On the Fortica hill there is a mountain lodge with a viewpoint, which offers food and drink and adrenaline activities: ziplines, big swing, via ferrata, climbing, jeep safari and etc.
Park Fortica
The initiative for the organization of the “FORTICA” SPORT-AVANTURISTIC PARK was launched at the beginning of 2016 when 8 benches were built with the support of the HNK tourist community.
In the wider area of Podveležje, vertical bicycle signalization was set up to mark mountain biking trails and maps with more than 200 km of trails throughout the entire Velez mountain area.
At the location of Fortice, a very attractive downhill bike path was also marked, where a competition was held in 2012, featuring competitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Also in 2016 a XC race was held within the ŠKODA league in mountain biking.
In addition to the potential in mountain biking, the Fortice site also has a climbing rock with 13 routes leading to the bunker on the top of a hill called “Stolac”.
In addition to the before mentioned sports activities, the Fortica site is also popular due to the beautiful view of the city of Mostar and the local mountains, and in this location there are also remains of military fortifications from World War I and World War II.
At the beginning of 2018 at Fortica was built a pillar with the state flag of BiH. The same year the longest ZIP LINE in Bosnia and Herzegovina was opened, which attracts a large number of visitors and is the main attraction of this park.
History
Although not an official name, Fortica is a well-established name for a hill above Mostar through which leads the local road to Podveležje, and most probably originates from the Italian word fortezza = fort, according to the Austro-Hungarian and Italian fortifications on it.
Fortica Hill has always been a haven of many locals that go out on its slopes during the summer heat enjoying the view of its city. In addition, Fortica is also the place where the Mostar people gave away and paid due attention and love to individual persons and events that marked the city on the Neretva for the last hundred years.
Thus, at the time when the Austro-Hungarian Empire ruled in this region, at the very top was the name of Emperor Franz Josip the 1st. It was gratefulness for many buildings that were built in the city of Neretva during the Austro-Hungarian rule. At the beginning of the 1970s, the youth from the Mostar settlement of Carina came to the idea of expressing her love for Josip Broz Tito in Fortica. It was, as far as it is known, the first case in Yugoslavia to show love and respect for the president of the SFRY. The symbol of the “Relay of Youth” is made of stones and “TITO” is written beside it.
When Josip Broz Tito died on May 4, 1980, young people from Mostar under the name of Tito labeled “WE LOVE YOU”, and once again expressed their love for him, which was synonymous with the old Yugoslavia. The letters were 10 feet high and 8 meters wide. That name stood until the last war. Then, at Fortica, the stone was re-rolled. They left “WE LOVE YOU”, and the name “TITO” has been changed to “BiH”.
For the last twenty years on this hill stands the name “BIH WE LOVE YOU”, with the subsequently created symbol of the Old Bridge. This inscription was written by the youth of the city, thus expressing her loyalty and love for the country – Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During World War I and World War II, a large number of military fortresses and bunkers, whose remains were preserved, were built on this location, and it is especially interesting that Italian soldiers built a cableway to deliver food and ammunition from the city.
Mountain lodge
The Association’s mountain lodge is located in the former Italian bunker from the Second World War, which has been renovated and is now a central part of the Fortica Park and also a starting point for all the activities offered in the park.
The mountain lodge has 12 beds and besides accommodation, the house also provides catering services of traditional dishes and drinks to all visitors.
Do you want to experience Zip Line Fortica firsthand, enjoy stunning architecture, picturesque views on Neretva river, and learn all about its rich history? Contact us.
We will create a journey tailored to your preferences.
