Počitelj, Čapljina

Počitelj is a village in the Čapljina municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The historic site of Počitelj is located on the left bank of the river Neretva, on the main Mostar to Metković road, and it is about 30 km. to the south of Mostar.

The village is built in a natural karst amphiteatre along the Neretva river.

During the Middle Ages, Počitelj was considered the administrative centre and centre of governance of Dubrava župa (county), while its westernmost point gave it major strategic importance. It is believed that the fortified town along with its attendant settlements were built by Bosnia's King Stjepan Tvrtko I in 1383. The walled town of Počitelj evolved in the period from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Architecturally, the stone-constructed parts of the town are a fortified complex, in which two stages of evolution are evident: medieval, and Ottoman.

History

The first recorded reference to Počitelj dates from 1444, in charters by the Aragon king Alfonso V of Aragon and in 1448 by Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor. It was mentioned as a fortified town of the Dubrava district, ruled by Duke Stjepan Vukčič Kosača. In the period between 1463-1471 the town housed a Hungarian garrison and was fortified into a strategic defence stronghold. In 1471, following a brief siege, the town was conquered by the Ottomans. It lost its strategic significance. It remained within the Ottoman Empire until 1878. From 1782 to 1879 Počitelj was the kadiluk (area under the jurisdiction of a kadija or qadi - judge) centre and it was the headquarters of the Počitelj military district from 1713 to 1835.

Počitelj (disambiguation)

Počitelj may refer to: