Travel Guide Podvelež

Podvelež/Подвележ (pronounced "podvelech") has about 150 inhabitants, all Bosnians, and is part of the municipality of Mostar. The village is 24 km southeast of Mostar(via Blagaj). City buses from Mostar East bus station: line 16 (3-6 buses/day except Sundays).Overlooking Mostar and Blagaj at 764 m above sea level, this village enjoys beautiful scenery. It is located on the Podvelež karst plateau, which is part of the Velež mountain range. Its name means "near the Velež". It consists of several hamlets, the most important of which is Smajkići, which is served by Mostar city buses. There is the pleasant Hotel Montanaro and a small mosque of recent construction. Many buildings were destroyed during the last war. The plateau of Podvelež was indeed occupied by the Bosnian-Serb army which drove out the Bosnian inhabitants and took advantage of the site to bomb Mostar. Only a quarter of the population has returned since and landmines remain in some areas of the plateau. By car, Podvelež is accessible from Blagaj, but also by the impressive winding road that leaves behind the main bus station of Mostar (17 km). This road allows you to stop at the Fortica viewing platform where you can see the large inscription "BIH VOLIMO TE" from Mostar and the start of an impressive zip line. The route continues through a field of windmills and past the ruins of the Merdžan Glava fort.