Discover Bosnia: Top 10 Fun Facts You Never Knew About This Fascinating Country

1. Bosnian Time Management

In Bosnia, time management is as fluid as a Salvador Dali clock, and the proverbial "party at our place" is more like a daily routine: Bosnians are known to casually drop in on close friends and family unannounced, savoring conversations over coffee or brandy for hours, and won't fret if events run longer than anticipated.
Source => culturalatlas.sbs.com.au

2. Bosnia's Gigantic Pyramids

Who needs the ancient pyramids of Giza when you've got the funky Bosnian behemoths outshadowing them?: Bosnia is home to the world's largest pyramid complex, including the debated Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun, which are taller than their Egyptian counterparts and have attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists since their discovery in 2005 despite the ongoing disputes about their authenticity.
Source => smithsonianmag.com

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3. Ala Turca Time on Clock Tower

If the Kardashians marked the end of the day every day, Bosnian clocks would still keep up: Bosnia's Clock Tower in Sarajevo boasts a unique time standard called "ala Turca time," where midnight hits exactly at sunset to help Muslims determine prayer times.
Source => meetbosnia.com

4. Mostar Bridge's Twin Reincarnation

Rumors have it that Bosnia's Mostar Bridge is actually a long-lost twin, playing a never-ending game of hide-and-seek with its doppelganger: In reality, the original 16th-century engineering marvel was destroyed in the 1990s conflict but was precisely rebuilt utilizing traditional methods, materials from the same local quarry, and the support of UNESCO, the World Bank, and generous donors. Its reincarnation now stands proud and unites the Old City of Mostar as a symbol of human solidarity, securing its place on the World Heritage List in July 2005.
Source => whc.unesco.org

5. Bosnia, the Adventure Paradise

If Bosnia and Herzegovina were a party guest, they'd be the unexpected life of the party, twirling you around the dance floor and challenging you to kayak races in their backyard pool: This hidden gem of a country boasts stunning natural beauty, offering opportunities for hiking, skiing, and water sports within its mountainous terrain, picturesque rivers, and lakes, quickly becoming a top destination for adventure-seekers.
Source => 2001-2009.state.gov

6. Virgin Mary's Bosnian Vacation

In a major plot twist, the Virgin Mary decided to spend her summer vacation in Bosnia, and everyone wanted to join the party: Medjugorje, a small town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, became a renowned Catholic pilgrimage site after six local children reported seeing apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1981. Millions of pilgrims have flocked there ever since, boosting the town's economy with over a thousand hotel and hostel beds, and making it the top overnight stay destination in the country. In 2019, the Vatican gave its official nod to pilgrimages, turning Medjugorje into an epicenter for international events like the Medjugorje International Youth Festival.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Sarajevo's Horse-Powered Trams

Before horses were hoofing it to happy hour, they were pulling trams through the streets of Sarajevo: The city's tram system was the first in the Balkans and Central Europe, with its equine-powered debut on January 1, 1885, eventually upgrading to electric trams in 1895, and now boasting seven lines and 95 trams, along with a special "Nostalgia" tram for that throwback vibe during tourist season.
Source => sarajevo.travel

8. Sarajevo: City of Four Religions

If the phrase "the more the merrier" were to be a city, Sarajevo would certainly be in the running for the title: known as the "city of four religions," Sarajevo boasts a rich religious architectural landscape, including the largest historical mosque in the Balkans, the Gazi Husrev Beg Mosque, as well as the Old Orthodox Church, the Sacred Heart Cathedral, and the Emperor's Mosque.
Source => marzito.com

9. Winter Olympics & War Artillery Combo

Who needs a time machine when you can find the Winter Olympics and war artillery all rolled into one in Bosnia? Surprise, surprise: Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was the proud host of the 1984 Winter Olympics, making it the first socialist state and majority Muslim country to do so. While the Koševo Stadium showcased the glitz and glam during the opening and closing ceremonies, the bobsled and luge track played a rather somber role later as a Bosnian-Serb artillery position during the 1992 siege of Sarajevo. Today, the track stands abandoned, serving as a solemn reminder of conflict amidst the frosty memories of sporting history.
Source => guides.loc.gov

10. Cold Weather Sports in Full Swing

When the going gets cold, the cold get going: Bosnia and Herzegovina, not to be deterred by a slight hiccup in 2017, proudly hosted the 2019 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Sarajevo and Istočno Sarajevo, uniting over 1500 young athletes from 46 national Olympic committees to compete in eight frosty sports like biathlon, curling, and ice hockey – now that's what we call breaking the ice in style!
Source => en.wikipedia.org