Standing on the historic Ottoman bridge which crosses over the River Miljacka united me with a historic event I would never forget. Now, for some this may ring no bells at all, but “Latin Bridge” is an extremely historic site. It was here that the assassination of Austria’s Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered the start of World War 1! So many times on our four year family journey, I felt I was touching history and truly learning things that couldn’t be taught within the walls of a school. While my friends back home were in Gr. 11 learning about historic events in Europe, I was standing on the same stones where an assassin, ultimately responsible for sparking the rage of a World War, stood a hundred years earlier.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is another one of those countries that I don’t imagine people with short vacation time would say, “Hey, let’s go to Bosnia and Herzegovina this summer!” Most will use their short vacation time for popular destinations like France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, or Italy. There’s just so much to see, especially in Europe, and so little time! That is why I am so grateful for my chance to discover so many back alleys and golden treasures of the world and share the experiences with you. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a walk down history lane with its Ottoman remains, war memorials, historic mosques, and shells of buildings left with irreparable damaged after the all too recent Bosnian War in 1992-1995.
Though we only stayed for a short time, it was enough to see and learn a lot. Even if you just have a few days, try to make the effort to visit this momentous country.
The beautiful countryside of Bosnia
Sarajevo the capital city of Bosnia. Sarajevo has been undergoing post-war reconstruction, and is the fastest growing city in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Streets of Sarajevo
The Eternal flame is a memorial to the military and civilian victims of the Second World War inSarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The memorial was dedicated on 6 April 1946, the first anniversary of the liberation of Sarajevo from the four-year-long occupation by Nazi Germany and the fascist Independent State of Croatia.
The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a Christian church and the largest cathedral in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Built from 1884-1887
Sarajevo Rose. Throughout the city explosion marks have been filled with red resin to mark where mortar explosions resulted in one or more deaths.
A walk through old town Bascarsija, Sarajevo
The Emperor’s Mosque is an important landmark in Sarajevo, being the first mosque to be built (1457) after the Ottoman conquest of Bosnia.
Old town Bazaar in Sarajevo
Miljacka River with lovely bridges. Sarajevo
Gradska Vijećnica, From 1896 to 1945 this building was the City Hall and from 1945 to 1992 it was the national library of Sarajevo. Its been reopened in 2014 after suffering damage in the siege and most of the library destroyed.
The Martyrs’ Memorial Cemetery, Sarajevo
Latin Bridge (“Princip Bridge” in Yugoslavian era), is a historic Ottoman bridge over the River Miljacka. This bridge was the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by Gavrilo Princip in 1914, which became a casus belli of World War I. – Sarajevo
Remnants or war still remain. Mostar
We enjoyed a walk through the old Ottoman town of Mostar
The oldest single arch stone bridge in Mostar, the Kriva Cuprija (Sloping Bridge), was built in 1558.
More reminders of the, not so distant war, as we walked through Mostar
Stari Most by night.
Mostar by night.
This used to be a banking building. Mostar.
A game of strategy between Savannah and Ammon at the old Town Hall square, Mostar
Stay tuned for more #FridayFotos. Next week is 7Year Anniversary Photo Essay!
Savannah Grace
View more photos of Bosnia here.
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