A small town in western Bosnia, surrounded by the Dinaric Alps. Home to the 1st century BC bronze statue of Roman goddess Minerva found in Stipanjići.
Tomislavgrad lies in the high limestone plains of southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Mediterranean and mountain climates mix. Visit the King Tomislav statue in the main square, step into the Basilica of Duvna with its stone courtyard, or follow paths around Lake Blidinje’s clear waters. The Franciscan Museum holds Roman-era coins and pottery, and Buško Lake’s shallow bays warm up by July. Four border posts connect the town to Croatia, letting you drive from inland Bosnia to the Adriatic coast in under an hour.
Key Historical Sites
Begin at the Basilica of Duvna, a stone church built in 1865. Its attached museum displays Illyrian spearheads, Roman glassware, and medieval manuscripts. Walk five minutes north to see mammoth bones and tusks at the Ancient Elephant Exhibition, found during local excavations. The main square centers on a 10-meter bronze statue of King Tomislav, created in 1928 when the town changed its name from Duvno. Many older residents still refer to the area by its original name, a practice rooted in centuries of tradition.
Exploring the Limestone Region
Limestone plateaus surround Tomislavgrad, their rocky surfaces scattered with wild thyme and juniper. Lake Buško, created in the 1970s for hydropower, reaches 24°C (75°F) in summer—ideal for swimming from its pebble beaches. Blidinje Nature Park, 25 kilometers northeast, has marked paths through black pine forests and past glacial boulders. Guides from the Orlova stina group lead tours to caves like Jama Ledenica, where ice formations persist into early summer. Their trail network includes routes up Mount Vran, with steel cables aiding steep sections near the summit.
Work and Community Life
Many families left Tomislavgrad during the 1990s conflicts, settling in coastal Croatia or abroad. Today, local employers include Kapis Tomislavgrad, which produces cement blocks, and Kamensko sawmill near the Croatian border. About 86% of the 30,000 residents identify as Croatian Catholics, with small communities of Bosniaks and Serbs attending separate schools. Farmers grow potatoes and cabbage in the Roško Polje fields, while shepherds graze sheep on Mount Vran’s slopes. Mayor Ivan Buntić’s office recently repaved the road to Blidinje to improve access for visitors.
Getting Here and Around
Drive from Split in 90 minutes via the E371 highway, passing through the Kameško border checkpoint. Buses run twice daily to Mostar (2.5 hours) and once to Sarajevo (4 hours). If coming from Banja Luka, take the M16.2 road through Kupres—watch for potholes after rain. Parking near the main square costs nothing, and you can walk to all central sights in 15 minutes. The Kamensko crossing stays open until 10 PM in summer, letting you visit Croatian coastal towns like Trilj for dinner.
