FORTRESS OF BLAGAJ

This partially restored medieval fortress with crenellated walls (Stari Grad Blagaj) offers a beautiful view of Blagaj, the meandering Buna river and the Neretva valley. It is located on the hill of Hum at 310 m above sea level and 260 m above the source of the Buna. The hill was inhabited in the Neolithic period and was fortified in the^5th century by the Byzantines. Strengthened from the 10th century by the Serbian princes of the province of Hum (or Zachlumie), who controlled southern Herzegovina, it was later occupied and enlarged by the rulers of Bosnia, notably by Grand Duke Stefan Vukčić (1404-1466). This Serbian nobleman ruled over a large independent territory from 1435 to 1448 and took the title of Herceg, which will give the name of the present Herzegovina. Occupied by the Ottomans from 1465, the fortress housed a garrison until 1835. The site extends today on 2 ha. The fortifications follow the relief without a regular geometrical shape. To the east, the main entrance is defended by a first bastion that dominates the access road, then by a second bastion and a fortified gate. The main wall of the eastern part was damaged by a gunpowder explosion in the late 18th century and was only partially repaired. Inside the enclosure, excavations carried out since 1965 have uncovered traces of an ancient ducal palace from the 15th century, traces of Byzantine constructions, Roman tiles and pottery attributed to the Illyrians.