Ten years since the reconstruction of the Old Bridge

Today marks exactly ten years since the Old Bridge in Mostar was reconstructed and spectacularly opened. The anniversary will be marked by a series of cultural events and a special program, writes the BiH news agency Patria (NAP). Last night, the monograph "Mostar – An Endless Story" was presented, and Klaus Kinkel, a diplomat and former German Foreign Minister, who also wrote the preface for the book, participated in the presentation. Today, the Forum "Mostar 2014 – Ten Years Later" will be held, and the Interpretive Museum, located in the ambient space of the Ćerekovića shop in the old town core, will be opened.

The Old Bridge in Mostar was destroyed after 427 years. It was bombed by the forces of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) in 1993, although no one has yet been held accountable for it.

It was built between 1556 and 1557, and it is the work of the Turkish builder Mimar Hajrudin, by order of Suleiman the Magnificent. Legend has it that upon completion of the construction, Hajrudin did not have the courage to watch the scaffolding being removed from the bridge. He left the city and waited for the town crier to announce the news, and whether Hajrudin would become famous and rich or be executed depended on that news. When the scaffolding was removed, a stone crescent of wondrous appearance and beauty emerged over the Neretva River, reports Patria.

The reconstruction of the Old Bridge lasted for years, and it was officially opened to the public on July 23, 2004. A year later, UNESCO included it on the list of world cultural heritage.

The Old Bridge is one of the symbols of BiH, and hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Mostar annually, admiring the beauty of this unique stone bridge. The Old Bridge was and still is an inspiration for writers, painters, photographers, and singers, and there are numerous notes about its beauty.

Incidentally, on Sunday, the 448th traditional jumps from the Old Bridge will be held, starting at 4:00 PM. A large number of jumpers from BiH, neighboring countries, and the world are expected.