Panorama of Old Bridge in Mostar, June 2006

Stari Most (English translation: "The Old Bridge") is a 16th century bridge in the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects two parts of the city. River Neretva in Mostar, 2004 Neretva is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. ... Location in Bosnia and Herzegovina General Information Mayor Ljubo Bešlić (HDZ) Land area 1175 km² Population (2004 census) 125,448 Population density 95. ... A stone double arch bridge near Locarno, Italy A small triple arch pedestrian bridge in Bourton-on-the-Water, England An arch bridge (sometimes deck arch bridge to distinguish it from a through arch bridge) is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. ... Events January 16 - Abdication of Emperor Charles V. His son, Philip II becomes King of Spain, while his brother Ferdinand becomes Holy Roman Emperor January 23 - The Shaanxi earthquake, the deadliest earthquake in history, occurs with its epicenter in Shaanxi province, China. ... Events Spain is effectively bankrupt. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3371x1188, 881 KB) Stari Most u Mostaru File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Stari most ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3371x1188, 881 KB) Stari Most u Mostaru File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Stari most ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine. ... Location in Bosnia and Herzegovina General Information Mayor Ljubo Bešlić (HDZ) Land area 1175 km² Population (2004 census) 125,448 Population density 95. ... River Neretva in Mostar, 2004 Neretva is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. ...

The bridge was destroyed by Herzegovinian Croat forces during the War in Bosnia-Herzegovina, on November 9, 1993 at 10.15 am. A project was set in motion to rebuild it, and the new bridge opened on July 22, 2004. Combatants Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Predominantly Bosniak) Army of Republika Srpska, Yugoslav Peoples Army, various paramilitary units from Serbia and Montenegro (Serbian) Croatian Defence Council, Croatian Army (Croatian) Commanders Alija Izetbegović (President of Bosnia and Herzegovina) Sefer Halilović (Army chief of staff 1992-1993) Rasim... November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Location

The bridge spans the Neretva river in the old town of Mostar, the city to which it gave the name. The city is the fourth-largest in the country, it is the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation, and the unofficial capital of Herzegovina. Coordinates are 43.34°N and 17.81°E Map showing location of this canton within Bosnia and Herzegovina Herzegovina-Neretva is a Herzegovinian canton that mainly comprises of the Neretva river valley area and parts of Herzegovina west of Mostar, its administrative center. ... Herzegovina (natively Hercegovina/Херцеговина) is a historical region in the Dinaric Alps that composes the southern part of present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina. ...

Characteristics

Original Stari Most photographed in the 1970s.

The Stari Most was hump-backed, 4 meters wide and 30 meters long, and dominated the river from a height of 24 meters. Two fortified towers protected it: the Helebija tower on the northeast and the Tara tower on the southwest, called "the bridge keepers" (natively mostari). Image File history File links Mostar1. ... Image File history File links Mostar1. ...

The arch of the bridge was made of local stone known as tenelija. The shape of the arch is the result of numerous irregularities produced by the deformation of the intrados (the inner line of the arch). The most accurate description would be that it is a circle of which the centre is depressed in relation to the string course. Isometric view of a typical arch An arch is a curved structure capable of spanning a space while supporting significant weight (e. ...

Instead of foundations the bridge has abutments from limestone linked to wing walls along the waterside cliffs. Measuring from the summer water level of 40.05 m, abutments are erected to a height of 6.53 m, from which the arch springs to its high point. The start of the arch was emphasized by a moulding 0.32 m. in height. The rise of the arch was 12.02 m.

History

Construction

The existing bridge was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557 to replace an older wooden suspension bridge of dubious stability. According to the inscription the bridge was completed in 974 AH, corresponding to the period between 19 July 1566 and 7 July 1567. The building of the bridge began in 1557 and took nine years. Little is known of the building of the bridge and all that has been preserved in writing are memories and legends and the name of the builder, Mimar Hayruddin (student of Sinan the Ottoman architect). Charged with constructing a bridge of such unprecedented dimensions under pain of death, the architect reportedly prepared for his own funeral on the day when the scaffolding was finally removed from the completed structure. Certain associated technical issues remain a mystery: how the scaffolding was erected, how the stone was transported from one bank to the other, how the scaffolding remained sound during the long period of building. It is believed that The Stari Most was the largest single span arch bridge in the world at the time it was built. As a result, the bridge can be classed among the greatest building works of its time. Suleiman I (Modern Turkish: Süleyman; Arabic: ‎ Sulaymān) (November 6, 1494 – September 5/6, 1566), was the tenth Osmanli Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and its longest-serving, reigning from 1520 to 1566. ... Selimiye Mosque, built by Sinan in 1575. ... The Ottoman Turks were the ethnic subdivision of the Turkish people who dominated the ruling class of the Ottoman Empire. ...

Destruction

Stari Most undergoing reconstruction in 2003.

During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), Croatian secessionist forces turned against Bosnian government forces, and destroyed the bridge on November 9, 1993. It had already been damaged from Serbian bombardment in 1992. Both Serb and Croat nationalists saw the bridge and old historic area around it as part of the Bosniak and Islamic culture, and it was often targeted during their bombardments. The old Bridge in Mostar, in rebuild, June 2003, picture taken by myself, File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The old Bridge in Mostar, in rebuild, June 2003, picture taken by myself, File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This is a history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Serbs (in the Serbian language Срби, Srbi) are a south Slavic people living chiefly in Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... Croats (Croatian: Hrvati) are a south Slavic people mostly living in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (where theyre one of the constitutive nations). ... Bosniaks (natively: Bošnjaci) are South Slavs descended from those who converted to Islam during the Ottoman period (15th-19th century). ... Islam (Arabic: ; ( â–¶ (help· info)), the submission to God) is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions and the worlds second-largest religion. ...

In 1992 the parapet of the Old Bridge was pierced by an artillery projectile at one point very close to the approach on the right bank of the Neretva on the downstream side. On 9 November 1993 the bridge was completely destroyed, falling into the Neretva, following sustained artillery attacks from Cekrk and other surrounding hills. The Croat forces deliberately targeted it citing military reasons, since the bridge was the only link between Bosniak-held left bank of the Neretva river and small pocket of territory under their control on the right bank. River Neretva in Mostar, 2004 Neretva is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. ... Bosniaks (natively: Bošnjaci) are South Slavs descended from those who converted to Islam during the Ottoman period (15th-19th century). ...

Reconstruction

Stari Most, shortly after re-opening in September 2004.

Now listed as a World Heritage Site, the bridge was rebuilt under the aegis of UNESCO. Its 1,088 stones were shaped according to the original techniques, and the reconstruction cost about 12 million €. It reopened on July 22, 2004, and its reopening ceremonies were based on the idea of reconciling the Bosnian communities, even though bad blood and suspicion remain evident. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x1024, 210 KB) Summary Taken by me, Stari Most, Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina, September 2003. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x1024, 210 KB) Summary Taken by me, Stari Most, Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina, September 2003. ... September 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: September 2004 in sports Events Deaths in September • 27 Tsai Wan-lin • 24 Françoise Sagan • 20 Brian Clough • 18 Russ Meyer • 15 Johnny Ramone • 12 Fred Ebb • 11 Peter VII of Alexandria • 8... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... UNESCO logo UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... ISO 4217 Code EUR User(s) European Union; eurozone: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain; outside eurozone: Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, Montenegro, Kosovo, French Guiana, Réunion, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

It is traditional for the young men of the town to leap from the bridge into the Neretva. As the Neretva is so cold, this is a very risky feat and only the most skilled and best trained divers will attempt it. The first person to jump from the bridge since it was re-opened was Enej Kelecija, a local who now resides in the United States.

Tourism

(see: Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina) Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina offers a favourable tourist business investment environment with an increasingly active tourism promotional system. ...

See also

• Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• History of Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Stari Most

Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina offers a favourable tourist business investment environment with an increasingly active tourism promotional system. ... This is a history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

External links

• National Monuments - Muslibegovica House
• Rehabilitation Design of the Old Bridge of Mostar
• Bosnia and Herzegovina Commission for Preservation of National Monuments - The Stari Most
• Before, during and after destruction, pictures taken by Belgian photographer Laurent Van der Stockt - Time magazine
• Live webcams from Stari most and the Old town. (mirror)