The star of the show, so to speak, is the Old Bridge (Stari Most). Originally built in 1566 by the Ottoman Turks, it was rebuilt in 2004 after having been bombed in 1993. The bridge has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Centuries before the hostilities in the 1990’s, residents of Mostar have held a tradition; jumping into the Neretva River, which runs through the city and separates east from west from the Stari Most. Before the original bridge was built over 450 years ago, the daring few would jump from building tops and into the river. Although the height of the jump at that time is unknown, from the bridge today, it is a 21 meter (69 foot) dive into the Neretva.

Bridge diving is more organized now in Mostar. The Mostar Diving Club resides on the western side of the new bridge and facilitates bridge diving every summer. It costs 25 Euro per dive and upon completion you are awarded a certificate. It is highly recommended that you pay the club as they have been known to become very upset if you do not check in with them first. It is, after all, their bridge.

Other sites to note in the Mostar area are the Ottoman mosques, the mix of culture seen through the city’s architecture, the Adriatic is near by and worth going to for a day, and most notably is the Muslibegovica House. It is a 300 year old Bosnian national monument and is considered to be one of the most beautiful houses built by the Ottomans still standing today. It is a sight best appreciated once your heartbeat has caught up with you, after having left it at the top of the bridge.

Photos Courtesy of Bosnia and Herzegovina Tourism Board