''Vrelo Bune'' (; ) is a natural and architectural ensemble located at the spring of the Buna River near Blagaj, a village-town, and is part of the wider "Townscape ensemble of the town of Blagaj — Historical and Natural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina" (featuring Ottoman Mediterranean architecture dating back to 1520), situated southeast of

Mostar Mostar () is a city and the administrative centre of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the historical capital of Herzegovina. Mostar is situated on the Neretva Riv ...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

. The primary rationale behind the decision of the KONS to designate the site as protected and thus include it in the protected area of Blagaj as a historic urban area, lies in the harmonious coexistence of natural and architectural, cultural, and historical elements, as evidenced by the "distinctive quality of the coexistence of the natural and the man-made" and the "integration of the physical structure into the

landscape A landscape is the visible features of an area of land, its landforms, and how they integrate with natural or human-made features, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal.''New Oxford American Dictionary''. A landscape includes th ...

Vrelo Bune

The Buna river, a short waterway in

, serves as a left-bank tributary of the

Neretva The Neretva (, sr-Cyrl, Неретва), also known as Narenta, is one of the largest rivers of the eastern part of the Adriatic basin. Four Hydroelectricity, hydroelectric power plants with Dam, large dams (higher than 15 metres) provide flood ...

River. Originating from the Vrelo Bune (), a robust

karstic Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. There is some eviden ...

spring, it emerges from a vast cavern beneath a towering vertical cliff. This area is notable for its diverse above-ground and underground

hydrography Hydrography is the branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with the prediction of their change over time, for the primary ...

. The Buna's source ranks among the largest springs in Europe, yielding approximately 30 m^3/s of exceptionally cold and pristine water.

Historical and natural heritage

Blagaj, situated in Mostar, stands out as one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most prized urban-rural structures. Its zenith in development occurred during the 15th and 16th centuries, marking a period when stone construction flourished extensively. Initially, stone-built residences were exclusive to the affluent class, but over time, even lower-class families erected numerous substantial stone houses and summer retreats. The natural and architectural ensemble of Blagaj forms a self-contained spatial and topographical unit. Renowned for its varied flora and plethora of endemic species, the region boasts lush evergreen and deciduous thicket species at lower altitudes, while the hills at higher elevations host sparse forests. The fertile arable land is conducive to agriculture typical of the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

climate.

Blagaj tekke

The architectural ensemble of the Blagaj '' tekija'', a

Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...

lodge, is situated near the source of the Buna river, not far from the heart of Blagaj. Nestled into the natural surroundings, the musafirhana (guest house) and

türbe ''Türbe'' refers to a Muslim mausoleum, tomb or grave often in the Turkish-speaking areas and for the mausolea of Ottoman sultans, nobles and notables. A typical türbe is located in the grounds of a mosque or complex, often endowed by the ...

(mausoleum) seamlessly integrate with the cliffs, Buna source, and mills, forming a unified entity. Both the musafirhana of the Blagaj ''tekija'' and the türbe have been meticulously preserved. The musafirhana predates 1664, with a reconstruction in 1851; however, its original appearance remains unknown. Over time, the building underwent several repairs. The ensemble of the Blagaj Tekke likely emerged shortly after the establishment of Ottoman rule in

Herzegovina Herzegovina ( or ; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Hercegovina, separator=" / ", Херцеговина, ) is the southern and smaller of two main geographical Regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being Bosnia (reg ...

, around 1520 at the latest.

Bridges

There were four bridges spanning the 9 kilometers of the Buna river: two in Blagaj, one in Kosor, and one in the village of Buna. Blagaj's bridges, namely the Karađoz-beg bridge and the Leho bridge, exhibit certain deviations from the typical form of 16th-century Ottoman architecture. * The Karađoz-beg bridge, funded by Zaim hajji Mehmed-beg, also known as Karađoz, predates 1570 and is located on the road leading to the town of

Stolac Stolac ( sr-Cyrl, Столац) is an ancient city located in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the region of Herzegovina. Stolac is one of the oldest cit ...

. This bridge boasts five arches, with a progressive increase in span towards the center. * The Leho bridge or Lehina ćuprija in Donja Mahala predates 1664 and is believed to have been commissioned by Haseći Ali-aga Kolaković. It features three arches, notably wider than those of the Karađoz-beg bridge.

Mills

Mill Mill may refer to: Science and technology * Factory * Mill (grinding) * Milling (machining) * Millwork * Paper mill * Steel mill, a factory for the manufacture of steel * Sugarcane mill * Textile mill * List of types of mill * Mill, the arithmetic ...

buildings along the Buna river are modest stone structures featuring gabled roofs adorned with stone slabs, housing one or more

millstone Millstones or mill stones are stones used in gristmills, used for triturating, crushing or, more specifically, grinding wheat or other grains. They are sometimes referred to as grindstones or grinding stones. Millstones come in pairs: a s ...

s. * The mills near the Tekke. Situated in close proximity to the Buna's source, channels divert water to power these mills. Several mills were constructed, including one stamping and two fulling mills, each positioned on opposite banks of the river. A portion of the mill on the right bank has been repurposed into a souvenir shop, leaving behind only the stone walls of the original structure. * The mills in the Velagić residential complex. This mill spans both the riverbank and a branch of the Buna flowing beneath the ''Velagić residential complex''. It comprises two sections: one built on dry land with both ground and upper floors, and the other, a single-story structure erected over the river, supported by a series of arches spanning the banks. The former served as living quarters for the miller, while the latter housed seven mills arranged at regular intervals. These mills, including stamping mills, were utilized for washing wool and fulling cloth.

Residential quarters

Residential complexes were notably secluded, emphasizing the

courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary a ...

as the central area of the dwelling. Comprising various buildings for different functions, these complexes were set within open plots, seamlessly integrating with the natural surroundings. * The Kolaković house stands as a remarkable specimen of Mediterranean Herzegovina's residential architecture, showcasing the evolution of the " Ottoman Bosnian" house. * The Velagić residential complex, constructed prior to 1776, represents a distinctive example of residential architecture of its era, featuring numerous functional components essential for daily life. Despite being enclosed by high walls from the outside world, the interior of the complex harmonizes with the natural environment and the Buna river. Interconnected courtyards are paved with river pebbles. The Velagić house complex epitomizes a complete family residence with auxiliary structures, offering insight into the residential lifestyle of Mediterranean Herzegovina in bygone times.Velagic House

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* The Kosić tower, representing medieval residential architecture, serves as a typical fortified house. Located on the town's outskirts, it likely functioned as a defensive outpost, especially considering the presence of the Blagaj Fortress on the opposite side.

UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination

According to the nomination for the list of national monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, titled "Townscape ensemble of the town of Blagaj," prepared by the Institute for the Protection of the Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the source of the Buna river, with its cliffs, constitutes a geomorphological natural monument, while the source itself is designated as a hydrological natural monument. Blagaj's architectural heritage and old urban quarters (''mahalas'') suggest that buildings of significant monumental and townscape value are concentrated in a relatively small area along the Buna river. The urban structures, spatial layout, and organization trace their origins from the medieval outskirts of the fortress, which evolved during the

Ottoman period The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Central Euro ...

into a ''kasaba'' (village-town). Blagaj's urban design reflects both Oriental and Mediterranean influences, with the settlement's development being shaped by natural phenomena, terrain configuration, and socio-economic factors. This resulted in a seamless integration of each building with its surroundings, achieving perfect harmony.

References

External links