Stari most
|
| Official name |
Stari most |
| Carries |
Pedestrians |
| Crosses |
Neretva |
| Locale |
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Maintained by |
| ID number |
| Design |
Arch |
| Longest span |
| Total length |
29 meters |
| Width |
4 meters |
| Vertical clearance |
| Clearance below |
20 meters at mid-span |
| Average Daily Traffic |
| Opening date |
1556/1557 |
| Destruction date |
| Toll |
|
|
The 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.
The Stari Most is the city’s most important cultural and historical feature, and one of the most important historical features in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole.
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). Certain associated technical issues are also 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.
Location
Characteristics
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).
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.
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. Charged with constructing a bridge of such unprecedented dimensions under pain of death, the architect Hayruddin reportedly prepared for his own funeral on the day when the scaffolding was finally removed from the completed structure.
Destruction
During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), Croatian 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.
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.
Reconstruction
Stari Most undergoing reconstruction in 2003.
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 Bosnian communities, even though bad blood and suspicion remain evident.
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 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 also
External links
