Mostar's World Heritage Site Stari Most: A Must-Visit Spot for Bosnia Tourism

[Bosnia Travelogue] (14) Introducing Mostar, a must-visit spot for Bosnia tourism

After finishing our sightseeing in Blagaj, we are now heading to our final destination for the day, Mostar.

It is about a three-hour drive from Sarajevo.

It is located just about 20 minutes away from Blagaj, where we were just a moment ago.

The townscape of Mostar's old town.

Mostar is also a city located near the mountains.

Due to the remnants of the Ottoman Empire era, stone buildings stand out.

It is packed with tourists during the day.

The main street is so crowded that it is difficult to even walk through.

Mostar is also famous as a day-trip destination from Croatia, and many people come here from Adriatic coastal resorts such as Dubrovnik, Kotor, and Split.

This is Stari Most. When you think of Mostar, this scenery is what comes to mind.

It is a landscape that represents Bosnia.

Originally built during the Ottoman Empire era in the 16th century, this bridge was destroyed during the Bosnian War.

The one standing today was rebuilt after the conflict.

In 2005, the year after it was rebuilt, it was registered as Bosnia's first World Heritage site.

The bridge is made of smooth stone, and the surface is quite slippery.

For that reason, small step-like footholds are installed at regular intervals.

On rainy days, without these, some people would slip and fall.

This shows just how smooth and steep this bridge really is.

When you think about it, you don't often come across a bridge like this, do you?

Ordinary bridges are generally flat.

Even if it is an arch bridge, the part we walk on is not arched.

Furthermore, to start from the very beginning, I am amazed by the high level of technical skill of the Ottoman Empire, which built such a stone bridge at such a great height.

How on earth did they set up the scaffolding?

Where were the stones quarried, and how were they transported?

How did they assemble the stones into the shape of a bridge at such a height?

In fact, it seems that the exact details are still unknown even today.

While the designers and such are clearly known, the actual construction methods remain a mystery.

The bridge standing here now was rebuilt after the conflict, but the same structure was built long ago without the use of machinery.

One cannot help but be amazed by the high level of skill possessed by people in the past.

The old town of Mostar, like Sarajevo, is a townscape full of exotic charm.

In an atelier near the bridge, many paintings of Mostar were for sale, and I was drawn to one of them as if pulled in.

Looking at this painting, Stari Most begins to look like a bridge ascending to heaven.

Indeed, the guide here had the tagline 'a bridge hanging in the sky,' and seeing this painting, I was convinced.

I decided to buy a postcard as a souvenir.

Stari Most gives a sense of lightness, as if it is soaring from the river surface toward the heavens.

Combined with the heavy, almost viscous flow of the Neretva River, it is extremely beautiful.

And here at Stari Most, there is another famous attraction.

It is the man in swimwear who appears at Stari Most.

What is he doing now? It is a fan service before he dives.

They make a show of getting ready to jump, waiting for tips from the tourists.

And once they have collected enough tips, they dive from the bridge into the river below.

The height from the water surface is over 20 meters.

I saw them dive many times during my stay.

The guidebook warned never to imitate them, but there is no chance of that happening with me. I wouldn't even dream of trying it. I have a fear of heights.

According to what I heard, they are trained veterans, and it would be truly dangerous otherwise.

Despite its calm appearance, the Neretva River has a very fast current.

If you fail the landing, you would be swept away in an instant.

I once saw a man who had returned to the bridge immediately after a dive being greeted with a huge cheer from the crowd, as if he were a hero returning in triumph.

It felt like a typical tourist spot, or perhaps something else, but I remember smiling at the simple charm of it all.

Well, that concludes my sightseeing in Mostar.

It is also time to say goodbye to Mirza, who has taken care of me ever since I arrived in Sarajevo.

I am truly grateful to Mirza and Matsui from BEMI TOUR for all their help.

They kindly supported me even after I was robbed.

I was really saved by having the two of them there.

It makes me shudder to think what would have happened if they hadn't been there.

I am sure I would have been even more heartbroken.

And it surely would have taken me much longer to recover.

I said goodbye to Mirza with a firm handshake and a hug.

Mirza-san, Matsui-san, thank you so much for everything.

Thanks to you both, I had a truly wonderful time.

I am sincerely happy to have met you both.

Thank you so much.

Continued

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