Because of its recent history, this region is identified by many people with the wars of Yugoslav succession. Obscured by such traumatic associations is a region rich in history and natural wonders. Western, Byzantine, and Islamic influences merge in everyday life, producing exceptional examples of art, architecture, literature, film, and music. The former Yugoslavia is an exciting travel destination. Its many natural wonders include Adriatic beaches (similar to those of Southern France), the Dinaric Alps (rivaling their Swiss counterparts), and hundreds of lakes and pristine rivers.

In Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina you can walk the main boulevard and travel through history. Stroll from traces of medieval tombstones dotting the hills above the city, to Ottoman mosques and shops in the city center, through Austro-Hungarian cityscapes further east, and into the urban architecture of modern times at the city outskirts.

In Pula, Croatia you will find the second largest Roman amphitheater in the world, second only to the Colosseum of Rome. If you stop by in July, you’ll enjoy one of the most exciting film festivals held there. The shores of the Adriatic are not to be missed, as enticing as those found in Southern France.

Kosova is also known as ‘Kosovo’ in Serbian, one of two official languages, alongside Albanian. Kosova has the youngest population in Europe, with a median age of 29 years. While largely secular, its population is a mix of traditions and religions, from majority Albanian to one of Mother Theresa’s domiciles.

North Macedonia has 34 densely packed mountain peaks, but its climate is warm and welcoming. Alexander the Great is by far the most famous Macedonian, and while Mother Theresa may have lived in Kosova in her youth, she was actually born in Skopje, the capital city.

Montenegro is a small land of extremes: the Dinaric Alps and the Adriatic come together here. At the top of Mt. Lovćen, at 5,436 ft above sea level, you’ll find a mausoleum of one of the most well-known Montenegrin heads of state, towering at its highest point to become a monument for the world. On the other end of the spectrum, the stunning Tara Canyon is the deepest in Europe, reaching a depth of  4265 ft.

Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, is one of the oldest cities in Europe, with traces of continuous settlement for over 7,000 years. From “White City” (Beograd, in Serbian) to the dark side: Devil’s Town in southern Serbia is a stunning complex of stone-capped, spindle-shaped pillars created by soil erosion, which local legend claim as a group of petrified wedding guests.

Slovenia is one of the greenest countries on earth, with over 53% of its land consisting of environmentally protected forests. It is famous for having one of the largest underground systems of caves and canyons in the world. Slovenians love their bees and wine too—there are 90,000 beekeepers in a country of 2 million, with a vineyard to every 70 inhabitants.

Yugoslavia was a curious middle ground between the East and the West during the Cold War. It had a communist system with a functioning market, often referred to as “market socialism.” It was a federal state like the United States and was one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures offers a variety of courses in which you can learn about and participate in the fascinating histories and cultures of this region.

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