Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Sarajevo Tunnel, called the Tunnel of Hope, of Life or of Salvation by Sarajevans, was dug in secret between March and June 1993 during the siege, under the runway of Sarajevo Airport, which the United Nations controlled. It linked the besieged Dobrinja neighbourhood with Butmir on the far side, held by the army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and became the only lifeline of a city otherwise completely cut off. Digging began on 1 March 1993 under a code name, to plans by the Bosnian civil engineer Nedžad Branković, with residents working round the clock with simple tools. About 800 metres long and only about 1.5 metres high, it carried food, medicine, fuel and aid into the city and wounded people and civilians out, with thousands passing through each day. The museum is in the house in Butmir that hid the tunnel entrance, its walls still scarred by shelling. It shows photographs, documents, tools and wartime clothing and a short film, and you can walk through about twenty metres of the original tunnel to feel how cramped it was for those who used it.
It is far from the centre near the airport, so take a taxi or a tour, or the tram to Ilidža and a short taxi on. Allow an hour to an hour and a half. The tunnel is low and narrow, so stoop and mind your head. The smartphone audio guide is worth its small extra fee. The story is moving, so prepare children beforehand.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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MosqueSarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
