- Address: 30 km from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- Built: in 1383;
- Entrance fee: free of charge.
In the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina there is the fortress Pochitel. Only 16 kilometers from the border with Croatia. Probably, this fact can explain such popularity of the fortress among the Croats. In general, the attraction is visited by about 130 thousand tourists from different countries every year, but there is no exact figure, since twenty years ago the entrance to the old city became free because of the large number of guests.
What to see?
From afar, and even coming to the foot, the fortress seems quite ordinary for Bosnia spectacle - the dilapidated walls of the fort and the tower. A glorious past, mighty walls are, it seems, all that the Pochitel can surprise. Far from it, this is far from the case. A long stone staircase, the same age as the fort, will lead you up to the main gate of the most real city with a string of streets, many alleys and residential stone houses. Is not it a miracle - in our time to be in a fortified city, where people still live, whose ancestors lived here at different times.
But bewitch the spirit will begin much earlier than your foot cross the threshold of the main gate of the city. Climbing the steps, a magnificent landscape opens before you. On one side of the river Neretva is a steep bank, covered with scant vegetation for the local places, and on the other - a densely populated town. The picturesque landscape surprises with its contrast.
Having risen in the fortress, the first thing that will attract your attention is a labyrinth of narrow streets that are ready to guide you endlessly along the Pochitylei. But be careful, some of them will lead you to dead ends. But most lead to the main streets, where there are counters and shops with fruits, wines, souvenirs and much more. It is here that you can buy wonderful gifts for friends and yourself.
The hosts of these places are the locals. Despite the fact that the Pocitel is listed as a UNESCO heritage, the local authorities are not in a hurry to take care of the improvement of the oldest fort. Perhaps because there are many similar places in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they simply can not cover them all. Therefore, all care for fortress fell on the shoulders of the inhabitants of Pochiteli. They take care of the pomegranate garden below the fortress, plant flower beds, monitor the cleanliness of the city and the order in it. By the way, all traders are indigenous people, so getting something out of their hands is incredibly enjoyable. Therefore, the impression of visiting the city remains the most pleasant.
Where is?
The guard is thirty kilometers from Mostar . They are connected by the international route E73. The road by car will take 30 minutes, but if you decide to visit the city-fortress during the tour, then you will have to go 10-15 minutes longer. Also you can get to Pochityeli from the large town of Metkovic, it will take almost as much time, although the road is 10 kilometers shorter. There are several options for how to leave the city, but the easiest is the eastern direction, the E73. After you travel five kilometers near Drachevo you need to change course to the north, leaving on the M17. So you will quickly get to Pochiteli.
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