Herzegovinas

Herzegovinas is a term that may refer to the Herzegovina region and related geographic, administrative, and cultural entities within Bosnia and Herzegovina. Herzegovina denotes the southern portion of the country, contrasted with Bosnia proper. The region is bounded by the Neretva River and the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, with the Dinaric Alps forming its eastern boundary. It contains a narrow coastline along the Adriatic, including the town of Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s only coastal municipality.

In political terms, the area is part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is commonly divided into two cantons: the Neretva Canton and the West Herzegovina Canton. Major urban centers include Mostar, Trebinje, Čapljina, Ljubuški, and Međugorje, among others.

History and name: The name Herzegovina derives from the medieval title herceg, meaning duke or lord. The region has been shaped by the histories of Hum/Neretva, the Ottoman period, Austro-Hungarian rule, and 20th-century state formations before becoming part of independent Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Dayton Agreement in 1995.

Geography and culture: The Neretva River supports diverse ecosystems and settlements. The landscape includes karst formations and mountains such as Prenj and Velež. The region is known for historic towns and religious sites, including Stari Most in Mostar, Blagaj Tekija, Kravice Waterfalls, Počitelj fortress, and the pilgrimage center at Međugorje.

Economy and demographics: Tourism is a major part of the economy, focused on historic architecture, natural scenery, and religious sites. The population is ethnically mixed, with Croat and Bosniak communities forming the core in different areas, along with smaller Serb communities in some locales.