Blagaj Tekke

Blagaj Tekke is a 16th-century Sufi dervish monastery set at the foot of a vertical limestone cliff at the source of the Buna river, in Blagaj near Mostar in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The whitewashed building with its wooden upper storey appears to grow from the rock face, and the spring emerges from a cave beneath the cliff, flowing out as a clear, cold green-blue river. The tekke has been used by the Dervish order for centuries and remains a religious site, so visitors remove shoes and dress modestly. Inside, guided or self-led visits pass through rooms with low seating, carpets and the tomb of a Sufi sheikh, and a terrace overlooks the river. Typical visits last one to one and a half hours. Riverside restaurants opposite the tekke serve trout and traditional dishes on terraces facing the building, and the view of the monastery from across the water is the classic photograph. Entry is around BAM 5 to 8, and opening hours run from about 09:00 to 19:00 in summer, shorter in winter. A short walk uphill leads to the ruins of Stjepan Grad fortress with views over the valley. The place is quietest in the morning, before tour buses arrive from Mostar, and gets busy from late morning through the afternoon in season. Local buses connect Mostar and Blagaj in about 15 minutes for BAM 2 to 3, while a taxi costs roughly BAM 15 to 20. Visitors should be respectful of the spiritual setting, speak quietly and follow any rules on photography inside.