Stari Most
莫斯塔尔古桥 · Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
An Ottoman-era single-arch stone bridge over the Neretva, completed in the 16th century and rebuilt true to the original after its destruction in the 1993 war; today it is the symbol of Mostar's old town.
Know before you go
- Running on the bridge
- stopping mid-bridge and blocking the way to take photos
- imitating the divers
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
A Bridge Nine Years in the Making
In 1557, Suleiman the Magnificent ordered the bridge to be built; the work took nine years and was completed around 1566. Its designer, Mimar Hayruddin, was a student of the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
Source: Wikipedia: Stari Most
History
Destruction and Rebuilding
On 9 November 1993, the bridge collapsed under shelling during the Bosnian War. Reconstruction began on 7 June 2001 using Tenelia, a fine-grained limestone from local quarries; divers recovered stones of the original bridge from the river, but most were too damaged to reuse. The bridge reopened on 23 July 2004.
Source: Wikipedia: Stari Most
History
Diving from the Bridge
Leaping from the Old Bridge into the Neretva is a Mostar tradition. Since 1968 a formal diving competition has been held here every year at the end of July, in midsummer.
Source: Wikipedia: Stari Most
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
The Old Bridge stands in the old town of Mostar in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, spanning the Neretva River and linking the old quarters on both banks. It is a single-arch stone bridge, about 29 m long and 4 m wide, with the crown of the arch about 20 m above the water (depending on the water level). A defensive tower stands at each end: the Halebija Tower on the northeast and the Tara Tower on the southwest. In 2005 the "Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar" was inscribed as World Heritage (No. 946, criterion vi). The bridge was built in the Ottoman period as the main crossing between the two banks of the Neretva. The town's name is generally thought to come from the bridge keepers (mostari) who guarded the Old Bridge in Ottoman times.
Local customs
- Walk slowly over the arched deck and look at the towers at each end
- browse the handmade copperware shops in the old streets on both banks
- go up near the minaret of a nearby mosque for a view over the bridge and the old town (subject to opening on site)
- if a diver leaps from the bridge, watch from a safe distance.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Running on the bridge
- stopping mid-bridge and blocking the way to take photos
- imitating the divers
- entering and disturbing prayers in progress
Locals appreciate DO
- The stone deck is smooth and steep, so keep your footing
- observe religious etiquette when visiting mosques
- watch the divers from a safe distance
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- The bridge area is the heart of the old town and is crowded in the peak season, while early morning and evening are relatively quiet
- the deck is slippery in rain and in winter, and the old town's lanes are full of slopes, so wear non-slip shoes.
- You can take a bus or train to central Mostar and then walk into the old town. For specific routes and services, check the latest local information. Late spring to early autumn is best for strolling the bridge area and the old town
- even in summer the Neretva is cold and not suitable for swimming
- in winter the deck is slippery, so take extra care.