Počitelj Fortress

Počitelj is a fortified hillside town on the left bank of the Neretva River near Čapljina in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its fortress forms the upper part of the ensemble. The first fortress here was built by the Bosnian king Tvrtko I in the late 14th century to guard the Neretva valley, and the settlement was captured by the Ottomans in 1471. Under Ottoman rule it was expanded into a typical military and trading town with a citadel, a mosque, a madrasa, a hamam and houses built in the Herzegovinian style of local stone. The main monuments include the Hajji Alija Mosque, built in the 1560s and recognisable by its large dome and covered portico, the clock tower (Sahat-kula), the Šišman Ibrahim-pasha Madrasa, and the Gavran-kapetanović House. The fortress at the top of the hill, with its octagonal Citadel Tower, offers panoramic views over the stone roofs, the river and the surrounding valley. A steep stepped path leads up through the lanes, past old gates and walls. The town suffered heavy damage during the Bosnian War in 1993, when buildings were burned and the mosque was destroyed, and subsequent restoration has returned most of the main monuments to their earlier state. Počitelj is a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and has been put forward for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In summer, painters and artists gather here for the Colony of Painters, and the town's shops and cafes sell local crafts, pomegranates and figs. A visit is usually combined with Blagaj and Mostar as part of a day trip from the coast or from Sarajevo.