It has been 31 years since the destruction of the Mostar Bridge, which is called the "black day" of the Bosnian War.
It has been 31 years since the destruction of the Mostar Bridge, which is called the "black day" of the Bosnian War.
On November 9, 1993, during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mostar Bridge was destroyed as a result of artillery shelling by Croatian troops. This bridge, restored after the war in its original form, remains one of the most important historical and cultural monuments of the Balkans.
The historic bridge, submerged in the waters of the Neretva River 31 years ago as a result of intense artillery shelling launched by Croatian troops on November 8, 1993, continues to unite cultures and civilizations.
This bridge, which is called the "Ottoman necklace" of the Neretva River, and which the famous traveler Evliya Celebi called "unique", has been connecting the two banks of the city for five centuries and unites Bosniaks and Croats, maintaining the multi-ethnic structure of the city.
The date of the destruction of the bridge during the attack by Croats during the Bosnian War is remembered by residents of the city as a "black day". Residents of the Herzegovina region, famous for its greenery and natural beauty, consider the symbolic structure that gave the name to the city of Mostar to be "part of themselves."
Among the most visited places in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Mostar Bridge, which is one of the most beautiful examples of Turkish-Islamic architecture, has been uniting the two shores of the city for almost five centuries and symbolizes the connection between Bosniaks and Croats living in Mostar.
The bridge, built in 1566 by architect Hayreddin, a student of the great architect of Ottoman architecture Mimar Sinan, is one of the most visited attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The historical bridge is known not only for its architecture, but also for its preserved traditions. A special place is occupied by the tradition of Mostar youth, regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation, to use the bridge as a platform for diving. The Mostar Bridge, built of hewn stone with a sharp arch and a single span on the deepest and narrowest section of the Neretva River, rises 21 meters above the water level.
Today, the bridge symbolizes peace and tolerance, and plays an important role in reviving close relations between representatives of various religions and ethnic groups of the city. Every year, on November 9, celebrations are held in memory of the destruction of the bridge.
The bridge, restored in 2004, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005
The Mostar Bridge could not withstand intense artillery fire from units of the Croatian Defense Council (HVO), which began on November 8, 1993, and collapsed the next day, at 10:16 a.m. The moment of the bridge's destruction was also recorded on a video camera.
The destruction of the bridge, which has connected various cultures and civilizations for centuries, became one of the most outrageous events of the war in Bosnia, provoking a widespread international reaction. Thanks to the support of a number of countries, including Turkey, and international organizations, the bridge was restored to its original form and inaugurated in 2004.