Mostar is known for its Old Bridge (Stari Most) – a gorgeous 400-plus year old bridge that was destroyed during the war, but reconstructed later and re-opened in 2004.  My sister and I have only 1 day here and I’m please we made time for it as we absolutely loved Sarajevo and were keen to expand our knowledge of Bosnia.

It was quite cold and rainy on arrival in Mostar so we started with c.  Built in 1635, Bišćevića Ćošak is a one of very few traditional Turkic-styled houses to retain its original appearance. Off the small entrance courtyard, three rooms are colourfully furnished with rugs, metalwork and carved wooden furniture. This was really interesting to look around.

LONELY PLANET SAYS: At dusk the lights of numerous millhouse restaurants twinkle across gushing streamlets. Narrow Kujundžiluk (‘gold alley’) bustles joyously with trinket sellers. And in between, the Balkans’ most celebrated bridge forms a majestic stone arc between reincarnated medieval towers. It’s an enchanting scene. Do stay into the evening to see it without the summer hoards of day trippers. Indeed, stay longer to enjoy memorable attractions in the surrounding area as well as pondering the city’s darker side – still-vivid scars of the 1990s conflict, especially around Spanski Trg, well beyond the cobbled lanes of the attractively restored Ottoman quarter. Be aware that between November and April most tourist facilities will be in wholescale hibernation.

The world-famous Stari Most (Old Bridge) is Mostar’s indisputable visual focus. Its pale stone arch magnificently throws back the golden glow of sunset or the tasteful night-time floodlighting. The bridge’s swooping stone arch was originally built between 1557 and 1566 on the orders of Suleyman the Magnificent. The current structure is a very convincing 2004 rebuild following the bridge’s 1993 bombardment during the civil war.

The bridge has always been Mostar’s raison d’être. The 16th-century stone version replaced a previous suspension bridge whose wobbling had previously terrified tradesmen as they gingerly crossed the fast-flowing Neretva River. An engineering marvel of its age, that new bridge had long become the ‘old’ bridge when, after 427 years, it was pounded into the river during a deliberate Croat artillery atack in 1993. Depressing footage of this sad moment is shown on many a video in Mostar. The reconstructed version is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Despite it’s history, Mostar has flourished in recent years, partly due to its proximity to Croatia.  The town itself is pretty small (100,000 people) so navigating around on foot is pretty easy.

Mostar is located in a deep valley, with towering mountains all around, really quire spectacular to see.

Photo Credit: Ellica / Shutterstock.com