
Kujundziluk area
Flag of Mostar
Flag Coat of arms of Mostar
Coat of arms
Map of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mostar)
Map of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mostar)
Coordinates: 4320'N 1748'E
Country Bosnia and Herzegovina
Entity Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canton Herzegovina-Neretva
Region Herzegovina
Founded 1452
Government
Mayor Ljubo Beli (HDZ BiH)
Area
Total 1,175 km2 (454 sq mi)
Elevation 60 m (200 ft)
Population
Total 113,169
Density 96/km2 (250/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Area code(s) +387 (0) 36
Website www.mostar.ba
Mostar (Serbo-Croatian pronunciation: [mosta?r]) is a city and municipality in
southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Inhabited by 105,797 people, it is the most
important city in the Herzegovina region, its cultural capital, and the center of
the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva
River and is the fifth-largest city in the country. Mostar was named after the
bridge keepers (mostari) who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old
Bridge) over the Neretva. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th
century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most recognizable landmarks, and is
considered one of the most exemplary pieces of Islamic architecture in the Balkans.
[1][2][3][4]

Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Architecture
2.1 Reconstruction
3 Culture
4 Economy
5 Demographics
6 Geography
6.1 Climate
6.2 Subdivision
7 City government
8 Education
9 Sports
10 Tourism
11 Notable people
12 See also
13 References
14 Further reading
15 External links
History[edit]
Human settlements on the river Neretva, between the Hum Hill and the Vele
Mountain, have existed since prehistory, as witnessed by discoveries of fortified
enceintes and cemeteries. Evidence of Roman occupation was discovered beneath the
present town.[5]

As far as medieval Mostar goes, although the Christian basilicas of late antiquity
remained in use, few historical sources were preserved and not much is known about
this period. The name of Mostar was first mentioned in a document dating from 1474,
taking its name from the bridge-keepers (mostari); 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. During this time it was also the seat of a
kadiluk (district with a regional judge). 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.[5]

Prior to the 1474 the names of two towns appear in medieval historical sources,
along with their later medieval territories and properties the towns of Neboja
and Cimski grad. In the early 15th century the county (upa) of Veenike covered
the site of the present-day Mostar along the right bank of the Neretva, including
the sites of Zahum, Cim, Ilii, Ratani and Vojno. It was at the center of this
area, which in 1408 belonged to Radivojevi, that Cim fort was built (prior to
1443). Mostar is indirectly referred to in a 1454 charter of King Alfonso V of
Aragon as Pons ("bridge"), for a bridge had already been built there. Prior to
1444, the Neboja fort was built on the left bank of the Neretva, which belonged to
the late medieval county still known as Veenike or Veeri.[6] The earliest
documentary reference to Mostar as a settlement dates from 3 April 1452, when
Ragusans wrote to their fellow countrymen in the service of Serbian Despot ore
Brankovi to say that Vladislav Hercegovi had turned against his father Stjepan
and occupied the town of Blagaj and other places, including Duo Castelli al ponte
de Neretua..[7]

In 1468 the region came under Ottoman rule[7] and the urbanization of the
settlement began. It was named Kprhisar, meaning fortress at the bridge, at the
centre of which was a cluster of 15 houses. Following the unwritten oriental rule,
the town was organized into two distinct areas: arija, the crafts and commercial
centre of the settlement, and mahala or a residential area.[8]

The town was fortified between the years 1520 and 1566, and the wooden bridge was
rebuilt in stone.[5] The stone bridge, the Old Bridge (Stari Most), was erected in
1566 on the orders of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.[9] 28 metres (92 feet) long
and 20 metres (66 feet) high, quickly became a wonder in its own time. Later
becoming the city's symbol, the Old Bridge is one of the most important structures
of the Ottoman era and perhaps Bosnia's most recognizable architectural piece, and
was designed by Mimar Hayruddin,[3] a student and apprentice of the Ottoman
architect Mimar Sinan. In the late 16th century, Kprhisar was one of the towns of
the Sanjak of Herzegovina. The traveler Evliya elebi wrote in the 17th century
that: the bridge is like a rainbow arch soaring up to the skies, extending from one
cliff to the other. ...I, a poor and miserable slave of Allah, have passed through
16 countries, but I have never seen such a high bridge. It is thrown from rock to
rock as high as the sky.[10]

People of Mostar in 18901900

People gathered waiting for Stjepan Radi to arrive in Mostar in 1925

Austria-Hungary took control over Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878 and ruled the
country until the aftermath of World War I in 1918, when it became part of the
State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs and then Yugoslavia. During this period, Mostar
was recognized as the unofficial capital of Herzegovina.[11] The first church in
the city of Mostar, a Serbian Orthodox Church, was built in 1834 during Ottoman
rule. In 1881 the town became the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mostar-
Duvno and in 1939, it became a part of the Banovina of Croatia. During World War II
Mostar was also an important city in the fascist Independent State of Croatia.

The Old Town Street

After World War II, Mostar developed a production of plastics, tobacco, bauxite,
wine, aircraft and aluminium products. Several dams (Grabovica, Salakovac, Mostar)
were built in the region to harness the hydroelectric power of the Neretva. The
city was a major industrial and tourist center and prospered economically during
the time of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

After Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia in April 1992,
the town was besieged by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), though clashes between
the JNA and Croat forces started earlier. The Croats were organized into the
Croatian Defence Council (HVO)[12] and were joined by a sizable number of Bosniaks.
[13] The JNA artillery periodically shelled neighbourhoods outside of their control
from early April.[14]

On 7 June the Croatian Army (HV) launched an offensive codenamed Operation Jackal,
the objective of which was to relieve Mostar and break the JNA siege of Dubrovnik.
The offensive was supported by the HVO that attacked the Army of Republika Srpska
(VRS) positions around Mostar. By 12 June the HVO secured the western part of the
city and by 21 June the VRS was completely pushed out from the eastern part.
Numerous religious buildings and most of the city's bridges were destroyed or
severely damaged during the fighting.[14] Among them were the Catholic Cathedral of
Mary, Mother of the Church, the Franciscan Church and Monastery, the Bishop's
Palace and 12 out of 14 mosques. After the VRS was pushed from the city, the
Serbian Orthodox itomisli Monastery and the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity were
demolished.[15]

Throughout late 1992, tensions between Croats and Bosniaks increased in Mostar. In
early 1993 the CroatBosniak 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
where the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) was largely
concentrated. Fighting broke out in May when both sides of the city came under
intense artillery fire.[16] The city was divided along ethnic lines and both armies
soon settled down. Future offensives usually resulted in a stalemate.[17][18] In
November, the Stari Most bridge was destroyed by an HVO tank.[19] The CroatBosniak
conflict ended with the signing of the Washington Agreement in 1994, and the
Bosnian War ended with the Dayton Agreement in 1995. Around 2,000 people died in
Mostar during the war.[20]

Architecture[edit]
Main article: Architecture of Mostar
Mostar has architecturally noteworthy buildings in a wide range of styles.
Historicist architectural styles reflected cosmopolitan interest and exposure to
foreign aesthetic trends and were artfully merged with indigenous styles. Examples
include the Italianate Franciscan church, the Ottoman Muslibegovia house, the
Dalmatian Corovic House and an Orthodox church which was built as gift from the
Sultan.

The Ottomans used monumental architecture to affirm, extend and consolidate their
colonial holdings. Administrators and bureaucrats many of them indigenous people
who converted from Christianity to Islam founded mosque complexes that generally
included Koranic schools, soup kitchens or markets.[21]

Mostar
Stari Most from the air.JPG
Old Bridge in the heart of the Old City of Mostar (Aerial photo)
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar
Location Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina Edit this at
Wikidata
Coordinates 4320'58N 1748'45E
Area 1,175,000,000 m2 (1.2651010 sq ft)
Criteria Cultural: vi
Reference 946
Inscription 2005 (29th Session)
Website www.mostar.ba
Mostar is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina Mostar
Location of Mostar
[edit on Wikidata]

Old Town of Mostar

Gimnazija Mostar, designed by architect Frantiek Blaek

Out of the thirteen original mosques dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, seven
have been lost during the 20th century for ideological reasons or by bombardment.
One of the two 19th-century Orthodox churches has also disappeared, while the early
20th-century synagogue, after suffering severe damage in the World War II, has been
converted into a theatre. Several Ottoman inns also survived, along with other
buildings from this period of Mostar's history, such as fountains and schools.[5]

The Old Bridge

The majority of administrative buildings are from the Austro-Hungarian period and
have neoclassical and Secessionist characteristics. A number of surviving late
Ottoman houses demonstrate the component features of this form of domestic
architecture upper storey for residential use, hall, paved courtyard, and
verandah on one or two storeys. The later 19th-century residential houses are
predominantly in neoclassical style.[5]

A number of early trading and craft buildings still exist, notably some low shops
in wood or stone, stone storehouses, and a group of former tanneries round an open
courtyard. Once again, the 19th-century commercial buildings are predominantly
neoclassical. A number of elements of the early fortifications are visible. Namely
the Hercegusa Tower dating from the medieval period, whereas the Ottoman defence
edifices are represented by the Halebinovka and Tara Towers the watchtowers on
the ends of the Old Bridge, and a stretch of the ramparts.[5]

During the period of Austro-Hungarian rule (18781918), Mostars city council

cooperated with the Austro-Hungarians to implement sweeping reforms in city
planning: broad avenues and an urban grid were imposed on the western bank of the
Neretva, and significant investments were made in infrastructure, communications
and housing. City administrators like Mustafa Mujaga Komadina were central players
in these transformations, which facilitated growth and linked the eastern and
western banks of the city. Noteworthy examples of Austro-Hungarian architecture
include the Municipality building, which was designed by the architect Josip Vancas
from Sarajevo, Residential districts around the Rondo, and Gimnazija Mostar from
1902 designed by Frantiek Blaek.

Between 1948 and 1974 the industrial base was expanded with construction of a
metal-working factory, cotton textile mills, and an aluminum plant. Skilled
workers, both men and women, entered the work force and the social and demographic
profile of the city was broadened dramatically; between 1945 and 1980, Mostars
population grew from 18,000 to 100,000.

Because Mostars eastern bank was burdened by inadequate infrastructure, the city
expanded on the western bank with the construction of large residential blocks.
Local architects favored an austere modernist aesthetic, prefabrication and
repetitive modules. Commercial buildings in the functionalist style appeared on the
historic eastern side of the city as well, replacing more intimate timber
constructions that had survived since Ottoman times. In the 1970s and 1980s, a
healthy local economy fueled by foreign investment spurred recognition and
conservation of the citys cultural heritage. 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. The results of this ten-year project earned Mostar an Aga Khan Award for
Architecture in 1986.[21]

The oldest single arch stone bridge in Mostar, the Kriva Cuprija ("Sloping
Bridge"), was built in 1558 by the Ottoman architect Cejvan Kethoda. It is said
that this was to be a test before the major construction of the Stari Most began.
The Old Bridge was completed in 1566 and was hailed as one of the greatest
architectural achievement in the Ottoman controlled Balkans. This single-arch stone
bridge is an exact replica of the original bridge that stood for over 400 years and
that was designed by Hajrudin, a student of the great Ottoman architect Sinan. It
spans 28.7 metres (94 feet) of the Neretva river, 21 metres (69 feet) above the
summer water level. The Halebija and Tara towers have always housed the guardians
of the bridge and during Ottoman times were also used as storehouses for
ammunition. The arch is a perfect semicircle 8.56 metres (28.1 feet) in width and
4.15 metres (13.6 feet) in height. The frontage and vault are made of regular stone
cubes incorporated into the horizontal layers all along the vault. The space
between vault, frontal walls and footpath is filled with cracked stone. The bridge
footpath and the approaching roads are paved with cobblestones, as is the case with
the main roads in the town. Stone steps enable people to ascend to the bridge
either side. During the armed conflict between Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats in the
Bosnian War in the 1990s, the bridge was destroyed by the HVO (Croatian Defence
Council).[22]

Koski Mehmed pasa Mosque.

The Cejvan Cehaj Mosque, built in 1552, is the oldest mosque in Mostar. Later a
madrasah (Islamic school) was built on the same compound. The Old Bazaar,
Kujundziluk is named after the goldsmiths who traditionally created and sold their
wares on this street, and still sells authentic paintings and copper or bronze
carvings of the Stari Most, pomegranates (the natural symbol of Herzegovina) or the
steaks (medieval tombstones).

The Koski Mehmed Paa Mosque, built in 1617 is open to visitors. Visitors may enter
the mosque and take photos free of charge. The minaret is also open to the public
and is accessible from inside the mosque. Just around the corner from the mosque is
the Tepa Market. This has been a busy marketplace since Ottoman times. It now sells
mostly fresh produce grown in Herzegovina and, when in season, the figs and
pomegranates are extremely popular. Local honey is also a prominent specialty,
being produced all around Herzegovina.

Reconstruction[edit]

The Old Bridge undergoing reconstruction in June 2003.

Since the end of the wider war in 1995, great progress has been made in the
reconstruction of the city of Mostar. The city was under direct monitoring from a
European Union envoy, several elections were held and each nation was accommodated
with regard to political control over the city. Over 15 million dollars has been
spent on restoration.[citation needed]

A monumental project to rebuild the Old Bridge, which was destroyed during the
Bosnian War, to the original design, and restore surrounding structures and
historic neighbourhoods was initiated in 1999 and mostly completed by Spring 2004.
The money for this reconstruction was donated by Spain[citation needed] (who had a
sizable contingent of peacekeeping troops stationed in the surrounding area during
the conflict), the United States, Turkey, Italy, the Netherlands, and Croatia. A
grand opening was held on 23 July 2004 under heavy security.

In parallel with the restoration of the Old Bridge, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture
and the World Monuments Fund, with funding provided by the World Bank, undertook a
five-year-long restoration and rehabilitation effort in historic Mostar. Realizing
early on that the reconstruction of the bridge without an in-depth rehabilitation
of the surrounding historic neighbourhoods would be devoid of context and meaning,
they shaped the programme in such a way as to establish a framework of urban
conservation schemes and individual restoration projects that would help regenerate
the most significant areas of historic Mostar, and particularly the urban tissue
around the Old Bridge. The project also resulted in the establishment of the Stari
Grad Agency which has an important role in overseeing the ongoing implementation of
the conservation plan, as well as operating and maintaining a series of restored
historic buildings (including the Old Bridge complex) and promoting Mostar as a
cultural and tourist destination. The official inauguration of the Stari grad
Agency coincided with the opening ceremony of the Bridge.[23]

The Old Bridge in September 2008 after reconstruction.

In July 2005, UNESCO inscribed the Old Bridge and its closest vicinity onto the
World Heritage List.

Culture[edit]
Dani Matice Hrvatske is one of city's significant cultural events and it is
commonly sponsored by the Croatian Government and the Government of the Federation
of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mostar Summer is another umbrella event which includes
anti Poetry Evenings, Mostar Summer Festival and Festival of Bosnia and
Herzegovina choirs/ensembles. The city is a home of music festival called Melodije
Mostara (Mostar Melodies) which has been held annually since 1995. Theatre
festivals include Mostarska Liska (organized by the National Theatre Mostar) and
The Mostar Spring (organized by the Matica hrvatska Mostar).[24][25]

Mostar Art institutions include:

Croatian Lodge "Herceg Stjepan Kosaca"

Cultural Center Mostar
OKC Abraevi (English: Abraevi Youth Center)
Pavarotti Music Centre
Croatian National Theatre Mostar (HNK)
National Theatre Mostar
Museum of the Old Bridge
The Herzegovina Museum
Mostar Youth Theatre
Aluminij Gallery
Birthplace of Svetozar Corovic (Aleksa anti House)
Muslibegovi House
World Music Centre
Puppet Theatre Mostar
Mostar cuisine is balanced between Western and Eastern influences. Traditional
Mostar food is closely related to Turkish, Middle Eastern and other Mediterranean
cuisines. However, due to years of Austrian rule and influence, there are also many
culinary influences from Central Europe.[26][27] Some of the dishes include
evapii, burek, sarma, japrak, musaka, dolma, sujuk, sa, uve, and satara.
Local desserts include baklava, hurmaice, sutlija, tulumbe, tufahije, and
ampita.

Economy[edit]

The construction of the largest shopping center in Bosnia and Herzegovina- "Mepas
Mall"
Mostar's economy relies heavily on the aluminum and metal industry, banking
services and telecommunication sector.[citation needed] The city is the seat of
some of the country's largest corporations.

Along with Sarajevo, it is the largest financial center in Bosnia-Herzegovina, with

two out of three largest banks in the country having their headquarters in Mostar.
[28][29] Bosnia-Herzegovina has three national electric, postal and
telecommunication service corporations; one of them in each group has its seat in
Mostar (electric service corporation 'Elektroprivreda HZHB', postal service company
Hrvatska Pota Mostar and HT Mostar, the third largest telecommunication company in
the country). These three companies (along with banks and aluminium factory) make a
vast portion of overall economic activity in the city.[citation needed] The private
sector has seen a notable increase in small and medium enterprises over the past
couple of years contributing to the positive business climate.[citation needed]

Considering the fact that three dams are situated on the city of Mostars
territory, the city has a solid base for further development of production. There
is also an ongoing project for the possible use of wind power and building of
windmills.

Prior to the 19921995 Bosnian War, Mostar relied on other important companies
which had been closed, damaged or downsized. They included SOKO (military aircraft
factory), Fabrika duhana Mostar (tobacco industry), and Hepok (food industry). In
1981 Mostar's GDP per capita was 103% of the Yugoslav average[30]

The only company from the former Yugoslavia, which still works well is Aluminij.
Aluminij is one of the country's strongest companies and it has a number of
international partners. The company steadily increases its annual production and it
collaborates with leading global corporations such as Daimler Chrysler and Fiat.
[31] Aluminij is one of the most influential companies in the city, region, but
also country. In relation to the current manufacturing capacity it generates an
annual export of more than 150 million. The partners with which the Aluminij does
business are renowned global companies, from which the most important are: Venture
Coke Company L.L.C. (Venco-Conoco joint Venture) from the USA, Glencore
International AG from Switzerland, Debis International trading GmbH, Daimler-
Chrysler and VAW Aluminium Technologie GmbH from Germany, Hydro ASA from Norway,
Fiat from Italy, and TLM-ibenik from Croatia[5]. Mostar area alone receives an
income of 40 million annually from Aluminij.

Mostar also hosts the annual International Economic Fair Mostar ("Meunarodni sajam
gospodarstva Mostar")[32] which was first held in 1997. The Fair consist of several
smaller sections: "The Economy Fair", "Wine Fair", "Book Fair" and "Food Day".

Demographics[edit]
Historical population
Year Pop. %
1961 72,453
1971 89,580 +23.6%
1981 110,371 +23.2%
1991 126,628 +14.7%
2013 105,797 -16.5%

A waitress in the Old City of Mostar

Nowadays, the City of Mostar with a total population of 105,797 according to the
2013 census results, consists of the following ethnic groups: Croats (48.4%);
Bosniaks (44.1%) and Serbs (4.1%). The city of Mostar has the largest population of
Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As in many other cities, its demographic profile
was significantly altered after the Bosnian War; in case of Mostar, most of the
Serbs left the city.

According to the official data of the local elections of 2008, among 6 city
election districts, three western ones (Croat-majority) had 53,917 registered
voters, and those three on the east (Bosniak-majority) had 34,712 voters.[33]

The ethnic composition of the City of Mostar:

Ethnic group Population

1961[34] Population
1971[35] Population
1981[36] Population
1991 Population
2013[37]
Croats 27,265 32,782 36,927 43,037 51,216
Bosniaks/Muslims 10,513 33,645 34,247 43,856 46,752
Serbs 21,220 19,076 20,271 23,846 4,421
Yugoslavs 12,181 2,329 17,143 12,768 -
Others 1,274 1,748 1,789 3,121 3,408
Total 72,453 89,580 110,377 126,628 105,797
Geography[edit]

Mostar Old Town Panorama

Climate[edit]
Mostar, and Herzegovina area in general, enjoy a modified Mediterranean climate,
with cool, humid winters and hot, dry summers. In the summer months, occasional
temperatures above 40 C (104 F) are not uncommon, with a record temperature of
46.2 C (115.2 F).[38] The coldest month is January, averaging about 5 C (41 F),
and the warmest month is July, averaging about 26 C (78 F). Mostar experiences a
relatively dry season from June to September. The remainder of the year is wet and
mild.[39] The Kppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is Cfa, which
in this case is an "Oceanic climate with hot summers and Mediterranean tendency"
(close to Csa subtype).[40] Mostar is the sunniest city in the country with an
average of 2291 solar hours a year.[41] Snow is not uncommon but relatively rare
and it usually melts within a few hours or days.

During the 2012 European cold wave, Mostar experienced unusually cold weather with
freezing temperatures lasting for days and a record snow depth of 82.5 cm (32 in).
[42]

[hide]Climate data for Mostar (19611990, extremes 1949present)

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high C (F) 18.2
(64.8) 25.0
(77) 27.6
(81.7) 31.5
(88.7) 35.6
(96.1) 41.2
(106.2) 43.0
(109.4) 43.1
(109.6) 38.8
(101.8) 32.5
(90.5) 25.5
(77.9) 19.4
(66.9) 43.1
(109.6)
Average high C (F) 8.4
(47.1) 10.8
(51.4) 14.6
(58.3) 19.0
(66.2) 24.0
(75.2) 27.6
(81.7) 31.1
(88) 30.8
(87.4) 26.9
(80.4) 21.0
(69.8) 14.5
(58.1) 9.7
(49.5) 19.9
(67.8)
Daily mean C (F) 5.2
(41.4) 7.0
(44.6) 10.0
(50) 13.7
(56.7) 18.7
(65.7) 21.7
(71.1) 24.9
(76.8) 24.6
(76.3) 21.1
(70) 16.1
(61) 10.6
(51.1) 6.5
(43.7) 15.0
(59)
Average low C (F) 1.9
(35.4) 3.2
(37.8) 5.4
(41.7) 8.4
(47.1) 12.5
(54.5) 15.8
(60.4) 18.6
(65.5) 18.4
(65.1) 15.3
(59.5) 11.2
(52.2) 6.7
(44.1) 3.3
(37.9) 10.1
(50.2)
Record low C (F) -10.9
(12.4) -9.6
(14.7) -6.5
(20.3) -1.2
(29.8) 3.3
(37.9) 8.0
(46.4) 8.4
(47.1) 9.6
(49.3) 6.4
(43.5) -0.1
(31.8) -4.8
(23.4) -7.8
(18) -10.9
(12.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 165
(6.5) 151
(5.94) 150
(5.91) 127
(5) 102
(4.02) 78
(3.07) 43
(1.69) 74
(2.91) 96
(3.78) 151
(5.94) 200
(7.87) 179
(7.05) 1,516
(59.68)
Average precipitation days (? 0.1 mm) 13 12 12 13 12 12 7
8 8 11 13 13 134
Average relative humidity (%) 67 63 62 62 64 61 53 53 60
68 69 68 63
Mean monthly sunshine hours 113 118 155 174 223 252 323 296 230
178 124 114 2,300
Source #1: World Meteorological Organisation (UN),[43] Meteorological Institute of
Bosnia and Herzegovina (extremes)[44]
Source #2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity, 19731992 and sun, 19611990)[45][46]
[note 1]
Subdivision[edit]
Mostar municipality is composed by the town itself and 56 villages and suburbs.
They are:

Baevii, Banjdol, Blagaj, Bogodol, Buna, Cim, ule, Dobr, Donja Drenica, Donji
Jasenjani, Draevice, Gnojnice, Goranci, Gornja Drenica, Gornje Gnojnice, Gornji
Jasenjani, Gubavica, Hodbina, Humiliani, Ilii, Jasenica, Kosor, Kremenac,
Krivodol, Kruanj, Kutiliva, Lakevine, Malo Polje, Miljkovii, Orlac, Ortije,
Pijesci, Podgorani, Podgorje, Podvele, Polog, Potoci, Prigraani, Rabina, Raka
Gora, Ratani, Ravni, Rodo, Selite, Slipii, Sovii, Sretnice, Strievo,
Vihovii, Vojno, Vranjevii, Vrapii, Vrdi, eljua, itomislii and ulja.

After the Bosnian War, following the Dayton Agreement, the villages of Kamena,
Kokorina and Zijemlje were separated from Mostar to form the new municipality of
Istoni Mostar (East Mostar), in the Republika Srpska.

City government[edit]

Panoramic view of Mostar

The City of Mostar has the status of a municipality. The city government is led by
the Mayor. The current Mayor of Mostar is Ljubo Beli (HDZ). The City Council is
composed of 35 representatives, coming from the following political parties:
Croatian Coalition 13:
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)
United Croatian Party of Rights (UHSP)
Croatian Party of Rights (HSP)
Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU)
Croatian People's Union (HNZ)
Party of Democratic Action (SDA) 10
Social Democratic Party (SDP) 4
Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina 4
People's Party Work for Betterment 1
Croatian Coalition 1
Croatian Party of Rights (HSP)
Croatian Pure Party of Rights (HSP)
Independent 2
2008 constitutional crisis

According to the constitution, imposed by High Representative Paddy Ashdown on

January 28, 2004 after local politicians failed to reach an agreement, the mayor of
Mostar has to be elected by the city council with ? majority.[47][48] Ashdown
abolished the six municipalities that were divided equally among Bosniaks and
Croats and replaced them with six electoral units,[49] ridding Mostar of duplicate
institutions and costs.[50] In the process Ashdown also reduced the number of
elected officials from 194 to 35.[49] According to the constitution the
constitutive nations of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs) are
guaranteed a minimum of four seats and a maximum of 15 seats.[49] 18 deputies are
elected by the election units: 3 deputies from each district and 15 deputies are
elected at the level of entire city.[48] This move was opposed by the Party for
Democratic Action (SDA) and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).[49]

In October 2008, there were elections for the city council. Relative winners were
HDZ BiH with the greatest number of votes. However, neither party had enough votes
to ensure election of the mayor from their party. The city council met 16 times
without success. Eventually OHR was involved and High Representative made some
minor changes to city's Statute. After that Ljubo Beli, running as a candidate of
Croatian Democratic Union, was reelected as a mayor.

In a January 26 poll organized by the international community, 75 percent of

Mostars citizens said that they support the idea of a unified city.[49]

Statute of the City of Mostar

In 2011. the constitutional court declared current Statute as unconstitutional,

because the numbers of deputies from city districts don't match the number of
voters in each district. The City is waiting for the new Statute to be created, and
many believe that such a thing will need to be carried by OHR. In November 2011
Roderick W. Moore, the Principal Deputy High Representative, emphasized the
importance of the urgent acts towards adoption of the new, constitutional Statute.

Education[edit]
Main article: Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina

University of Mostar Seal

Mostar has a number of various educational institutions. These include University
of Mostar, University "Demal Bijedi" of Mostar, United World College in Mostar,
nineteen high-schools and twenty four elementary schools.[51] High-schools include
sixteen vocational schools and three gymnasiums.[52]

All public schools in Mostar, both elementary and secondary education, are divided
between Croat curriculum and Federal (unofficially Bosniak) curriculum schools.
This ethnic division of schools was emplaced during the very first year of the
Bosnian war and it continues, with some modifications, to this day. Today, the
schools in Mostar and throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina are a site of struggle
between ethno-national political elites[53] in ways that reveals the precarious
position of youth in the volatile nation building processes[54] A partial exception
to divided education is Gimnazija Mostar (also known as "Stara gimnazija") that
implemented joint school administration and some joint student courses. However,
Croat and Bosniak students in Gimanzija Mostar continue to have most courses
according to the national curriculum, among them the so-called national subjects
history, literature, geography, and religion.[55]

The country's higher education reform and the signing of the Bologna Process have
forced both universities to put aside their rivalry to some extent and try to make
themselves more competitive on a regional level.[citation needed]

University of Mostar is the second largest university in the country and the only
Croatian language university in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was founded in 1977 as
the University "Demal Bijedi" of Mostar, but changed name in 1992. The origin of
the university can be traced back to the Herzegovina Franciscan Theological School,
which was founded in 1895 and closed in 1945, was the first higher education
institution in Mostar.[56] Today's University seal shows the building of the
Franciscan Monastery.

University Demal Bijedi of Mostar was founded in 1993. It employs around 250
professors and staff members. According to the Federal Office of Statistics, Demal
Bijedi University had 2,522 students enrolled during the 2012/2013 academic year.
[57]

As of 2015 school year, the University of Mostar had 10,712 students enrolled at
eleven faculties making it the largest university in the city.[57] Cumulatively, it
has been attended by more than 40,000 students since the start of the Bologna
process of education.

Sports[edit]
One of the most popular sports in Mostar is football. The two most successful teams
are FK Vele Mostar and Zrinjski. FK Vele Mostar won the Yugoslav cup in 1981 and
1986 which was one of the most significant accomplishments this club has achieved.
Today two teams from Mostar compete in the Premier League of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Since the Bosnian War each club has generally been supported by a
particular ethnic group (Vele for the Bosniaks and Zrinjski for the Croats). The
matches between the two clubs are some of the country's most intense matches.

Bijeli Brijeg Stadium (former stadium of FK Vele) and Vrapii Stadium are the
city's two main football grounds.

In basketball, HKK Zrinjski Mostar competes at the nation's highest level while the
Zrinjski banner also represents the city in the top handball league. Vahid
Halilhodi, a former Bosnian football player who currently manages the Algerian
national football team, started his professional career in FK Vele Mostar.[58]

Springtime in Mostar by Tivadar Kosztka Csontvry (18531919)

In 2011 rugby union football club RK Herceg was founded. It competes in national
leagues of Bosnia & Herzegovina and in regional league Adria Sevens.

Tourism[edit]

Old City of Mostar and the Old Bridge over the Neretva River
Mostar is an important tourist destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mostar
International 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.

Some noteworthy sites include Bishops Ordinariate building, the remains of an

early Christian basilica at Cim, a hamam (Ottoman public bath), clock tower (sahat-
kula), Synagogue (1889) and Jewish Memorial Cemetery, Nesuh-aga Vujakovi Mosque,
Hadi-Kurt Mosque or Tabaica, Metropolitan's Palace (1908), Karagz Bey Mosque
(1557), Orthodox Church, Catholic Church and Franciscan Monastery,[59] Ottoman
Residences (16th19th century), Crooked Bridge, Tara and Halebija Towers.[60]

The World War II Partisan cemetery in Mostar, designed by the architect Bogdan
Bogdanovi, is another important symbol of the city. Its sacrosanct quality is
derived from the unity of nature (water and greenery) with the architectural
expression of the designer; the monument was inscribed on the list of National
Monuments in 2006.[61]

The Catholic pilgrimage site of Meugorje is also nearby as well as the Tekija
Dervish Monastery in Blagaj, 13th-century town of Poitelj, Blagaj Fort (Stjepan-
grad), Kravice Falls, seaside town of Neum, Roman villa rustica from the early
fourth century Mogorjelo, Stolac with its steak necropolis and the remains of an
ancient Greek town of Daorson. Nearby sites also include the nature park called
Hutovo Blato, archeological site Desilo, Lake Borako as well as Vjetrenica cave,
the largest and most important cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[62]

Notable people[edit]
Duan Bajevi, footballer
Enver Mari, footballer
Franjo Vladi, footballer
Bla Slikovi, footballer
Muhamed Muji, footballer, Olympic and European championnship silver medalist
Ivan urkovi, footballer and President of the Olympic Committee of Serbia
Aleksa anti, writer
Predrag Matvejevi, writer
Draen Dalipagi, basketball, Olympic, World and European champion
Bojan Bogdanovi, Croatian basketball
Vladimir orovi, historian
Svetozar orovi, writer
See also[edit]
List of twin towns and sister cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
References[edit]
Notes
Jump up ^ Station ID for Mostar is 14648 Use this station ID to locate the sunshine
duration
Citations
Jump up ^ Bali, Smail (1973). Kultura Bonjaka: Muslimanska Komponenta. Vienna.
pp. 3234. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
Jump up ^ ii, Husein. Razvitak i postanak grada Mostara. tamparija Mostar. p.
22. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b Stratton, Arthur (1972). Sinan. New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons. ISBN 0-684-12582-X.
Jump up ^ Stover, Eric; Harvey M. Weinstein (2004). My Neighbor, My Enemy: Justice
and Community in the Aftermath of Mass Atrocity. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press. p. 151. The bridge, built in 1566, was considered a masterpiece
of Islamic architecture and a unique symbol of an undivided city.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f UNESCO: Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar
Jump up ^ Aneli, 1974, 276278
^ Jump up to: a b Mujezinovi, 1998, p. 144
Jump up ^ Institute for Regional Planning, Mostar, 1982, p. 21
Jump up ^ Guardian Article: Mostar reclaims Ottoman heritage
Jump up ^ "Hearts and Stones". Saudi Aramco World. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
Jump up ^ "Taking Vengeance on the Serbs". The Independent. July 13, 1914.
Retrieved August 12, 2012.
Jump up ^ Tanner 2001, p. 286.
Jump up ^ Goldstein 1999, p. 243.
^ Jump up to: a b CIA 2002, p. 156-157.
Jump up ^ Ruggles 2012, p. 152-153.
Jump up ^ Christia 2012, p. 157-158.
Jump up ^ Tanner 2001, p. 290.
Jump up ^ Christia 2012, p. 159.
Jump up ^ CIA 2002, p. 201.
Jump up ^ Yarwood et al. 1999, p. 4.
^ Jump up to: a b Pasic, Amir. Conservation and Revitalization of Historic Mostar.
Geneva: The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2004.
Jump up ^ Sudetic, Chuck. "Mostar's Old Bridge Battered to Death". The New York
Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
Jump up ^ "Resurgence of Mostar's Historic City Centre". Retrieved 2006-11-29.
Jump up ^ NARODNO-MOSTAR.INFO . "Mostar Liska (in local language) ". Retrieved on
16 May 2013.
Jump up ^ maticahrvatska-mostar.ba . "Mostarsko proljece (in local language) ".
Retrieved on 16 May 2013.
Jump up ^ Tim Clancy (2004). "Bosnia & Herzegovina, The Bradt Travel Guide". pp.
9397. ISBN 1-84162-094-7. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
Jump up ^ Darra J. Goldstein, Kathrin Merkle Council of Europe. (ed.). Culinary
cultures of Europe: identity, diversity and dialogue. pp. 8794. ISBN 92-871-5744-
8. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
Jump up ^ "UniCredit Bank" (in Croatian). Unicreditbank.ba. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
Jump up ^ "Hypo Alpe Adria :: Always There For Our Custormers". Hypo-alpe-adria.ba.
Retrieved 2013-03-26.
Jump up ^ Radovinovi, Radovan; Berti, Ivan, eds. (1984). Atlas svijeta: Novi
pogled na Zemlju (in Croatian) (3rd ed.). Zagreb: Sveuilina naklada Liber.
Jump up ^ [1] Archived April 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
Jump up ^ "NASLOVNICAPoetna stranica". Mostarski-sajam.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
Jump up ^ "IZBORI 2008". Izbori.ba. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
Jump up ^ "Nacionalni Sastav Stanovnitva SFR Jugoslavije" (PDF) (in Serbian).
Republiki zavod za statistiku (Srbija). Retrieved 24 December 2016.
Jump up ^ "Nacionalni Sastav Stanovnitva SFR Jugoslavije" (PDF). stat.gov.rs (in
Serbian). Republiki zavod za statistiku (Srbija). Retrieved 24 December 2016.
Jump up ^ "Nacionalni Sastav Stanovnitva SFR Jugoslavije" (PDF). stat.gov.rs (in
Serbian). Republiki zavod za statistiku (Srbija). Retrieved 24 December 2016.
Jump up ^ "POPIS STANOVNITVA, DOMAINSTAVA I STANOVA U BOSNI I HERCEGOVINI, 2013.
REZULTATI POPISA" (PDF). popis2013.ba (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 December 2016.
Jump up ^ https://www.vecernji.ba/najtopliji-mostar-1901-s-462-stupnja-309937
Jump up ^ Encyclopadia Britannica
Jump up ^ Climate Summary for Mostar
Jump up ^ http://www.fzs.ba/BihB/Temperatures.htm
Jump up ^ "Historical Weather For 2012 in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina". Cedar
Lake Ventures, Inc. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
Jump up ^ "World Weather Information Service Mostar". World Meteorological
Organisation. May 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
Jump up ^ "Mostar: Record mensili dal 1949" (in Italian). Meteorological Institute
of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
Jump up ^ "Klimatafel von Mostar / Bosnien und Herzegowina" (PDF). Baseline climate
means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher
Wetterdienst. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
Jump up ^ "Station 14648 Mostar". Global station data 19611990Sunshine Duration.
Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
Jump up ^ Pie: srijeda, 28.1.2004. 15:53 (2004-01-28). "Ashdown nametnuo novi
ustroj Mostara - Vijesti.net". Index.hr. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
^ Jump up to: a b "Odluka kojom se proglaava Statut Grada Mostara". Ohr.int. 2004-
01-28. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Hopeful rebirth for Bosnia's divided Mostar / ISN".
Isn.ethz.ch. 2004-02-03. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
Jump up ^ "High Representative's Letter to the Citizens of Mostar". Ohr.int. 2004-
01-28. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
Jump up ^ [2] Archived September 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
Jump up ^ asdf121 16.01.2012. (2012-01-16). "Srednje kole / Ope informacije /
Mostar / INFO" (in Croatian). MOSTARinfo. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
Jump up ^ "UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina - Info centar - Podijeljene kole u BiH".
www.unicef.org. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
Jump up ^ Laketa, Sunana (2015-01-01). Kallio, Kirsi; Mills, Sarah; Skelton,
Tracey, eds. Youth as Geopolitical Subjects: The Case of Mostar, Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Geographies of Children and Young People. Springer Singapore. pp.
113. doi:10.1007/978-981-4585-94-1_6-1. ISBN 9789814585941.
Jump up ^ "Citizens of an Empty Nation | Azra Hromadi". www.upenn.edu. Retrieved
2016-03-08.
Jump up ^ Sreben Dizdar, Bakari Kemal (1996). Leland C. Barrows, ed. Report on
higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina : historical development, present state,
and needs assessment. Bucharest: UNESCO/CEPES. p. 23. ISBN 9290691417.
^ Jump up to: a b "UPISANI STUDENTI NA VISOKOKOLSKIM USTANOVAMA KOLSKA
2014./2015.GODINA" (pdf). Retrieved 2013-06-07.
Jump up ^ Buri, Ahmed (24 May 2002). "Vahid Halilhodi: Moja ivotna pria (I)"
(in Bosnian). BH Dani. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
Jump up ^ City of Mostar: Catholic Church and Franciscan Monastery
Jump up ^ City of Mostar: Tourism Portal
Jump up ^ UNESCO: Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar
Jump up ^ Visit Mostar
Literature
Christia, Fotini (2012). Alliance Formation in Civil Wars. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press. ISBN 978-1-13985-175-6.
CIA (2002). Balkan battlegrounds: a military history of the Yugoslav conflict,
1990-1995. 2. Office of Russian and European Analysis.
Goldstein, Ivo (1999). Croatia: A History. London: C. Hurst & Co. ISBN 978-1-85065-
525-1.
Ramet, Sabrina P. (2010). "Politics in Croatia since 1990". In Ramet, Sabrina P.
Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press. pp. 258285. ISBN 978-1-139-48750-4.
Sells, Michael Anthony (1998). The Bridge Betrayed: Religion and Genocide in
Bosnia. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-92209-9.
Tanner, Marcus (2001). Croatia: A Nation Forged in War. New Haven: Yale University
Press. ISBN 978-0-300-09125-0.
Toal, Gerard; Dahlman, Carl T. (2011). Bosnia Remade: Ethnic Cleansing and Its
Reversal. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-973036-0.
Udoviki, Jasminka; titkovac, Ejub (2000). "Bosnia and Hercegovina: The Second
War". In Udoviki, Jasminka; Ridgeway, James. Burn This House: The Making and
Unmaking of Yugoslavia. Durham: Duke University Press. pp. 175216. ISBN 978-0-
8223-2590-1.
Yarwood, John R.; Seebacher, Andreas; Strufe, Niels; Wolfram, Hedwig (1999).
Rebuilding Mostar: Urban Reconstruction in a War Zone. Liverpool: Liverpool
University Press. ISBN 978-08-53239-03-1.
Further reading[edit]
"Mostar", Bradshaw's Hand-Book to the Turkish Empire, 1: Turkey in Europe, London:
W.J. Adams, c. 1872
"Mostar", Austria-Hungary, Including Dalmatia and Bosnia, Leipzig: Karl Baedeker,
1905, OCLC 344268
F. K. Hutchinson (1909), "Mostar", Motoring in the Balkans, Chicago: McClurg & Co.,
OCLC 8647011
"Mostar". Encyclopaedia of Islam. E.J. Brill. 1934. p. 608+.
External links[edit]
Find more about
Mostar
at Wikipedia's sister projects
Definitions from Wiktionary
Media from Commons
News from Wikinews
Quotations from Wikiquote
Texts from Wikisource
Textbooks from Wikibooks
Travel guide from Wikivoyage
Learning resources from Wikiversity
Visit Mostar
City of Mostar
[show] v t e
Municipalities of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton
[hide] v t e
Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina
[show] v t e
Entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg
[show] v t e
Cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
[show] v t e
Districts of Bosnia and Herzegovina
[show] v t e
Municipalities and cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina
[show] v t e
Neretva
Authority control
WorldCat Identities VIAF: 158301705 GND: 4102238-5 BNF: cb124197264 (data)
Categories: Cities and towns in the Federation of Bosnia and
HerzegovinaMostarPopulated places in Mostar
Navigation menu
Not logged inTalkContributionsCreate accountLog inArticleTalkReadEditView
historySearch

Search Wikipedia
Go
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia
Wikipedia store
Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact page
Tools
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Wikidata item
Cite this page
Print/export
Create a book
Download as PDF
Printable version
In other projects
Wikimedia Commons
Wikivoyage
Languages
Afrikaans
???????
Aragons
Az?rbaycanca
??????????
?????????? (???????????)?
?????????
Bosanski
Brezhoneg
Catala
Cebuano
etina
ChiTumbuka
Dansk
Deutsch
Eesti
????????
Espanol
Esperanto
Euskara
?????
Franais
Gaeilge
Galego
???
???????
Hornjoserbsce
Hrvatski
Bahasa Indonesia
Interlingue
slenska
Italiano
?????
Basa Jawa
???????
???????
Latina
Latvieu
Ltzebuergesch
Lietuviu
Lumbaart
Magyar
??????????
Bahasa Melayu
Nahuatl
Nederlands
???
Norsk
Norsk nynorsk
??????
Piemonteis
Polski
Portugues
Romn
???????
???? ????
Scots
Shqip
Slovenina
Slovenina
lnski
?????? / srpski
Srpskohrvatski / ??????????????
Suomi
Svenska
???????/tatara
Trke
??????????
????
Vepsn kel
Ti?ng Vi?t
Volapk
Winaray
??
Edit links
This page was last edited on 20 September 2017, at 16:36.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License;
additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation,
Inc., a non-profit organization.
Privacy policyAbout WikipediaDisclaimersContact WikipediaDevelopersCookie
statementMobile viewEnable previews
Wikimedia Foundation Powered by MediaWiki