Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Old Bridge of Mostar
- Wibke Helfrich
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The Old Bridge of Mostar is the heart of the city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But the narrow alleys of the old town are also worth exploring. Here you'll find all the information you need for your visit.
A crowd of curious tourists has gathered around the old bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. They cheer and applaud a daring bridge jumper, who is still standing hesitantly on the railing high above the river.
Bridge jumping in Mostar is a tourist attraction
"Are you ready?" asks diving instructor James, standing on the towering Stari Most Bridge in Mostar, preparing to jump. He gazes down into the depths – at the famous and, above all, icy-cold emerald-green Neretva River, which flows through Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite wearing a wetsuit, James is beginning to doubt whether he's truly ready – the 30-meter jump seems more daunting than ever.
My tip: There is a nice beach bar on the river from where you can watch the bridge jumpers.
Bridge jumping in Mostar is a tourist attraction, as is the winding Old Town with its narrow streets, mosques, churches, and numerous small craft shops . "Stari Most" means "old bridge" and, since its construction, has not only connected the two parts of the city across the river, but has also been considered an important link between the cultures living in Mostar. Muslims and Christians, Croats and Serbs have long lived together peacefully in the small town, giving it a multicultural charm.
Dangerous jump into the depths
The tourists who have gathered expectantly around James, eagerly photographing and cheering him on with applause, have no idea that he is not one of the trained local bridge divers who often jump here for money, but – like them – a visitor. To qualify for a jump from the famous Stari Most, daredevils must register with the Mostari Diving Club and complete test jumps from a 10-meter-high board. James is one of the few daring tourists to attempt the extreme jump from the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The jump is dangerous, and fatal accidents occur repeatedly. Nevertheless, people have been jumping from the Stari Most for more than 450 years.
The most beautiful old town in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mostar's old town is a must-see. It features countless winding little streets and old stone houses built of light limestone. Many restaurants overlook the turquoise river. In the city, you can visit mosques , a Hammam Museum, and many old houses . The stalls in the winding alleys offer goods reminiscent of 1001 Arabian Nights: golden tea sets, colorful dresses, and delicious sweets. Many restaurants overlook the turquoise river and the famous bridge.
My tip: The atmosphere down by the river and in the city is especially beautiful after sunset, when the bridge is illuminated.
Destruction and reconstruction
The current name Mostar was first mentioned in 1474 and is derived from "mostari" - the bridge keepers. The historic city of Mostar developed as an Ottoman border town in the 15th and 16th centuries. Construction of the bridge is believed to have been completed around 1567, when the city was under Ottoman rule.
In November 1993, the Balkan-Islamic Bridge collapsed under shelling by Croatian forces . It took more than a decade to rebuild the bridge.
In 2004, the faithfully reconstructed Stari Most Bridge was inaugurated. Described by UNESCO as a "jewel of Ottoman architecture," it was rebuilt using stones from the same quarry that supplied the original 16th-century building material. The original stones were even salvaged from the river for the new bridge. The gracefully curved and photogenic bridge in Mostar's Old Town has become even more important since the war, bridging the gap between cultures. For the people of Mostar, the rebuilt Stari Most Bridge is a symbol of the reunification of the city's residents.
Info:
Arrival:
From Frankfurt there are flights with a stopover to Mostar .
The journey time by car is approximately 14:30 hours.
Mostar can also be reached from Dubrovnik in Croatia. From there, it's a two-and-a-half-hour drive or a three-hour journey by public transport.
Eat:
The very cozy Hindin Han restaurant is located in an old mill above the river, where you can enjoy local dishes on the terrace.
Jusovina bb, Mostar, Tel +387 36 581-054
Tima Irma is THE address for Cevapcic i in the old town of Mostar.
Sleep:
Located in the heart of Mostar is the Old Bridge Autocamping . It's actually a walled parking lot. However, the restrooms are clean, and there's a terrace with a beautiful view of the Old Bridge. Gojka Vukovića 3, Mostar. Tel: +38762792047
Surrounded by a lush garden, the Bosnian national monument Muslibegovic House is a blend of boutique hotel and museum . It offers individually decorated rooms in traditional Ottoman style with Bosnian antiques.
The recently renovated 3-star Shangri La Hotel is located 100 metres from the famous Stari Most.
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