Mostar

Introduction

Mostar is a city in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina, best known for its distinctive Old Bridge (also known as the Stari Most). The bridge and surrounding neighbourhood are on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

During the Bosnian War, Mostar became the site of a bloody siege, resulting in the deaths of thousands of the local Bosniak population. Much of the town, including the Stari Most, was destroyed.

Since the end of the war, and especially since 2000, there has been a major emphasis on restoring and rebuilding Mostar.

Sights and Activities

Mostar Bridge

Old Bridge (Stari Most) is the key attraction in Mostar. Built in 1566 while the area was under Ottoman rule, Stari Most was considered a symbol of the friendship between the diverse nations and ethnicities inhabiting the area. Understood in this context, it's not hard to see why its restoration after the Bosnian War was considered an important task. The bridge that is there today was built according to the original design.

Old Town

Mostar, the old town

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Though much of it was destroyed during the Bosnian War, Mostar Old Town has been restored to a great extent. Some sights worth checking out include:

• Cejvan Cehaj Mosque - Mostar's oldest mosque, built in 1522
• Karadozbegova Mosque - A mosque built in 1557, considered Herzegovina's most important example of Islamic architecture.
• Koski Mehmed pasa Mosque - Another old mosque, built in 1617.
• Kujundziluk - The Old Bazaar, a lively market where you can find paintings, carvings, pomegranates and stecaks.
• Tepa Market - An old market selling fresh, locally grown produce.
• The Biscevica House - A 17th century Ottoman home overlooking the Neretva River.
• Muslibegovic House^[1] - An historic example of Ottoman architecture dating back to the 18th century.

Events and Festivals

Every summer, there is a diving competition for people (mostly young men) to dive off the Old Bridge.

Weather

Getting There

Some planes fly in to Mostar Airport^[2], but not many. The more common way of getting to Mostar is by flying to Sarajevo, Split or Dubrovnik and making the rest of the way to Mostar from there, either by bus, train or car.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

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