Široki Brijeg is the administrative, economic, cultural, educational, and religious center of the West Herzegovina Canton
It borders the municipalities/cities of Posušje (25.9 km), Grude (21.7 km), Ljubuški (6.8 km), Čitluk (15.5 km), and Mostar (48.3 km). The border with Mostar and Čitluk also marks the boundary with the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. The city covers an area of 388 km² with a total border length of 118 km.
Široki Brijeg is connected primarily by road. The nearest railway is in Mostar. The city connects to Mostar via the M6.1 highway and to the M17 highway (Mostar–Sarajevo). Regional roads R425 and R420 connect it to Čitluk, Ljubuški, and Grude. Distance from Mostar is 22 km, and from Sarajevo 150 km. Local and unclassified roads total approximately 400 km.
Relief and Geology
The wider area of Široki Brijeg lies in a complex karstic zone characterized by limestone formations with various karst features such as sinkholes, pits, and poljes. The region follows the tectonic Rakitno-Hrgud unit and includes areas such as Rakitno, Varda Mountain, Mostarsko Blato, Rotimlje, and Hrgud towards Trebišnica. The terrain consists of sediments from the Upper Jurassic, Cretaceous, Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary periods, including limestones, dolomites, flysch, and conglomerates. Bauxite-rich areas, historically exploited, are found in Crne Lokve–Kidačke Njive, Resnica–Polog, and Uzarići–Knešpolje, but these zones require environmental rehabilitation.
Climate
The city lies on the edge of the Mediterranean climate zone, transitioning to continental. Summers are long and dry, winters short and wet, with an average of 140 days of precipitation per year. Annual rainfall averages 1,594 mm, ranging historically from 910 mm to 2,748 mm. Average annual temperature is 14°C, with extremes of -15°C to 42°C. Around 40–50 days per year exceed 30°C, and only 1–2 days fall below 0°C. The north wind “bura” blows approximately 150 days annually.
Water Resources
Široki Brijeg belongs to the Neretva River basin. Main surface streams flowing to Mostarsko Blato include Lištica (with Ugrovača), Mokašnica, Crnašnica, and Žvatić. Tributaries from the Čabulja area feed into these rivers, collecting runoff from heavy rainfall and snowmelt. Watercourses from Rakitsko Polje drain through Točak, Jelica, Zmijinac, and the Ugrovača, merging with Lištica in the city center.
Flora and Fauna
Široki Brijeg lies at the intersection of Mediterranean and continental vegetation zones, hosting diverse flora including:
- Mediterranean: Quercus ilex, Pistacia terebinthus, Quercus lamiginosa
- Illyrian elements: Petteria, Portenschlagia ramosissima, Kitabelia vitifolia, Ostrya carpinifolia
- Mountain forests: beech, mountain elm, ash, fir, maple, pine, and juniper
Medicinal plants include sage, heather, yarrow, St. John’s wort, elder, and thyme. Typical fauna includes wolves, foxes, wild boars, hares, partridges, and reptiles such as Vipera berus and Lacerta oxycephala. Lištica River hosts trout and freshwater crayfish.
Environmental Status
Široki Brijeg enjoys a relatively healthy environment. The Lištica spring “Borak” is a key water source. Protected areas include the “Vrelo” and “Purin Gaj” forest parks, Pribinovića plateau, and other forested oases. The city is developing a sewage system with a wastewater treatment plant; previously existing infrastructure was never operational. Illegal landfills and bauxite mining have negatively impacted soils and groundwater, but public awareness of environmental protection is growing. Restoration and infrastructure development are planned to reduce these impacts.
Culture and Sports
Široki Brijeg is an economic, cultural, educational, religious, and administrative center of the West Herzegovina region, enriched with natural beauty. Located just 20 km from Mostar along the main Mostar–Split route, it is an important traffic hub. Archaeological remains show that the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The town hosts regular cultural events, including literary evenings, theater performances, concerts, art colonies, and exhibitions.
Culture
The cultural development of Široki Brijeg began with the Franciscans, who established a museum with archaeological, numismatic, ethnographic, and natural science collections, as well as orchestras and libraries. Their work was abruptly interrupted in February 1945, when thirty Franciscans were killed and archives and libraries destroyed.
Today, Široki Brijeg has gradually restored its cultural life, featuring the Academy of Fine Arts, the Franciscan Gallery, several cultural societies, an amateur theater, a music school, and various associations. Key cultural events include the “Briješka zvona” project, the International Mediterranean Documentary Film Festival, West Herzegovina Fest, a folklore evening, and various art exhibitions. The Franciscan Gallery houses works from Croatian modern and contemporary artists, old masters, liturgical objects, and rare manuscripts.
Sports
Sports in Široki Brijeg date back to the 16th century with hunting, fishing, and traditional competitions. Modern sports began in the late 19th century with the “Hrvatski Sokol” society in Mostar. Post-WWII, local sports clubs developed in football, basketball, gymnastics, and athletics.
The football club NK Široki Brijeg, founded as “Borak” in 1948, has been a multiple champion of Herzeg-Bosnia and competes in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Basketball club HKK Široki, established in 1974, became national champion and regularly participates in European competitions. Široki Brijeg continues to support sports at both professional and amateur levels, contributing to the city’s reputation as a regional sports center.
To learn more about local administration, services, and community updates, visit the official website of the City of Široki Brijeg.