Čapljina is a town and municipality of the same name in
Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. It is located in the
Herzegovina-Neretva CantonThe Herzegovina-Neretva Canton is one of the 10 cantons of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The canton mainly comprises the Neretva river valley area and parts of Herzegovina west of Mostar, its administrative center.-Municipalities:...
of the
Federation of Bosnia and HerzegovinaThe Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the two political entities that compose the sovereign country of Bosnia and Herzegovina . The two entities are delineated by the Inter-Entity Boundary Line...
. Čapljina is located on the border with
CroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
a mere 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) from the
Adriatic SeaThe Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
.
The river
NeretvaNeretva is the largest river of the eastern part of the Adriatic basin. It has been harnessed and controlled to a large extent by four HE power-plants with large dams and their storage lakes, but it is still recognized for its natural beauty, diversity of its landscape and visual...
flows through the municipality and flows into the Adriatic just over the border. The town's landmark is a statue of
King TomislavKing Tomislav was a ruler of Croatia in the Middle Ages. He reigned from 910 until 928, first as Duke of Dalmatian Croatia in 910–925, and then became first King of the Croatian Kingdom in 925–928....
. The Church of
Saint Francis AssisiSaint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
is also a prominent facet of the town. The municipal
coat of armsA coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
contains the
Croatian chequyThe coat of arms of Croatia consists of one main shield and five smaller shields which form a crown over the main shield. The main coat of arms is a checkerboard that consists of 13 red and 12 silver fields. It's commonly known as šahovnica or grb...
, the nearby tower in Pocitelj, and
Saint Francis AssisiSaint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
.
The municipality has a rich archaeological history and untouched
wildernessWilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
and is starting to develop agricultural tourism. It is also home to Hutovo Blato Park, which contains one of the most diverse bird populations in all
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The Croatian town of
MetkovićMetković is a city in the Dubrovnik-Neretva county of Croatia, located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the river Neretva and on the border with Herzegovina.-Demographics:...
is located just over the border and there are significant commercial and other links between the two towns new Čapljina International Speedway.
History
Not much is known about this city but it was founded by Romans in 5 BC. However, ancient Greek, and later Roman maps clearly show that the area was populated by several native Illyrian peoples, the most notable being the Ardiaei, whom the ancient Greeks had trading relations with, and ancient Romans invaded. The current name of the town
Čapljina derives from the
South SlavicThe South Slavic languages comprise one of three branches of the Slavic languages. There are approximately 30 million speakers, mainly in the Balkans. These are separated geographically from speakers of the other two Slavic branches by a belt of German, Hungarian and Romanian speakers...
word čaplja, which means "
heronThe herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
". Coincidentally enough, the name of the most prominent of Illyrian natives of this area, the Ardiaei, who later created one of the most powerful Illyrian kingdoms, may as well derive from ancient Roman (
LatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
) word " Ardea", which precisely means "heron".
In
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
,
UstašeThe Ustaša - Croatian Revolutionary Movement was a Croatian fascist anti-Yugoslav separatist movement. The ideology of the movement was a blend of fascism, Nazism, and Croatian nationalism. The Ustaše supported the creation of a Greater Croatia that would span to the River Drina and to the border...
committed some of the most heinous atrocities in Čapljina and nearby villages. The town and the atrocities were celebrated in songs such as "
Jasenovac i Gradiška Stara"Jasenovac i Gradiška Stara" is a Croatian song promoting the Ustaše. The lyrics celebrate the World War II crimes against the Serbs...
", where Capljina was especially highly praised for its role in the genocide against the Serbs. The
Prebilovci massacreThe Prebilovci Massacre was one of many atrocities perpetrated by the Croatian Ustasha regime in the Independent State of Croatia during the World War II persecution of Serbs...
, in which around 4000 people were killed total, including 600 villagers from the
PrebilovciPrebilovci , a village in Herzegovina, near the city of Čapljina . Prebilovci was first mentioned in the 15th century. The village has a population of roughly around 50 inhabitants....
thrown into a pit, is one of the most significant atrocities in this area. Out of about 1000 villagers from Prebilovci, less than 200 survived, 57 families were completely extinguished (including numerous children). After the war, the first conscript from Prebilovci that reached the army age was not until 1962 (Jovan Djurasovic).
Since World War II it has been an important road and rail transportation link, connecting the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the
port of PločeThe Port of Ploče is a seaport in Ploče, Croatia, near the mouth of the Neretva river on the Adriatic Sea coast. It was formally opened in 1945 after a railway was built as a a supply route to connect the site with industrial facilities in the Sarajevo and Mostar areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina,...
in
CroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. During the
1992–1995 war in Bosnia and HerzegovinaThe Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
the city was taken over by the
Croatian Defence CouncilThe Croatian Defence Council was a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War.-History:...
who expelled the non-Croat population and set up concentration camps for
BosniaksThe Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
in the
Gabela campGabela camp was a concentration camp run by the Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia and Croatian Defence Council in Gabela, the camp was located several kilometres south of Čapljina.-The camp:...
.
During the Summer of 2007 wildfires caused extensive damage throughout the rural part of the municipality.
Settlements
•
BajovciBajovci is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 181* Croats - 176 * Muslims by nationality - 5 -References:...
•
Bivolje BrdoBivolje Brdo is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition:total: 841* Bosnians - 562 * Croatians - 256 * "Yugoslavs" - 6...
•
CrnićiCrnići is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:* Official results from the book: Ethnic composition of Bosnia-Herzegovina population, by municipalities and settlements, 1991. census, Zavod za statistiku Bosne i...
• Čapljina
•
ČeljevoČeljevo is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition:total: 1,058* Bosnians - 194 * Croatians - 827 * "Yugoslavs" - 8...
• Doljani
•
DomanovićiDomanovići is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 1,270* Muslims by nationality - 727 * Croats - 326...
• Dračevo
•
DreteljDretelj is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 576* Croats - 508 * Muslims by nationality - 53 * "Yugoslavs" - 11...
•
DubravicaDubravica is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 7* Muslims by nationality - 3 * Serbs - 3 * Croats - 1...
•
GabelaGabela is a town in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5 kilometres south of Čapljina and 4 kilometers from Metković, in Croatia. It is situated in the navigable lower course of the Neretva, off the major road linking the coast with the mountainous hinterland...
•
Gabela PoljeGabela Polje is a small village in the Čapljina municipality of Herzegovina, part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is in turn part of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
•
GnjilištaGnjilišta is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 345* Croats - 338 * Muslims by nationality - 1...
•
GoricaGorica is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 456* Croats - 380 * Muslims by nationality - 65 * "Yugoslavs" - 4...
•
GrabovinaGrabovina is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 947* Croats - 817 * Serbs - 57 * Muslims by nationality - 29...
•
HotanjHotanj is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 275* Bosnians - 93 * Croatians - 178 * "Yugoslavs" - 4...
•
JasenicaJasenica is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 165* Muslims by nationality - 157 * Croats - 1...
•
KlepciKlepci is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 417* Serbs - 383 * Croats - 14 * "Yugoslavs" - 13...
•
LokveLokve is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 587* Muslims - 395 * Orthodox - 192...
•
OpličićiOpličići is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 1,386* Muslims by nationality - 916 * Serbs - 358 * Croats - 108...
•
PočiteljPočitelj may refer to:*Počitelj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a village near Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina*Počitelj, Croatia, a hamlet near Gospić, Croatia...
•
PrćavciPrćavci is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:* Official results from the book: Ethnic composition of Bosnia-Herzegovina population, by municipalities and settlements, 1991. census, Zavod za statistiku Bosne i...
•
PrebilovciPrebilovci , a village in Herzegovina, near the city of Čapljina . Prebilovci was first mentioned in the 15th century. The village has a population of roughly around 50 inhabitants....
•
SjekoseSjekose is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 169* Croats - 146 * Serbs - 12 * Muslims by nationality - 10...
•
StanojevićiStanojevići is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 194* Muslims by nationality - 163 * Croats - 31 -References:...
•
StrugeStruge is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 437* Croats - 284 * Muslims by nationality - 130 * "Yugoslavs" - 16...
•
SvitavaSvitava is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 319* Croats - 317 * others and unknown - 2 -References:...
•
Ševaš NjiveŠevaš Njive is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 262* Muslims by nationality - 191 * Croats - 69...
•
ŠurmanciŠurmanci is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 403* Croats - 354 * Muslims by nationality - 47 * "Yugoslavs" - 2...
•
TasovčićiTasovčići is a town in the municipality of Čapljina, in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina...
•
TrebižatTrebižat is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 1,399* Croats - 1,371 * "Yugoslavs" - 11 * Bosniaks - 9...
•
VišićiVišići is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition:total: 1,773* Bosnians - 528 * Serbians - 23 * Croatians - 1,207...
•
ZvirovićiZvirovići is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 440* Croats - 431 * Serbs - 2 * others and unknown - 7...
Demographics
| Population of Čapljina municipality |
| style="background: bgcolor="#F5DEB3" > year of census |
style="background: bgcolor="#C2B280" > 1991. |
style="background: bgcolor="#C2B280" > 1981. |
style="background: bgcolor="#C2B280" > 1971.
|- |
style="background: bgcolor="#4169E1" > Croatians |
14,969 (53,68%) |
13,931 (53,51%) |
12,603 (53,72%) |
style="background: bgcolor="#228B22" > BosniaksThe Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
|
7,672 (27,51%) |
6,830 (26,23%) |
6,781 (28,90%) |
style="background: bgcolor="#FF0000" > SerbiansSerbians may refer to people who are identified with the country of Serbia, or people of the Serb ethnic group.However it could also be used as the translation of Serbian word "Србијанци" , especially when distinction is made between the two...
|
3,753 (13,46%) |
3,467 (13,31%) |
3,672 (15,65%) |
style="background: bgcolor="#C71585" > YugoslavsYugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
|
1,047 (3,75%) |
1,566 (6,01%) |
193 (0,82%) |
| style="background: bgcolor="#CC7722" >others and unknown |
441 (1,58%) |
238 (0,91%) |
210 (0,89%) |
| style="background: bgcolor="#F5DEB3" >total |
27,882 |
26,032 |
23,459 |
Ethnic structure by settlements
Absolute ethnic majoruty
Relative ethnic majority
| Ethnic structure of population of Čapljina municipality, by settlements, 1991. census |
| style="background: bgcolor="#F5DEB3" > settlement |
style="background: bgcolor="#FFFF00" > total |
style="background: bgcolor="#4169E1" > Croatians |
style="background: bgcolor="#228B22" > BosniansBosnians are people who reside in, or come from, Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the modern state definition a Bosnian can be anyone who holds citizenship of the state. This includes, but is not limited to, members of the constituent ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs and...
|
style="background: bgcolor="#FF0000" > SerbiansSerbians may refer to people who are identified with the country of Serbia, or people of the Serb ethnic group.However it could also be used as the translation of Serbian word "Србијанци" , especially when distinction is made between the two...
|
style="background: bgcolor="#C71585" > YugoslavsYugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
|
style="background: bgcolor="#CC7722" > others
|- |
Bajovci |
181 |
176 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Bivolje Brdo |
841 |
256 |
562 |
4 |
6 |
13 |
| Crnići |
50 |
50 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Čapljina |
7,461 |
3,067 |
2,191 |
1,267 |
707 |
229 |
| Čeljevo |
1,058 |
827 |
194 |
1 |
8 |
28 |
| Doljani |
365 |
357 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
| Domanovići |
1,270 |
326 |
727 |
186 |
21 |
10 |
| Dračevo |
630 |
582 |
0 |
41 |
0 |
7 |
| Dretelj |
576 |
508 |
53 |
3 |
11 |
1 |
| Dubravica |
7 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Gabela |
2,440 |
2,046 |
32 |
324 |
24 |
14 |
| Gnjilišta |
345 |
338 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
| Gorica |
456 |
380 |
65 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
| Grabovina |
947 |
817 |
29 |
57 |
29 |
15 |
| Hotanj |
275 |
178 |
93 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
| Jasenica |
165 |
1 |
157 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
| Klepci |
417 |
14 |
0 |
383 |
13 |
7 |
| Lokve |
587 |
0 |
395 |
192 |
0 |
0 |
| Opličići |
1,386 |
108 |
916 |
357 |
0 |
5 |
| Počitelj |
905 |
172 |
660 |
20 |
36 |
17 |
| Prćavci |
260 |
260 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Prebilovci |
174 |
1 |
0 |
171 |
0 |
2 |
| Sjekose |
169 |
146 |
10 |
12 |
0 |
1 |
| Stanojevići |
194 |
31 |
163 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Struge |
437 |
284 |
130 |
2 |
16 |
5 |
| Svitava |
319 |
317 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Ševaš Njive |
262 |
69 |
191 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Šurmanci |
403 |
354 |
47 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Tasovčići |
1,675 |
294 |
511 |
698 |
138 |
34 |
| Trebižat |
1,399 |
1,371 |
9 |
1 |
11 |
7 |
| Višići |
1,788 |
1,207 |
528 |
23 |
15 |
15 |
| Zvirovići |
440 |
431 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
| total |
27,882 |
14,969 |
7,672 |
3,753 |
1,047 |
441 |
Current
The Bosniak populations were expelled during the war in the early 1990s and today the majority of the population are Croats. No reliable estimates on the population exist since a census has not been conducted since 1991.
Culture
In the Capljina area, there are lots of Croatian cultural associations such as the following:
- HKUD Čapljina (Čapljina)
- HKUD Sv.Ante (Dretelj
Dretelj is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 576* Croats - 508 * Muslims by nationality - 53 * "Yugoslavs" - 11...
)
- HKUD Seljačka Sloga (Trebižat
Trebižat is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 1,399* Croats - 1,371 * "Yugoslavs" - 11 * Bosniaks - 9...
)
- HKUD " ZORA " Struge-Gorica
Famous People
- footballer Nikica Jelavić
Nikica Jelavić is a Croatian football centre forward who plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and the Croatian national team....
- footballer Semjon Milosevic
Semjon Milošević is a Bosnian football player. He plays as defender for FK Leotar since summer 2011.-FR Yugoslavia:He started his career in FK Sutjeska Nikšić in season 1995/96...
- Serbian journalist Dada Vujasinović
Radislava Dada Vujasinović, born February 10, 1964 in Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, was a reporter for the news magazine Duga. She covered the war in the former Yugoslavia from the start and frequently visited the front lines and even Sarajevo while it was under siege...
- basketball trainer Jasmin Repeša
Jasmin Repeša was a Croatian basketball player, and one of the most successful Croatian basketball coaches...
- croatian pop singer Pamela Ramljak
- football trainer Mirsad Fazlagić
Mirsad Fazlagić is a Bosnian former footballer.He started his football career in 1957 playing for a local club in his home town of Čapljina...
- actor Dejan Aćimović
Dejan Aćimović is an actor and director in Croatia. He was born in Čapljina, Yugoslavia, now Bosnia and Herzegovina. As an actor, his work included principal and supporting roles in numerous films, both within and outside Croatia...
Sport
- HNK Čapljina
HNK Čapljina is a football club from Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina club is currently playing in the Prva Liga Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine...
- football club (previously named Borac) - currently in the 2nd division of the BiH South League. Nicknamed the Patriots, Capljina has been home to such talented players such as Kana Colic, Zlatan Vego, Ilija Ivankovic,Dadi Mulalic, Zara Zurovac, Milivoje Drasko, Seno Elezovic, Velija Kudra and Mladen Bartolovic.
Their home ground is at Bjelave which holds 5,000 people.
- GOŠK Gabela
GOŠK Gabela is a football team based in Gabela, Čapljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Their home ground is Podavala in Gabela which holds about 3,000 people.Their supporters are known as the Blue Lions .-First team squad:...
- football club known as the Blue Lions from village of Gabela, currently in the First Division of the Bosnia-Hercegovina Football League.
- HKK Čapljina Lasta - basketball club currently in the Bosnia-Hercegovina D1 League