Stari most: a single stone arch over the Neretva in Mostar
Published on 08/23/2026 at 11:59 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Stari most in Mostar is a single stone arch carrying a roadway high above the Neretva River, a bridge first completed in the sixteenth century and rebuilt in the early twenty?first century.
An Ottoman stone arc across the Neretva
Stari most is the Old Bridge of Mostar, an Ottoman stone structure that connects the two banks of the Neretva River in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina.Old Bridge of Mostar The bridge carries a gently rising roadway between fortified approaches, linking streets on the eastern and western sides of the historic town.
The original bridge was commissioned by the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the mid sixteenth century and completed in 1566, replacing an earlier timber crossing.commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent Ottoman architect Mimar Hayruddin, a pupil of the master builder Sinan, designed the structure as a single masonry span in finely cut local limestone, a technical achievement for its time.constructed between 1557 and 1566 by Hayreddin
A single span framed by towers and river gorge
The stone arch of Stari most stretches across the Neretva at a narrow point in the river gorge around which Mostar developed, so the bridge seems to leap directly between the rocky banks.narrowest point of the river gorge Its masonry roadway is paved with stone slabs set in shallow ribs, and low stone parapets run along each side, giving clear views along the river valley and back into the lanes of the old town.
On each bank, a stout tower anchors the approaches: the Halebija Tower stands on the right bank and the Tara Tower on the left, both dating from the Ottoman period and forming part of the historic fortifications of Mostar.Halebija and Tara towers from the seventeenth century Together, the towers and bridge form a compact ensemble of dressed stone and white masonry above the green water of the Neretva.
Destruction, reconstruction and World Heritage status
The original sixteenth?century bridge stood for centuries until it was destroyed on 9 November 1993 during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, when tank shells brought the arch down into the river.destroyed on 9 November 1993 Its collapse left only the stone abutments and the flanking towers on either side of the Neretva, cutting the link between the two halves of the old town.
An international reconstruction project led by UNESCO and partners used traditional techniques and local tenelija limestone to rebuild the bridge on its original foundations, and the new Stari most opened to the public in July 2004.reopened on 23 July 2004 In 2005 UNESCO inscribed the Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar as a World Heritage Site, recognising both the rebuilt bridge and the surrounding historic urban fabric as an outstanding example of a multicultural town shaped by Ottoman and later Austro?Hungarian influences.Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar
Visiting Stari most: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Stari most spans the Neretva River in the historic centre of Mostar, in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, and carries a roadway between the eastern and western quarters of the old town.
- The approaches to the bridge are cobbled streets that rise towards the arch, and the span itself climbs and descends noticeably, so walking involves a short but distinct gradient underfoot.
- The bridge deck is paved with stone ribs and can be slippery when wet, and the low parapets leave the views open, which may feel exposed to anyone sensitive to height above water.
- Mostar lies inland from the Adriatic coast, and summers in the Neretva valley are warm, so shade from nearby buildings along the approaches can be welcome during a daytime visit.
- The official language is Bosnian and the currency is the Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark; 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 Stari most
Where is Stari most located?
Stari most spans the Neretva River in the historic centre of Mostar, a city in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, linking neighbourhoods on both banks.
What can visitors expect when walking across Stari most?
Visitors cross a rising stone roadway paved with ribs of limestone, with low parapets and open views down to the river and back into the surrounding old streets.
What makes Stari most distinctive among European bridges?
Stari most is distinctive as a rebuilt sixteenth?century single?span Ottoman stone arch, designed by Mimar Hayruddin and reconstructed after its 1993 destruction as part of a recognised World Heritage ensemble.
