Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

520 SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see p524 and p525

Located on the banks of the Neretva river, Mostar has

been the political, cultural and economic cornerstone
of Herzegovina since Turkish rule. Once the provincial
capital of the Ottoman Empire, the town suffered more
severely than any other during the Bosnian War. In
1992, it came under attack from the Yugoslav People’s
Army, domi nated by Serbs. The Croats and Muslims
joined forces to expel them, but in 1993, these two
groups turned against each other and occupied
opposing sides of the Neretva river, creating a racial
divide that still exists. Today, the popular Old Bridge
(Stari most), symbolizes Mostar’s pre-war glory.

Mostar 5

MOSTAR TOWN

CENTRE

Bišćević House 5

Herzegovina Museum 3

Karadžozbegova

Mosque 4

Old Town 1

Old Bridge 2

Key to Symbols see back flap

The narrow cobbled streets of Mostar’s Old Town

0 metres

0 yards

300

300

P Old Town
A UNESCO World Heritage
Site, the historic Old Town
(Stari grad) is the main
attrac tion of Mostar with its
grand Turkish houses and
the Old Bridge. Ideal for a

P Old Bridge

Mostar’s symbolic centrepiece,

the elegant stone Old Bridge

(Stari most) spans the Neretva

river, connecting the two sides

of the Old Town. Built by

Mimar Hajruddin in the 16th

century, during the reign of

the Ottoman ruler Suleiman

the Magnificent, the bridge

reaches a maximum height of

21 m (69 ft). Despite being

recognized by UNESCO as a

World Heritage Site, the

bridge became the focus of

target practice for Croatian

soldiers during the Bosnian

War and was complete ly

destroyed in November 1993.

Reconstruc tion began soon

after the war ended and the

renovated bridge, which is

walking tour, the area can

easily be explored in a day.

The Kujundžiluk Bazaar, with

its rambling streets of small

shops and cafés, is charm ing,

and the only remind ers of the

1990s conflict are the souvenir

salt cellars fash ioned from

empty shell cases. In the

heart of the Old Town is

the 16th century Kriva

Ćuprija, the oldest single-

arch stone bridge in Mostar.

The bridge was built by the

Turkish architect, Cevjan

Kethoda. Near Kriva are

the Hamam and Tabhana

Turkish baths. Severely

damaged during the war,

the place is still worth visiting,

especially for the gorgeous

views of the Neretva river

and the Old Bridge from

its terrace.

Karadžozbegova

Mosque

Herzegovina

Museum

Old Bridge

Bišćević

House

Ner

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tv

a

Railway and Bus Stations

750 m (820 yards)

OLD TOWN

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