HWR
Religious Places
Rav Moshe Danon Burial Site
The grave of Sarajevo rabbi Moshe Danon, situated on the Mostar-Stolac road in Krajšina, holds immense significance for both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Jewish people. Rabbi Moshe Danon, a respected member of the Jewish community, plays a vital role in Jewish spiritual and material culture. In 1830, he set out on foot to Palestine but passed away near Stolac. His grave, marked by a stone monument resembling the tablets of the Ten Commandments, commemorates his journey and vow.
St. Peter and Paul Church
In 1866, the Ottomans played a significant role in the construction of the Catholic church and Franciscan Monastery in Mostar. The Complex takes great pride in its expansive library, housing over 50,000 ancient volumes from both Western and Eastern authors, making it the largest library in Herzegovina. Additionally, the building showcases an important art collection featuring works by Italian Masters from the 16th and 17th centuries. This historical site stands as a testament to the rich cultural exchange and legacy of diverse civilizations coming together in harmony.
Sultan Ahmeds – Emperor’s Mosque
This mosque was built by Osman Pasha Resulbegović on behalf of Sultan Ahmed III, which is why it is also called the Emperor’s Mosque. It is located in the Old Town near the right bank of the Trebišnjica River. According to the documents of the historical archive in Dubrovnik, it was built in 1719, and it was built by Dubrovnik craftsmen from hewn stone and covered with a four-pitched roof under tiles.
Tekke in Stolac
Tekke in Stolac is not only a mystical temple located near the river Bregava, but also a center for research and promotion of spiritual and cultural heritage in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was raised by sheikh Halil Hulusi Nakišendi el Bosnevi.
Tvrdoš Monastery
The Tvrdoš Monastery is located on the right bank of the Trebišnjica River, 5 km west of Trebinje. It was built on the foundations of a church from the 4th century and is one of the oldest cultural and historical monuments in the Republic of Srpska. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Tvrdoš was the seat of the Humsko-Herzegovina, that is, Trebinje Metropolitanate. During the Turkish-Venetian war, the monastery was destroyed, and part of the relics were transferred to the Savina monastery (Herceg Novi) and the Duži monastery , from where the hand of Saint Queen Jelena of Anjou , mother of kings Milutin and Dragutin, was transferred to Tvrdoš in 1992. The monastery is also known for the fact that Saint Vasilije Ostroški received monastic tonsure and priestly rank in it, after which he served for a certain period as parish priest of Popovopolje. This is the reason why Saint Vasilije is also called “Ostroški and Tvrdoški”. The revival of the monastery began in 1955, when the entire monastery complex was renovated. The special feature of the interior of today’s church is the glass floor, which represents a kind of “window into the past” through which the foundations of the church from the 4th century can be seen. The long tradition of wine production, whose beginnings date back to the 15th century, is successfully maintained by the monastery even today thanks to restored vineyards, a wine cellar and a modern winery.
Zavala Monastery
Zavala Monastery is located on the edge of Popovo polje, at the foot of the Ostrog mountain. There is currently no reliable data on the time of its creation. According to tradition, the creation of the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is linked to the first Christian emperor, Constantine, who arrived in Zavala after building a large church in Slano and, seeing that the population was pious, decided to build a temple there. The oldest written document from 1514 is a confirmation of the sale of the vineyard to Serafion, the Abbot of the monastery. The specificity of the architectural design of the church is determined by its location, which gives the impression of a hermitage monastic residence. On its northern side, the church is tucked under the rock that makes up a large part of its northern wall. The interior of the church was decorated with frescoes in 1619 by the great Serbian painter of the 17th century, the Hilandar monk Georgije Mitrofanović. A special place is occupied by the icon of Emmanuel (Jesus boy) painted on the church vault. In the Zavala monastery, the novice was Saint Vasilije Ostroški, who was born in the nearby village of Mrkonjići, where a church was built in his honor.
Apparition Hill and the Blue Cross
Apparition Hill and the Blue Cross in Medjugorje hold profound spiritual significance for millions of pilgrims worldwide. Medjugorje is a renowned pilgrimage site where, since June 1981, six young visionaries have reported regular apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Apparition Hill, or Podbrdo, is the site where the first apparition allegedly occurred, drawing countless devotees seeking solace, healing, and spiritual renewal. On the other hand, the Blue Cross, situated at the base of Apparition Hill, has become a place of intense prayer and reflection, where visitors meditate on the sufferings of Christ and present their intentions to the Virgin Mary. Both sites have become symbols of hope and faith, attracting people from various backgrounds to seek divine encounters and experience the transformative power of Medjugorje’s spiritual atmosphere.
Blagaj Tekke – Dervish House
Just 12 km from Mostar, on the river Buna, lies the enchanting town of Blagaj, a medieval city from which today’s Herzegovina emerged. The ruins of the old city or Herceg Stjepan’s Tower offer a breathtaking panorama of the Neretva valley. Nearby attractions include the Velagić House, Sulejman’s Mosque, Karađozbeg’s Bridge, and the Tekija—a 16th-century house of prayer and meditation. Blagaj, with its picturesque scenery and the spectacular Buna River spring, is a treasure not to be missed.
Apparition Hill and the Blue Cross
Apparition Hill and the Blue Cross in Medjugorje hold profound spiritual significance for millions of pilgrims worldwide. Medjugorje is a renowned pilgrimage site where, since June 1981, six young visionaries have reported regular apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Apparition Hill, or Podbrdo, is the site where the first apparition allegedly occurred, drawing countless devotees seeking solace, healing, and spiritual renewal. On the other hand, the Blue Cross, situated at the base of Apparition Hill, has become a place of intense prayer and reflection, where visitors meditate on the sufferings of Christ and present their intentions to the Virgin Mary. Both sites have become symbols of hope and faith, attracting people from various backgrounds to seek divine encounters and experience the transformative power of Medjugorje’s spiritual atmosphere.
Blagaj Tekke – Dervish House
Just 12 km from Mostar, on the river Buna, lies the enchanting town of Blagaj, a medieval city from which today’s Herzegovina emerged. The ruins of the old city or Herceg Stjepan’s Tower offer a breathtaking panorama of the Neretva valley. Nearby attractions include the Velagić House, Sulejman’s Mosque, Karađozbeg’s Bridge, and the Tekija—a 16th-century house of prayer and meditation. Blagaj, with its picturesque scenery and the spectacular Buna River spring, is a treasure not to be missed.
Castle of Nancy and Patrick Latta
In 1999, Nancy and Patrick Latta began to build a castle in Medjugorje, to be used as a retreat place for priests, nuns, seminarians, and religious. Robert Nanasi, the architect, designed the various buildings and structures comprising the castle. 17 years later, the work is continuing. Patrick was a very successful businessman in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He and his wife Nancy enjoyed a lavish life style, but God was missing from their lives. Patrick’s four children (from two previous marriages) had everything that money could buy, but they were haunted by addictions to drugs, alcohol, and immoral life styles. Patrick’s conversion occurred when Nancy gave him a copy of Our Lady’s messages from Medjugorje. He read the shortest message – “For the last time, I am calling you to conversion.” Something inside him told him that it was time to return to the Catholic Church. After going to Confession, he began his journey back to the Catholic faith. As a result of prayer, fasting, and living according to the “five stones” mentioned by Our Lady, their lives, and those of his children, changed for the better. Patrick and Nancy give talks to pilgrimage groups, telling and retelling their story to young and old alike.