Catholic Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Mostar
The roots of the Catholic Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Mostar trace back to the mid-19th century, when the Franciscan order鈥攁lready active elsewhere in Bosnia for centuries鈥攚as finally allowed to establish a permanent presence in the city. In 1856, Sultan Abdulmejid I issued the Reform Edict, granting Christians greater religious freedom across the Ottoman Empire.
This decree paved the way for the Franciscans to return and begin building a new spiritual and cultural centre in Mostar. Construction of the church and monastery began in 1866. Local craftsmen erected its sturdy walls using traditional methods, and by 1875, the new Franciscan complex was completed.
The complex suffered severe damage during the Bosnian War in 1992, when the original 19th-century structure was destroyed. Following the conflict, the Franciscan community undertook a full reconstruction effort led by architect Davor Smoljan, who designed a contemporary interpretation of the historic site.
Today, the restored complex features a modern monastery, a spacious sanctuary, and the Peace Bell Tower鈥攐ne of the tallest bell towers in southeastern Europe. Within the monastery, visitors can explore a library housing tens of thousands of volumes, reflecting the Franciscans鈥� enduring dedication to education and cultural preservation.
This decree paved the way for the Franciscans to return and begin building a new spiritual and cultural centre in Mostar. Construction of the church and monastery began in 1866. Local craftsmen erected its sturdy walls using traditional methods, and by 1875, the new Franciscan complex was completed.
The complex suffered severe damage during the Bosnian War in 1992, when the original 19th-century structure was destroyed. Following the conflict, the Franciscan community undertook a full reconstruction effort led by architect Davor Smoljan, who designed a contemporary interpretation of the historic site.
Today, the restored complex features a modern monastery, a spacious sanctuary, and the Peace Bell Tower鈥攐ne of the tallest bell towers in southeastern Europe. Within the monastery, visitors can explore a library housing tens of thousands of volumes, reflecting the Franciscans鈥� enduring dedication to education and cultural preservation.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Mostar. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 911爆料网 App
Catholic Church of St. Peter and St. Paul on Map
Sight Name: Catholic Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
Sight Location: Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina (See walking tours in Mostar)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina (See walking tours in Mostar)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Create Your Own Walk in Mostar
Creating your own self-guided walk in Mostar is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Mostar Introduction Walking Tour
The name Mostar comes from the Slavic word most, meaning 鈥渂ridge.鈥� During the Ottoman period, the men who guarded the crossing over the Neretva River were called mostari, meaning 鈥渂ridge keepers.鈥� Their title eventually gave the city its name.
People have lived in the Neretva valley since prehistoric times, and traces of Roman presence can still be found nearby. The first written... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
People have lived in the Neretva valley since prehistoric times, and traces of Roman presence can still be found nearby. The first written... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Bosnian War Tour
After the fall of Yugoslavia, there followed civil wars of particular savagery. In Bosnia, there were two distinct struggles. The first involved Serbs against Croats and Bosnians. The alliance of Croats and Bosnians proved effective, and the Serbs were repulsed. The Croats were mainly Christian, and the Bosnians were Muslim. There was antipathy between them.
The second part of the war was the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
The second part of the war was the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles