This video from Rick Steves' Europe showcases Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, highlighting its history, cultural blend, and recovery from the Bosnian War. The video explores Mostar's Ottoman heritage, the destruction of its iconic bridge during the war, and its subsequent rebuilding and ongoing reconciliation.
The transcript indicates that before the Bosnian War, Catholic Croats, Orthodox Serbs, and Muslim Bosniaks lived together in Mostar in relative harmony. However, the war saw neighbors and friends taking up arms against each other, initially Croats and Bosniaks against Serbs, then the remaining two groups against each other. The video suggests that while ethnic divisions still exist, there is a determined effort to build upon a fragile reconciliation. The active use of both religious communities' mosques and churches, the rebuilding of the Old Bridge, and the city's overall revival are presented as evidence of this ongoing process. The younger generation's embrace of life is highlighted as a positive sign for the future.
