Remembering the targeted destruction of the Stari Most on November 9th, however, is crucial and not only for the local community. We also remember as a reminder and to raise awareness of the continued widespread destruction of cultural heritage that occurs globally as an act of war. Typically, the destruction of cultural heritage is not accidental, but part of the greater aggression against identity groups and an erasure of these groups’ physical presence on the landscape. That the violent manipulation of cultural heritage continues to occur with alarming regularity highlights the power of the built landscape and its associated meanings. It is this power that compels us to visit heritage sites on our travels, seeking the local understanding of such sites while also sensing first-hand how they can serve to unite despite the diversity which they represent.

Last night, the Old Bridge was illuminated in memorial to Srebrenica where, 25 years ago, the genocide of Bosnian Muslims was perpetrated by units of the Bosnian Serb Army of the RS during the Wars of Yugoslav Succession. To this day, victims are still being found and identified so that their family and loved ones can finally lay them to rest at the Memorial Cemetery at Potočari at the annual commemoration.

8,372 is the number of victims, mostly men and boys, of the Srebrenica Genocide. The individual and collective loss felt because of this atrocity, is so much greater than this number and the events which occurred leading up to and during July 1995. Genocide cannot be confined to the events of a few days and entails far more than the physical loss of human life. Genocide must be understood as an intentional process of destruction and erasure that, once started, continues into perpetuity. While 25 years may have elapsed since the Srebrenica Genocide, realize that it is also very much present today and every day. It is our common responsibility to recognize the heinousness of this crime and educate ourselves on genocide so we can better recognize and prevent it from occurring again. 

Over the last handful of years, however, a new tradition has developed. For one weekend at the end of the summer, the Red Bull Cliff Divers arrive in Mostar to show off their skills as they dive from a platform built on top of the Old Bridge. This year (2019), this new tradition will continue on the afternoon of Saturday, August 24th!

The Red Bull Cliff Diving is an event which tourists and locals both attend – gathering on the western bank of the Neretva as well as viewing from rafts and small boats that line the river on the river’s eastern side. The energy in the air during the days leading up to the competition and during the competition itself is palpable. Mostar as a whole puts on an unforgettable show that feels and tastes like the culmination of summer – live music and performances throughout the Old Town ensure that the cobblestone streets and the café bars that line them are packed well into the early hours of morning. While we hope to see you here, you can always join in by watching the diving live on Red Bull TV, Facebook and Youtube. To learn more about this event, click here.

 #redbullcliffdiving #traditionalbridgediving #unesco #oldbridge #mostar

July 23rd 2004 – July 23rd 2019 

On this day, 15 years ago…

The Stari Most or, in direct English translation, “Old Bridge,” was officially opened after a long absence and extensive research and reconstruction efforts. Originally commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and designed and built by Mimar (Architect) Hayruddin, the Old Bridge was completed in 1566. The stone arch was and remains an undeniable testament to the potential of human ingenuity, vision, and spirit.

For 427 years, the Old Bridge withstood the passage of time, holding firm against changes in governance, the continued growth of the Mostar, and multiple wars. The Old Bridge served as a backdrop for Mostarians, which, in turn, bore witness to celebration and sadness, triumph and loss. Mostarians understand the Old Bridge as more than a mere functional connection between two banks of the Neretva River, but a neighbor who supported the footfalls of generations previous, the worn patina on the stone steps a physical memory of those who had passed before.

On the November 9th, 1993 – after being the central presence in a town whose very name refers to the structure and those meant to serve and protect it – the bridge was marked for destruction. Assaulted by direct bombardment from HVO forces on nearby hillsides, targeting the bridges apex – its keystone – the locally quarried stones of the Old Bridge plummeted into the water below. Witnesses say that it appeared the ruined stone arch bled that day as it collapsed into the Neretva, a result of the reddish-brown material filling the interior voids of the construction. The Old Bridge, including the beauty, strength, innovation, and history embedded within its stones, was yet another victim fallen to war and the hate, fear, and inhumanity that accompanies it.

Today, we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the reconstruction of the Old Bridge, the very heart of the city of Mostar. While some might disagree, I suggest that despite being built using the same techniques and materials (including recovered original stones) of 1566, it is not the same bridge that was destroyed in 1993 and which stood as a sentry for 427 years. The Old Bridge is now, and will forever be, so much more because of the last 26 years of its and the community’s history, including its destruction, absence, and reconstruction, which are all now part of its historical narrative. The Old Bridge is today an internationally recognized example of “outstanding universal value” as described by UNESCO, which inscribed the Old Bridge and surroundings as a World Heritage Site (2005). Today, hundreds and thousands of visitors from our diverse global community travel to Mostar to visit the Old Bridge every year and, for at least a moment, stand under its gaze and become part of the community which considers the Old Bridge as neighbor. Each of these visitors contribute to the wear of the stone steps and add to the luster of their unique patina.

Those who acted as executioner to the Old Bridge were wrong in their belief that by destroying the heart of our city, they could likewise destroy the will of the people. The reconstruction of the Old Bridge and the intervening 15 years is evidence of this. Now, the bridge is not only a testament to the potential of human ingenuity, vision, and spirit, but to the resilience, determination, and heart still present (albeit challenged) within the local Mostarian community. Let the narrative of the Old Bridge – including its destruction and absence – be told to commemorate this. It must, however, also remind us of lasting impact of violence and its long-term diffusion of fear, hatred, and discrimination in society and how we must continue to actively work toward pluralistic communities espousing peace, tolerance, and equality in Mostar and well beyond.

#OldBridge #Mostar #UNESCO #Reconstruction #Mostari

Believe it or not, the last weekend in July has arrived. What does that mean? The day has arrived for the annual bridge jumping competition at the Old Bridge in Mostar, BiH.

The Bridge Diving will be held on Sunday, July 28th at 4 PM. So, come down to the beach under the Old Bridge and make yourself comfortable (arrive early to get a perfect seat!) and prepare to watch a Mostarian tradition that you will never forget.

After the diving is over, make sure to find your way back to the public space in front of the Hammam Museum to walk with Sheva Walking Tours on a Free Walking Tour of Mostar at 6 PM! We will tell you all there is to know about the history and significance of the Old Bridge as well as explain the unique Bridge Diving Tradition for which Mostar has become known.

See you tomorrow under the bridge!

If you have seen one of the iconic jumps from the Old Bridge, you know that it is typically met with applause, whistles, and gasps of delight from locals and visitors alike. This morning at precisely 11:07 AM, a young member of the Mostar Diving Club jumped from the Old Bridge alongside a shower of white lilies to commemorate the events of this day – July 11 – in 1995. 

The dive this morning was met with silence. 

A moment of silence in memorial and witness to the atrocity of genocide that unfolded in Srebrenica 24 years ago where nearly 9,000 Bosniaks (mostly men and boys) were killed and the families to which they belonged were forever shattered. Today, in the village of Potočari at the Memorial Cemetery, the remains of 33 individuals who have been identified over the past year were interred in their final resting place. Still, over 1,000 victims remain missing and families wait to gain closure through the slow process of discovery and identification of bodies so that their loved ones can one day also be put to rest in the Memorial Cemetery. 

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If you are visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina and would like to learn about Srebrenica, we recommend visiting the Memorial Center at Potočari and taking a guided tour – it is easily accessible as a day trip from Sarajevo and you can go by bus, car or an organized tour group. If you are unable to visit the Memorial Center, we highly recommend the Galerija 11/7/95, centrally located in Sarajevo (next to the Cathedral). At the Galerija, be sure to opt for an audio tour in your language and take the time to sit at the computer monitors upon initial entrance to the curated exhibits. The computer program will guide you through the details of the events leading up to the genocide to give you a full understanding of how and why the genocide occurred in Srebrenica and impress upon you why we must work together to prevent such atrocities in the future. 

Never Again. 

#Remember #Srebrenica #TraditionalDive #Memorial #NeverAgain