Visiting Stolac [Part 3/3]: Fortress above the Town

The main goal of our visit to Stolac was finally in front of us. After lunch we took the car and drove out to the fortress above the town. I wouldn't recommend driving up here since the street is very narrow and there isn't much of a parking up there. I think it's much better to hike up there (which of course takes a lot of energy, especially in the heat of summer) or get someone from the town to drive you up there (like a cab).

But since we visited off-season, there weren't any people there, so we had the remains of the fortress pretty much all to ourselves. Take a look at the sights there and let me know what you think of Stolac.

This is only a part of a three-part travel series:
Part 1: Stećci in Radimlja
Part 2: Lunch at the Waterfall
Part 3: Fortress above the Town

About the Fortress

Containing, in one small area, unique cultural and aesthetic values, Stolac's historic core is an example of a complex cultural-historical and natural environmental ensemble. It is an example of the organic connection between human and natural architectures, which also testifies to the fact that the beauty of the location was crucial in its building and planning - the guiding principle often present in the development of mediaeval towns.

Old Town of Stolac

The Old Town of Stolac (Vidoški grad) covers area of 20,503 square meters and is one of the largest old towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It used to have thirteen towers in the 17th century and it was one of the best-fortified towns in Herzegovina. It comprises ten walls, a flour storage room, residential buildings and a mosque. The mosque suffered destruction in 1906. The remains of the wall indicated the method of building the oldest mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Late antique substructures have been found on the northern side of the town (towers I-IV). The main structure of the ramparts consists of walls built in layers using the opus incertum construction technique, typical of the 4th century in this region. The ground plan of this late antique fortification shows the elements of Greek building in the Hellenist tradition. Vidoški grad was first mentioned in the charter dates 19 February 1444, as the property of Stjepan Vukčić Kosača.

The medieval layer of the town is covered with the structures originating from the Austro-Hungarian period. Stolac became a part of Ottoman Empire on 13 June 1465, and a part of the Austria-Hungarian Monarchy in August 1878. The fort was repaired and annexed before 1888.

On top of the Old Town

It was nice having the place to ourselves. The main goal is to get to the top of the old town where the structures are mostly preserved. From there you have really nice views of the wally and surrounding nature.

I hope you enjoyed our travel series to Stolac and the surrounding areas. If you happen to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina make sure to stop by here as well.

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