When thinking of Bosnia & Herzegovina, it is difficult not to focus on the Yugoslav wars that blighted the Balkan region for much of the 1990s. At a loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, huge landmass was shredded into civil combat. Much of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s landscape is still riddled with mines, and ramshackle buildings loll across its towns and villages. However, the country remains beautiful, and its winding aqua rivers have lost none of their lustre.

Although economic stagnation and international isolation is yet to be overcome, there is positive history in abundance, from stunning old mosques to amphitheatres and Catholic shrines. Countryside varies from woodland to mountains to rolling hills. Perhaps most wonderful is the rebuilt bridge in Mostar - what used to be a pre-war ancient overpass. Now re-opened to the public, it is hard not to walk across it and hope it symbolic of new beginnings.

51,129 sq km (19,741 sq miles).

4 million (2005 estimate).

88.8 per sq km.

Sarajevo. Population: 420,000 (2005 estimate).

Parliamentary democracy. Under the terms of the 1995 Dayton Peace agreement, Bosnia & Herzegovina consists of two entities: Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine (the Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina) and Republika Srpska (the Serbian Republic). Each has its own president, although there is also a three-member rotating presidency, elected every four years. The presidency then appoints a chairman of the council of Ministers. A central government, based in Sarajevo, is responsible for national functions including foreign, external trade and finance policies. Two thirds of the seats in the national assembly are reserved for Federation candidates and one third for Serbs. In addition, Republika Srpska elects its own president and national assembly, while the Federation elects a national assembly.

The official languages are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. The Croats and Bosniaks use the Latin alphabet, whereas the Serbs use the Cyrillic.

40% Muslim, 31% Orthodox, 15% Roman Catholic, 4% Protestant and 10% other denominations and religions.

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Bosnia & Herzegovina is charaterised by its ethnic and religious diversity and visitors should respect the customs and traditions of the various ethnic and religious groups. The main ethnic groups are the Bosniaks (48%, also sometimes referred to as Bosnian Muslims), the Serbs (37.1%) and the Croats (14.3%). As a sign of acknowledgement of the three main religious communities (Islamic, Orthodox and Roman Catholic), the government of Bosnia & Herzegovina allows its citizens to take off two working days per year for religious purposes. Visitors should be aware that drinking alcohol in public may be considered offensive by Muslims. Visitors should avoid expressing opinions about the war or other sensitive issues.

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are in use.

Prime Minister Nikola Spiric since 2007.

The presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina consists of two members and one chairperson: one Bosniak, one Serb and one Croat. Current members and chairman are: Haris Silajdic, Nebojsa Radmanovic and Zeljko Komsic, all since 2006. The chair rotates every eight months.