In the city of Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina

 "[The Balkans] produce more history than they can consume."

-- Winston Churchill
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(in Bosnia and Herzegovina) Mostar is the chief city and, historically, the capital of Herzegovina. It is situated in mountainous country along the Neretva River and lies on the Sarajevo-Ploče rail line. Mostar is the administrative center of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the historical capital of Herzegovina.

+ First mentioned in 1452, Mostar became a Turkish garrison town in the 16th century. In 1566 the Turks replaced the town’s wooden suspension bridge over the Neretva with a stone arch one, whence the name Mostar (from Serbo-Croatian "most," which means bridge).

+ Mostar was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva. Spanning the Neretva River and linking two parts of the city, the arched Ottoman bridge in Mostar, was initially built from the orders of Suleiman the Magnificient, in 1557, to replace the prior suspension bridge. The construction was finalized nine years later and broke the record for the widest man-made arch in the world, at that time. However, during the Croat–Bosniak War it was used as a military supply line and suffered heavy shelling that caused it to collapse into the water below in 1993. UNESCO and the international community stepped in immediately with plans to rebuild it, and after intense research and technical monitoring, it was rebuilt between 2001 and 2004 with pieces of the old bridge being incorporated into the structure. It is protected by two towers: Helebija and Tara Towers, which are called “mostari” (the [modern] bridge keepers). Since this bridge is the most visited attraction in town, around it you can find many cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, and art galleries. If you are lucky you can see one of the famous divers of Mostar jumping into the cold river below -- an annual tradition here since 1968.

+ The town of Mostar long served as a center for crafts and trade, and its reconstructed coppersmith’s bazaar is a tourist attraction.

+ Stari Most (the Old Bridge) has become an icon for the city of Mostar, and for the entire country. Currently it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stari Most is a symbol of tolerance and a reminder that, despite the Bosnian War, peace between the people of Mostar is possible again. (The bridge was completely destroyed during the war, but the citizens of Mostar managed to move forward, to find the much needed equilibrium to live in harmony, and to rebuild the famous Stari Most.) If you are lucky, you can see one of the famous divers of Mostar jumping into the river below -- an annual tradition here since 1968. (The best place to watch the divers is from the cafe on the north side of the bridge).

+ To learn more about this bridge be sure to visit the Old Bridge Museum situated on the eastern side of Stari Most.