Visoko, with a population of 46,000 people, is thought to have been part of a Bosnian kingdom during the Medieval Period, and has several points of ancient significance hidden in the lush setting. The Visocica Hills, pyramid-like hill structures, tower 213 meters high and have been the recent focus of hot debate.

The Visocica Hills have been studied by Bosnian archaeologist Semir Osmanagic since 2005. Osmanagic, an archaeologist who specializes in pyramids around the world, was drawn to the unusual appearance of the Visocica Hills, which he believes to have all the elements of a true pyramid, including an entrance, flat top, and specific pyramid-like angles.

Their Significance

These pyramids’ significance has been the source of recent debate, which makes it even more intriguing for visitors to Bosnia today. In 2006, a series of cut stones were found underneath a massive hill construction. Osmanagic studied this pyramid hill and theorized that these Bosnian pyramids could have been as tall or taller than Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza. With no evidence of there ever having been pyramids in Europe, his find could be a breakthrough discovery.

Osmanagic continued by identifying two other pyramid-shaped hills located in Visoko Valley. Together, these ancient structures make up four slopes with an entrance area; similar, Osmanagic believes, to the way pyramids are grouped in Latin America.

Recent excavations have uncovered what appear to be plateaus and tunnels, but there is no conclusive evidence that the Visoko hills are, without a doubt, pyramids. Nevertheless, as excavations continue, discoveries are being made that suggest those Bosnian pyramids could be man-made after all.

How to Get There

Traveling to Visoko has gotten easier since the discovery of these strange pyramid-like mounds. While the city has retained its quiet appeal and charm, it has become much easier to visit. Park your car at their very convenient parking lots, recently constructed to manage the large influx of visitors to the town.

Besides visiting the pyramids of Visoko, you can also sightsee around this picturesque Bosnian town easily. Travel to a beautiful wooden mosque with a wonderfully decorated minaret. While war reconstruction is still being accomplished, the city still contains many red-roofed buildings typical of the area.

Appetizers
Bosnian food can be rich, but not in an unhealthy or unappetizing way. Fresh ingredients and whole foods make meals from Bosnia and Herzegovina totally appealing.

Start your day with a simple breakfast. The usual morning meal is a kwizija, or hearty meal. Stock up on a variety of small courses that include scrambled eggs and bread with a spread like jam, butter, and honey. Drink a strong, traditional coffee with a dash sweet sugar, or a cup of black tea. The feature of the breakfast is a soft white cheese straight from the farms in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s countryside.

Entrees
If you like meat and potato courses, you’ll be thrilled with the options you will find for entree selections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lunch is generally the largest meal of the day, so find the most intriguing restaurant in town and indulge!

Try dishes like the Bosnian bosanki lonac, a slow-roasted pot of meat and vegetables, or japrak, made up of cabbage rolls stuffed with a savory filling. If you are traveling in Mostar, try the trout, which is a specialty to the area. A buttery, flaky texture awaits, and is one option for someone who loves fish.

Dinner in Bosnia and Herzegovina is generally light. You’ll probably have it after 8:00 p.m., and for Americans and the British, this may seem quite late. Pack a snack of some Bosnian sweets to tide you over, like a tiny square of baklava, normally reserved for special occasions amongst Bosnians.

If you take advantage of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s surprisingly lively nightlife, try the Bosnian fast food called when you’re out late. This food may be fast but is actually quite traditional, dating back nearly 400 years! Your Bosnian cevaps, as they are nicknamed, will be made up of small sausages and chopped onions, folded in a pita bread called somun.

Drinks
Locally-produced wines and brandies spoil any connoisseur for choice. Sample the rakija, which is available in lots of fruit flavors like plum and grape.

Desserts
Besides the famous baklava, desserts often have fresh fruit and cream as main ingredients. Try the tufahijia, which is a delicious dessert dish made from apples filled with walnuts, and then topped with a rich layer of whipped cream. If you are partial to pudding, have the krempita, with a creamy, soft flavor similar to cheesecake. If you have room, you’ll want to try this delicious Bosnian food.

What makes Bosnian food even better is the overwhelming sense of hospitality and warmth. You’ll be offered cookies, cakes, sweets, coffee, meat platters, and cheese samplers, and once you start sampling, you won’t be able to stop. Just be sure to save room for the main course!

Onset of WWI
In 1908, the area of Bosnia-Herzegovina was formally annexed, and the nationalist movement became even more fervent and urgent. On June 28, 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo.

WWI
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand is considered to have been the trigger of World War I. After Princip assassinated the Archduke, Austria declared war on Serbia. What followed was an ever-increasingly complicated alliance system that eventually ignited conflict. Russia supported Serbia after Austria declared war, and Germany followed suite by supporting Austria against Serbia . France supported Serbia, prompting Germany to attack France. After Germany attacked France through the Belgium area, England declared war on Germany. Remarkably, all of these events took place between July 28 and August 14, 1914.

World War I affected the Balkans rather drastically. Croatians chose to fight alongside Germany and Austro-Hungary, as well as most of the Bosnians. Serbs fought with the allies, and after the war, a substantial number of Bosnian-Serbs were forced to leave Bosnia and resettle in Montenegro and Serbia.

Post-WWI
Following World War I, Bosnia and Herzegovina were annexed to Serbia in October of 1918 as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which was later renamed as Yugoslavia in 1929. Again, nationalism increased amongst Serbians and Croatians alike. During this time, Bosnia and Herzegovina faced a period of great oppression, stimulated by cultural conflicts, religious struggle, and general tension and intolerance.

WWII
In 1939, as a result of the Cvetkovic Agreement, one area in Bosnia was connected with the Banland of Croatia. Germany invaded Yugoslavia in 1941, and Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of Nazi-controlled Croatia. In November 1943, Bosnia and Herzegovina became a single state again. One of the six republics under the leader Marshall Tito, Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of the Yugoslavian Communist nation.

After Tito died in 1980, Yugoslavia weakened. In December 1991, Bosnia and Herzegovina left Yugoslavia and requested recognition by the European Union. In March of 1992, the votes were in, and they supported independence. With a rich ethnic diversity of Muslims, Serbs, and Croats (and no true ethnic majority), conflict arose quickly between the groups as they attempted to divide the region.

With both the Serbs and Croats laying claim to the Bosnian region, complications developed. Ethnic cleansing occurred as Muslims were pushed out of the area and Croatians began developing their own communities in the area. The war continued until NATO intervened in August 1995. Approximately 250,000 people are though to have died in this wartime period of 1992-1995.

1995 onwards in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s history marked a serious attempt to rebuild the economy and create a government the people could trust. While a scandal erupted in 1999, corruption marred some attempts to build a stronger Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In 2004, NATO relinquished its peacekeeping mission to the European Union. This undertaking, the largest peacekeeping operation for the EU in history, has contributed largely to the more tolerant and stable climate of current Bosnia and Herzegovina. Much of the damage of the war has been repaired, and Bosnia and Herzegovina looks forward to a period of prosperity.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is bound by Croatia to the north, northwest, and west, Montenegro and Serbia to the southeast, east, and northeast. The Adriatic Sea attracts a good deal of tourists to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s coast, especially the area near Neum. The protected peninsula region has a warm, sunny climate and a long summer period.

Neum also benefits from the warmth of its waters to attract tourists. The water is far from shockingly cold—in fact, 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12.7 Celsius) in the norm in the winter to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) in the height of summer (July and August).

Climate

Bosnia-Herzegovina does have distinct regions which have slightly different climates. The southern area of Herzegovina benefits from a Mediterranean climate, with an annual precipitation of 24 to 31.5 inches (61 centimeters to 80 centimeters), while the Central and Northern areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina has an Alpine climate with precipitation ranging from 59 to 98 inches (150 centimeters to 249 centimeters).

If you are traveling to Sarajevo, the temperature can be 31.5 degrees Fahrenheit (around 0 degrees Celsius) to 67 degrees Fahrenheit degrees (19.5 degrees Celsius) in July. The lush valleys, filled with thickly forested areas, are graced by a continental climate. Cold winters and mild summers draw a crowd primarily in the summer months.

It is recommended that travelers go to Bosnia and Herzegovina during the months of May and October. It is warm and dry in the summertime. It is recommended that you take a sweater and other light layers for the evening. The wintertime can be rainy and windy, raw near the coast, and snowy in the mountains.

Special Climates

Travel to Sutjeska National Park, which has a huge waterfall and a thick, dark forest. This can provide a cooling effect for hikers who are traveling up the challenging trails of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s highest peak, Maglic. The Sutjeska River travels deep through the peaks and adds moisture to the air even on the warmest summer days.

If you are on the search for skiing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, head to the mountains of Igman and Jahorina in Sarajevo in the winter. With perfect drifts and various trails for skill levels, everyone who’s a fan of winter sports will treasure a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina.