Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina · 1566

The Mostar Bridge: One Arch over the Neretva

The single-arch bridge completed by Mimar Hayreddin in 1566, destroyed in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004.

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Rising over the Neretva River in a single stone arch, the Mostar Bridge (Stari Most) is perhaps the best-known symbol of the Ottoman heritage in the Balkans.

Construction

The bridge was completed in 1566, in the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. Its architect was Mimar Hayreddin, remembered as a pupil of Mimar Sinan. With a span of about 29 metres it was one of the boldest stone arches of its time. The city’s name comes from the word for the “bridge keepers” (mostari) who guarded it.

Destruction and rebirth

The bridge was destroyed on 9 November 1993 during the Bosnian War. After the war it was rebuilt using some original stones recovered from the river and traditional techniques, and reopened in 2004. The bridge and the surrounding old town were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005.

What to see today

The bridge divers: young men jumping some 20 metres into the Neretva, a tradition going back centuries.
Kujundžiluk bazaar: the cobbled Ottoman bazaar leading to the bridge.
Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque: its minaret offers the best view of the bridge and river.