Stolac
One of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Stolac anchors Herzegovina’s cultural landscape with layers of Illyrian, Roman, and Slavic heritage.
At a glance
Stolac sits in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, positioned on a natural corridor linking Bosnia’s mountainous interior to the Adriatic coast. The town’s strategic location—accessible from Sarajevo via Mostar in under four hours—has made it a crossroads for millennia.
History
The region’s geological composition, climate, and abundant natural resources drew human settlement from prehistory onward. Illyrians, Romans, and Slavs all established themselves here, each leaving archaeological traces.
In 2022, a new 36-kilometre road connecting Stolac to Neum was completed with World Bank support, opening fresh routes for regional tourism and trade between the coast and Herzegovina’s interior.
What you see
The town’s physical character reflects its long occupation. Archaeological evidence spans multiple civilisations, embedded in the landscape itself.
Cultural significance
Stolac ranks among Bosnia and Herzegovina’s oldest cities and among the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements. Its persistence through successive empires—Illyrian, Roman, and Slavic—makes it an invaluable record of the region’s deep history.
Key facts
- Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Region: Herzegovina-Neretva Canton
- Coordinates: 43.0825°N, 17.9558°E
- Status: One of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities
Practical information & getting there
Stolac is reachable by road from Sarajevo (via Mostar) in under four hours. The 2022 completion of the Stolac-Neum road has improved access to the coastal city and broader connections throughout the region.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
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