Old Bridge hosts Hungary tribute on 23 October

In Mostar, a public commemoration of Hungary's 1956 Revolution used the Old Bridge (Stari most) as its illuminated setting on 23 October 2026. The programme linked the landmark to Hungary's history and to the Hungarian contribution to its post-war reconstruction.

The event gave travellers a precise recent reference point for the bridge, while leaving its regular role as a pedestrian crossing unchanged.

Old Bridge illumination marked Hungary anniversary

The commemoration marked the 70th anniversary of Hungary's 1956 Revolution. The programme included an illumination of the bridge in the colours of the Hungarian flag, alongside a reception at Mostar City Hall.

The event was supported by Mostar's city leadership and connected the local ceremony with relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary. The programme details identify the date, the bridge and the commemoration's purpose. A separate report confirmed that the landmark was illuminated for the anniversary and described the ceremony as a link between Mostar and Hungary.

The illumination was therefore more than a general city celebration. It placed an international historical commemoration on a bridge whose own reconstruction involved partners from several countries.

Reconstruction history shaped the bridge tribute

UNESCO records that the Ottoman bridge was constructed in 1566 by Mimar Hajruddin, a pupil of architect Sinan. The single hump-backed arch measures 30 metres in length and 4 metres in width, and stands 20 metres above the maximum summer water level.

The bridge was destroyed in 1993 and rebuilt through an international reconstruction effort. Work followed sixteenth-century building methods, and the surrounding Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar entered the World Heritage List in 2005. UNESCO's bridge record confirms the architectural dimensions and the reconstruction background.

That history explains the connection made during the 23 October commemoration. The Hungarian contribution included the recovery of stone fragments from the Neretva during the rebuilding process, giving the illumination a direct relationship with the monument rather than only with the city around it.

Visiting Old Bridge: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Hungarian Revolution anniversary illumination took place at the Old Bridge on 23 October 2026, as part of a programme also held at Mostar City Hall.
• The special lighting was a commemorative programme, not a permanent access change; the bridge remained the pedestrian crossing over the Neretva.
• The landmark stands in Mostar's Old Town, where it connects the two sides of the Neretva through a single stone arch.
• The crossing has a steep, stepped stone surface and should be approached carefully, especially when the paving is wet.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Old Bridge

When did the Hungarian Revolution anniversary take place at Old Bridge?

The commemoration and illumination took place on 23 October 2026 in Mostar. The bridge was lit in the colours of the Hungarian flag.

What is Old Bridge?

It is a reconstructed Ottoman stone bridge over the Neretva, first completed in 1566 and rebuilt after its destruction in 1993.

Where is Old Bridge and how do you get there?

Old Bridge is in the Old Town of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It links the two sides of the historic centre across the Neretva.