Stari Most

Mostar is the second biggest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a “small” country, which was part of Yugoslavia before 1992. Mostar is particularly famous for its bridge, the Stari Most (Old Bridge), which is a classic example of Ottoman design and became a world-recognised symbol during the Bosnian war.

As you may know, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are two main religions: Christianism and Islam. The bridge is a kind of “symbol of friendship” because it connects Muslim communities (in the east) and Christian communities (in the west) and in addition, it symbolises the multi-ethnicity of the country.

In 1993, the bridge was destroyed during the civil war, which is still a hard memory for the city’s inhabitants.

After the war, the bridge was rebuilt. The reopening of the bridge by Prince Charles took place in 2004 and was a sign that life was slowly returning to normal.

UNESCO added the bridge to their Wolrd Heritage list in 2005, saying that "The reconstructed Old Bridge and Old City of Mostar is a symbol of reconciliation, international co-operation and of the coexistence of diverse cultural, ethnic and religious communities.”

Today, Mostar is worth a visit. I especially recommend you the Ottoman quarter and its numerous artisan shops. You also should taste a typical Bosnian coffee.
Another interesting thing to know is that the bridge dominates the river from a height of 24 metres and if you are lucky, you will be able to see professional divers jumping off the bridge into the Neretva River.

P.S.: Unfortunately, the bridge is not adapted to people in wheelchairs.
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