Mostar Travel Guide

Mostar

There is no escaping the Ottoman roots of Mostar. The old town and the iconic Stari Most, (old bridge), spanning the Neretva River, were built by Dalmatian craftsmen using Ottoman design, in 1566.

Mostar became an important stop for caravans bringing olive oil, fish and linen from Dalmatia to Herzegovina and returning with wool, meat, honey and oats, bound for Dubrovnik and the coast.

Stari Most is considered part of the soul of Mostar. The town takes it name from the keepers of the bridge. The UNESCO-protected Old Bridge area, with its pre-Ottoman, eastern Ottoman, Mediterranean and Austro-Hungarian architecture, is an outstanding example of historical multicultural, urban settlement.

Among the bombed ruins and skeletal buildings, the reconstructed Old Bridge and Old City of Mostar have become symbols of reconciliation, international cooperation and the coexistence of diverse cultural, ethnic and religious communities.

Today, visitors can cross the bridge from the Turkish houses, 16th century mosques and medresas, (religious schools), endless cafés and the Old Bazaar Kujundziluk, where artisans still practice the ancient traditions of metal engraving, painting and rug-weaving, over to the restaurant terraces climbing up the steep sided, rocky riverbanks of the western quarter and jostle for perfect views of Stari Most.

Along the way, the must-sees include: the Koski Mehmed pasa Mosque, built in 1617, with its climbable, towering minaret offering views across the town; the Ottoman Tepa fruit and veg Market; the Karadozbegova Mosque, one of the most important and significant examples of sacred Islamic architecture in all of Herzegovina, completed in 1557; and the 17th century Biscevica House.

The grand Gymnasium and City Baths are among the lucky survivors of the recent wars; magnificent reminders of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that was also responsible for the railroad that added a European flavor to the exotic town and easy access to the Dalmatian Coast.