BREGAVA RIVER WATERWAY BY THE ĆUPRIJSKA MOSQUE IN STOLAC

Author: Ekrem Tucaković, PhD, Riyasat of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina • Photo: Mirza Hasanefendić

The Bregava River is a left tributary of the Neretva. It is 31 km long and it flows into the Neretva by the village of Klepci, Municipality of Čapljina. Part of the river's course passes through Stolac, where it branches into arms and forms natural waterfalls.

From the 15th century on, mills for milling wheat were built on the Bregava, as well as stampers with vats for felting, washing and dyeing cloth, which were parts of waqfs of many Stolac families. Bridges, mills and stampers on the Bregava are an extremely valuable monument and a testimony of the local artistry of building.

Water canals brought water from the Bregava to the courtyard of the Alija Hadžisalihović, or Bridge Mosque in Stolac, which was built in 1736. Besides the aesthetic, the water had a practical function, since it was used for ablution.