Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bridge in Mostar over the river Neretva
The Old Bridge, Stari Most, is a single-arched Ottoman stone bridge over the Neretva in the heart of Mostar, and gives the city its name, after the mostari, the bridge keepers who guarded it in Ottoman times. Commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent and designed by Mimar Hayruddin, a pupil of Mimar Sinan, it was completed in 1566 and became one of the finest Ottoman bridges in the Balkans. The hump-backed bridge is about 30 metres long and 4 metres wide and stands over twenty metres above the summer river, built of local white tenelija stone that glows gold at sunset. Two towers guard it, Helebija and Tara, the latter now a museum about the bridge. It was destroyed in 1993 during the war, then rebuilt with original techniques and stone, some of it raised from the river, reopening on 23 July 2004; the Old Bridge area was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005. Its most famous tradition is diving from the bridge into the cold river, practised for centuries by the young men of the Mostar diving club, with a diving festival every summer.
Come early in the morning before the tour coaches, then return at sunset when the stone glows. The stone deck is slippery and steep, so wear good shoes. The classic photo is from the riverbank below on the east side, or from the minaret of the Karađoz Bey Mosque. Divers wait to collect money from onlookers before jumping; a small contribution is customary.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
No reviews yet
Share your experience and help other travellers decide.
