One of the most beautiful cultural and historical areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It adimnistratively belongs to the municipality of Čapljina.
The village iteslf suggests an archaic origin. The etymology of the name is not yet resolved. Some believe that the name is derived from the verb “počivati” – rest in paece, but others that the name of castellan of the city gave the it such a name. Third opinion is that educated people of the city caused the name “Počitelj”; Forth suggests that origin of the name should be sought in the Hungarian origin “čitelj” – Italian “cittadela”, as an expression for the city; And fifth the the verb “to read” – čitati.
Počitelj
But everything suggests that finding the origin for the name of Počitelj will still remain unknown, and will occupy public interest.
THE HISTORY
The Počitelj itself is the fortress from the Middle Ages. Located along the left ban of Neretva River near Čapljina. The fort used to protect the entrance to the lower Neretva valley on the road from Drijeve to Bišće. For the first time Počitelj is mentioned in the Charter of Duke Stjepan Vukčića 1444, - (Posichell, Vdobranah castello con lo contato), and later 1488 (castrum Beczitel) and 1454 (civitate Pozitell cum suis pertinentiis).
For a long period it was erroneously considered that in Počitelj was a Royal Bosnian dockyard in 14th century. The famous second new town which was built by Tvrtko I.Kotromanić in 1483 was named Brštanik. It was wrongfully placed near Počitelj, so certain activity around Tvrtkos shipyards, and sale of salt, brought it into connection with Počitelj.
Later historians have proved that Brštanik was bit far from Počitelj, so everything that connected it to the Počitelj was left out without any basis. Despite this, today you can read in the literature that Počitelj was build by Tvrtko in 1483 and that there were docks....
Počitelj had a significant role in the conflicts with the Ottomans.
ARCHITECTURE
This picturesque town onthe coast of Neretva River builds intensively from the second half of 16th century, through fruitfull crossover of the two architectural traditions: oriental and Mediterranean. To the present days good part of the cultural-architectural treasures were saved.
The Hadzi-Alija Mosque has been reconstructed as well as the Sisman-Ibrahimpasina medresa and the Gavran Kapetanovic house, all of which are open to visitors. The most striking object in Pocitelj is the Sahat-kula, a silo-shaped fort that towers from the top of the hill above the town. It housed watchmen and military to guard against possible invasion from the Neretva Valley.
In January 2003 Počitelj historical city area was declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In 2007 Pocitelj filed candidacy for the World heritage of UNESCO, whose today proud member is.
