Mostar

Mostar
Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country. Mostar was named after its Old Bridge (Stari most) and the towers on its sides, "the bridge keepers" (natively: mostari).

The earliest documentary reference to Mostar as a settlement dates from 3 April 1452. In 1468 Mostar came under Ottoman rule. The urbanization of the settlement began, following the unwritten oriental rule, with a čaršija – the crafts and commercial centre of the settlement – and mahalas or residential quarters.

In the late 16th century, Mostar was the chief administrative city for the Ottoman Empire in the Herzegovina region. The Austro-Hungarian Empire absorbed Mostar in 1878 and then it became part of Yugoslavia in the aftermath of World War I.

Ottoman Empire . Blown up . Bridges .

Reviews

Joyce (The Netherlands):
Mostar turned out to be a great surprise and a wonderful city. The famous old bridge was destroyed during the war in 1993, but rebuilt about 10 years later with the same techniques as the former old bridge. It brings back the connection between the Christian and the Muslim side of the city. Around the old bridge are lots of old houses that host shops, restaurants and bars. On weekends during the summer people from all around go to Mostar to party between the restored buildings, but also in the shot down ruins that are still all around the city. The war is over and even though you can still clearly see the remains of it, the residents have moved on and made Mostar a great city.
Date posted: July 2006
George Vaughan (Wales):
I have recently returned from a holiday in Bosnia and Herzegovina which, of course, included a visit to Mostar. It is hard to shake from one's mind the images of the original Stari Most falling and a certain scepticism about how good the restored version would look - essential as it was, for many reasons, to replace it. But the restoration of the bridge and surrounding area is very impressive; it looks a little new but a few years of weathering should see to that. Those who crossed the original are pleased to learn its principal attribute is intact: it is very slippery when wet!

Mostar is easy to reach on coach tours from the Croatian resorts and visitors are obviously returning in some mnumbers. However, it is also a good centre and visits to some of the unsung sights of the area - Kravica Waterfalls, Blagaj, Pocitelj, Radimlja necropolis - are easy with a car. The country's spectacular scenery can be readily appreciated by driving up the Neretva Valley to Sarajevo, now a well-restored, fascinating, vibrant and friendly city. Don't just visit Mostar - there's a beautiful country out there waiting to be discovered!
Date posted: July 2006
Jasmina (Current Residence United States of America, Chicago):
Due to the war of 1992 between the neighboring countries I was forced to leave my life behind me as I was ripped away from the city of my birth and the people I love..I have seen many cities in the 11 years that I have been away but I have yet to see the city that has the beauty of Mostar...The green river that seems calm and cool on the surface has a great strenght and power underneath and to the eye of a stranger one would never know the fierce strenght of the river underneath.The Old Brige stands there proud and tall holding the two sides of the city in unison.During the summer the Old Bride is the main attractions as the local boys prepere their dives of the 27 meter long monument for numerous visitors visiting the city from all sides of the world. The night life has your ear intunned to the sound of Bosnian music echoing the streets laid out in pebbeld stone. The city so full of culture has you licking your fingers once you have had a taste of what it has to offer.Even after so many have tried to destroy it, the soul of Mostar leaves on with its head helad up high.
Date posted: February 2006
Dejo (Bosnia and Herzegovina):
My name is Dejo. I am from city of Mostar. It is a great city on the bank of river Neretva. Its spirit was not broken during the 3 years war. People are very proud of its
bridge and the surounding. Just being on the bridge gives you the feeling of great historical value. New (Old) Bridge is the same as the Old Bridge. Everyone should visit the Old City, the food is great and people are very welcoming.

Greetings
Dejo
Date posted: July 2005
Paul Tanner (UK):
The inscription in 2005 of the old city of Mostar and its bridge brought back memories of our trip there in June 1988. We had a pleasant visit and had followed the descent into civil war between 1992-5 and the destruction under cannon fire of much of the city and its famous bridge in Nov 1993 with sorrow. As outsiders we knew about, but could not of course fully understand, the depth of ethnic and religious tensions within Yugoslavia but the place had seemed peaceful and friendly enough when we were there. The city was reasonably interesting and atmospheric to wander around but the real “star” was of course the bridge.

Reconstruction “started” with the lifting of a single stone as early as Sept 1997 but didn’t really get under way until 2001 and the bridge was officially reopened in July 2004. I suppose the rebuilding and the inscription as a WHS are necessary and worthwhile symbols to try to help build Bosnia as a peaceful country but I guess that a common community is going to be harder to build than the bridge!

Els has kindly provided a picture of the bridge in 2004 from a similar angle to mine to enable you to see what sort of reconstruction job has been done on it! It would be interesting also for this site to receive a “first hand” description of what Mostar is like today as a community and whether it too can be/is being reconstructed. Is there anyone reading this from Mostar?
Date posted: July 2005


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