14 Souvenirs From Bosnia And Herzegovina To Take Dwelling

Should you’re visiting a spot like Bosnia and Herzegovina, you’ll most likely wish to get some Bosnian souvenirs. Here’s what to purchase in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Each time a much-awaited journey ends, we regularly really feel type of blue, particularly after we had fun, found new locations, and felt actually welcome. Souvenirs come to the rescue; they make us really feel a bit higher and assist us preserve the recollections of our travels alive. Should you’re visiting a spot like Bosnia and Herzegovina, you’ll most likely wish to get some Bosnian souvenirs.

This Balkan nation has a protracted artisan custom, which makes it straightforward to seek out lovely presents for our mates and us again dwelling.

The selection is broad; we will choose one thing to embellish our dwelling, to remind us of a spot or a taste, and to encourage others to go to the nation, too.

Keep in mind, attempt to depart some house in your baggage in your souvenirs, attempt to decide on sensible and easy-to-pack objects, and, in case you wish to buy some huge or fragile memento, all the time verify with the locals as they’re typically keen that can assist you pack and even obtainable to ship it dwelling for you.

Let’s see among the most lovely and typical souvenirs from Bosnia that can undoubtedly make an ever-lasting reminiscence of your go to.

1. Clothes And Different Objects With Bosnian Carpet Patterns

The Bosnian carpet is a typical carpet with an Oriental-style motif that represents the native cultural values. Carpet making was historically a craft taken up by girls who would weave rugs for his or her houses or as presents, recreating a particular sample in daring colours corresponding to pink, black, yellow, or blue.

The motif, which grew to become part of the native tradition, has been taken up by a number of fashionable Bosnian designers who now print it on trendy garment items, together with males’s ties, silk scarves, and much more tech objects corresponding to a mouse pad or a espresso mug.

A well-known Bosnian designer, Adnan Hajrulahovic, has taken this sample to the following stage along with his firm HAAD, producing unique clothes and ornamental objects with the Bosnian carpet sample.

These souvenirs could be a bit dearer than you could possibly purchase at a road market, however they bear a novel Bosnian aptitude. You may shortly get them on the Sarajevo airport or the memento store within the Metropolis Corridor (Vijecnica). You may also study extra on the HAAD official web site or the HAAD Fb web page.

2. Bosnian Rugs And Carpets

Should you select an affordable dimension and have baggage house obtainable, then a conventional Bosnian carpet or kilim generally is a one-of-a-kind current for you or a good friend. These handwoven rugs, which grew to become fashionable within the nation through the Ottoman occupation, have easy motifs repeated throughout the floor, made with daring colours, with pink and black being the extra fashionable ones. Though they may show a bit awkward to move, you may wish to take dwelling with you the true factor and never only a copy.

A superb high quality Bosnian rug IS not as straightforward to seek out as up to now. Sadly, the craft is being deserted, and weavers aren’t really easy to seek out. Nevertheless, in the event you’re attempting to find a fairly Bosnian kilim, head to the markets in a very powerful cities, corresponding to Sarajevo and Mostar, to seek out them. And keep in mind, to make certain in regards to the high quality of the carpet, all the time verify the knots on the reverse: the extra you see, the higher the carpet.

3. Native Wine And Rakija

Herzegovina is a vital grape producer within the area and produces surprisingly good wines. The wine trade, which stopped through the Ottoman years, was introduced again to life through the Austrian domination, and little by little, wine returned to be an necessary product of the nation.

Alternatively, in the event you favor a stronger drink, get a bottle of Rajika. Though this spirit is broadly produced in each Balkan nation, a bottle of Rakija from Bosnia and Herzegovina could make a exceptional reminiscence of your journey.

4. Copper Ware And Different Metalwork Objects

With clear Ottoman memory, one of the crucial distinctive artwork types in Bosnia and Herzegovina is metalware, particularly copper work. Something from ornamental plates and trays, tea units, espresso pots, and even Ottoman lamps with typical designs are among the frequent objects you may take again dwelling with you.

These distinctive handcrafts might be bought in native markets, however in fact, the most effective place to get your reward is Coppersmith Avenue in Sarajevo’s Bascarsija. You may also purchase metallic souvenirs alongside the streets of Mostar, close to the Outdated Bridge or Stari Most. And understand that it’s all the time higher to purchase from working artisans that you simply see working at their outlets to keep away from buying an affordable knock-off.

5. Metallic Jewellery

If buying a metallic espresso pot or an ornamental dish is one thing you’d like to do, however there may be not sufficient house in your backpack, but you continue to love the native metalwork, then you may accept a captivating pair of earrings, bracelets, or necklaces.

Whether or not you’re searching for a daring piece to make a vogue assertion or a fragile piece to put on every day, you’ll undoubtedly discover distinctive items at comparatively reasonably priced costs.

6. Lavender And Different Natural Merchandise

One other commonplace memento you should buy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (and in lots of different Balkan nations, as we mentioned in our Bulgarian souvenirs article), lavender fields are plentiful on this a part of the world.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a protracted custom of cultivating and gathering medicinal and fragrant herbs (wild berries and mushrooms). The nation boasts a wealthy biodiversity of medicinal and fragrant vegetation that considerably contribute to the nationwide and native financial system. Bosnia and Herzegovina commercializes over 200 medicinal and fragrant vegetation within the type of dried flowers, important oils, and totally different natural merchandise corresponding to chamomile, mint, balm, sage, and — most of all — lavender.

Though dried lavender sachets are a typical and fairly low cost memento, a small flask of pure lavender oil generally is a refined and delicate memento that many mothers and grandmas will undoubtedly respect.

7. Conflict Trinkets, Recycled Bullets, And Different Conflict Paraphernalia

Like many different Balkan nations which underwent a slightly turbulent current historical past, war-related souvenirs are additionally fairly typical in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These souvenirs, beloved primarily by companions, boyfriends, and male members of the family, typically come from the spectacular amount of ammunition that littered the entire nation after the struggle.

These painful recollections had been gathered by expert locals who made them into eccentric souvenirs, pendants, trinkets, and different ornamental objects now to be discovered within the areas of Mostar and Sarajevo, primarily in markets and vacationer corners. You could find something from a pen made out of a bullet to helmets, military badges, and diverse navy clothes.

8. Hand-knitted socks And Slippers

It’s a neighborhood custom to take away your footwear while you enter your own home in lots of nations within the Balkans, and that is very true for Bosnia, the place you’ll obtain a pair of home slippers that the householders preserve for guests and that should be solely worn inside.

And even in the event you didn’t have the chance to enter any Bosnian dwelling throughout your journey, you’ll undoubtedly discover artisan stalls and markets promoting these typical hand-knitted slippers with pointy suggestions that includes fairly intricate motifs. As an alternative choice to slippers, you will get a pair of cozy woolen socks that locals use for a similar goal.

9. A Snapshot Of The Place The place WWI Started

You may get this picture within the type of a postcard, a portray, or perhaps a {photograph} made by you!

As most of us realized again in school, the First World Conflict began proper after Franz Ferdinand, the inheritor to the Austrian throne, was murdered in Sarajevo by the Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip.

At present, a whole lot of vacationers flock to the proximity of the Latin Bridge to see the precise place the place these occasions passed off. Historical past and journey fans typically snap an image of this very spot (and even a selfie)—fairly a novel journey memento from the Balkan space that historical past buffs will undoubtedly treasure.

10. A Espresso Set And Some Bosnian Espresso

A Conventional Bosnian espresso set can simply make the proper memento to buy throughout your Balkan journey. Both for you or a good friend, a small conventional set will embody a copper (or different metallic) espresso pot — regionally often known as dzezva — and a pair of cups with saucers. Bigger units might include extra cups, however they won’t slot in your baggage.

Though they could be a bit on the heavy facet, they’re the proper reward for the espresso fan again dwelling. Pair this current with a pack of Bosnian floor espresso, which you’ll unlikely discover as soon as again dwelling.

11. Native Work

It’s all the time rewarding to buy hand-painted photos of various areas you could have visited within the nation. You’ll not solely be serving to native artists, however there’s one thing distinctive and fairly private when you realize that your portray shouldn’t be a print or was not mechanically reproduced. In a means, your memento will likely be a one-of-a-kind, one thing which may make it much more particular.

Head to artisan and public markets or, even higher, buy them from the artists themselves, who might be discovered portray proper on the spot at totally different landmarks. Get your self an oil or watercolor portray of distinctive locations such because the Stari Most or the streets of Sarajevo. Body it and dangle it as soon as again dwelling to carry you distinctive journey recollections each time you have a look at them.

12. Lokum

Regionally often known as lokum or rahat lokum, this frequent Balkan candy, much like the extra well-known Turkish delight, is an ideal memento, light-weight, straightforward to move, and match inside any piece of baggage.

This scrumptious deal with has very clear Turkish origins. In truth, the phrase lokum (roughly translated as a delight) comes from the Turkish language and means pleasure for the throat. Rahat lokum made its means into Bosnia greater than 500 years in the past, when it was packed in silk and was solely served to the excessive class on the court docket. At present, consuming Bosnian espresso with rahat lokum and different oriental sweets is an actual ritual in native households. Lokum is available in totally different flavors, the preferred ones being rose and walnut.

Presently, the Bosnian market presents tremendous colourful lokum made with the standard colours and Bosnian motifs present in outdated carpets and different woven merchandise.

13. Get Your self An Uncommon Memento!

Have you ever ever thought-about returning dwelling with a memento you can not buy in any store or market? One thing genuinely authentic that — in a means — testifies your go to to the nation? Diving off probably the most well-known bridge in Mostar can earn you such a memento!

It has lengthy been a typical observe for Bosnians to dive from Stari Most Bridge into the chilly Neretva River. The native affiliation Mostar Dive Membership permits guests and vacationers to attend a half-day coaching session after which leap proper off the bridge.

Divers who try the plunge carry again dwelling a diving certificates, changing into a lifetime member of the membership. The expertise is about 30 euro, which is an authentic memento.

14. Getting Your Souvenirs

Irrespective of the place you might be on the earth, the most effective locations to buy journey souvenirs have all the time been road markets and bazaars the place native artisans work, and you’ll select and typically even cut price for a chunk you want.

Public markets are additionally appropriate for these eager on buying gastronomic souvenirs, be it spirits, wine, spices, herbs, or distinctive native merchandise. These are the precise locations, and costs are sometimes reasonably priced, particularly when most locals get their meals there too.

When touring to Bosnia, you’ll most likely go to Sarajevo and Mostar, the 2 most necessary facilities within the nation. Each are dwelling to lovely and well-assorted markets the place you will get authentic and sometimes cheap souvenirs.

Kujundziluk

In Mostar Outdated City, head throughout the Outdated Bridge to the large open bazaar in Mostar and take a stroll alongside Coppersmith’s Avenue, Kujundziluk, to peruse the handfuls of stalls as a way to discover the precise reward. This is among the prime issues to do on the town, regardless of whether or not you purchase a memento or not.

Bascarsija

When in Sarajevo, as a substitute, it’s a good suggestion to pay a go to to the outdated bazaar, Bascarsija, the place you’re going to get not simply distinctive native crafts but additionally easy magnets, keychains, and postcards that usually make a cute and economical current when you’ve got tons of mates again dwelling ready for a Bosnian memento!