Bosnia and Herzegovina

Capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sarajevo
Population of Bosnia and Herzegovina: 3,935,000
Total area of Bosnia and Herzegovina: 51,197 km2

Bosnia and Herzegovina are located in South Central Europe. The flag is a unique blend of bright blue with a yellow triangle on the upper to lower central part of the flag with multiple stars beneath the triangle. The Emblem of the country is basically the same but is shaped somewhat like a Chevron.

Bosnia and Herzegovina population

Bosnia and Herzegovina are a country torn apart by strife, in part because there are three distinct and incompatible ethnic groups living within its borders. These include the Bosniaks, the Serbs and the Croats. The overall population is slightly under 4 million and is dropping due to political strife. The dominant ethnic group is the Bosniak group at 44 percent, followed by the Serbian group at 31 percent and the Croatian group at 17 percent. Only about 5 percent of the group is considered Yugoslavs. Regardless of the ethnic group, more than 99 percent of the population speaks Serbo-Croatian. Religion plays a big role in the political strife, with conflict between Christians and Muslims.  

History of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a complicated history. It has been inhabited since prehistory by a great number of different types of people. It was the site of the Great Illyrian Revolt against the Romans. It was taken up by the Romans until the fourth century. There was a kingdom in the area of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the medieval period and Christianity grew in the area. Serbia and Croatia broke up the country in the late middle ages. Bosnia became an independent state by the early 12th Century. The kingdom of Bosnia ceased to become a factor in 1463 due to significant political unrest. The Ottomans took over the area after the medieval period and made it an independent province. The country was then taken over by the Austro-Hungarians in 1878 until 1918. It then became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia until 1941. The kingdom was conquered by the Nazis in WWII. Bosnia and Herzegovina became Socialist and part of the USSR until 1992, when the war began. The war lasted three years and the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina came out of it.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Tourism

Those ready for a new adventure will find one when they visit Bosnia. This country bears the scars of its tumultuous past but after a new beginning, has emerged as a travel destination with hidden charms. Here you can take in the lush mountainous landscape and go hiking on the Bjelasnica Mountain or you can choose to go rafting on the Una River. Teeming with lush wildlife and a beauty unspoilt by man, Sutjeska National Park features the highest peak in Bosnia, Maglic Mountain and the Perucica Forest, considered one of Europe’s last remaining prehistoric forests. Take time to stop at a café to enjoy a cup of traditional Turkish coffee when you go shopping for souvenirs at Sarajevo's Bascarsija district. Although not as an official pilgrimage site by the Vatican, the popular Catholic shrine, Medjugorje, south of Mostar is visited by thousands of visitors annually because some people claim to have seen apparitions of the Virgin Mary there.

Bosnia is a multicultural country with many different traditions, some adapted and influenced by others. Like many other countries, they celebrate Christmas and spend it with family. Detinjci, Materice and Ocevi are the three Sundays that come before Christmas Eve and they are dedicated to children, mothers and fathers. Bosnian people have a mostly laidback attitude about life. When eating in a restaurant or bar, sharing the bill is customary as separate checks are almost never asked by people. Bosnia is a fascinating country because of its tragic history and the way its people have risen above it to begin anew.