Built by the Ottoman architect Mimar Hayruddin in 1566, the Mostar Bridge (Stari Most) stood in place for over 400 years, connecting the town's Bosniak and Croatian neighbourhoods. No matter what the weather, someone will jump off the bridge like a diving. Local tradition says that a 16-year-old boy must jump from the bridge as a right of passage, but more importantly, it is said that the boy's life will be a complete failure if he doesn't jump. We travel the Balkans seeking out food, accommodation and the best things to do in the Balkans so youll save time travel planning & travel like a local. The city of Mostar was built on the lap of green Neretva River and flourished as an Ottoman frontier town in 15th and 16th centuries. We saw few local youth jumping from the bridge. Crazy locals claim that boy is not worth of girlfriend or job without having the balls to jump off Stari Most. . Sinan was the chief Ottoman architect of Suleyman the Magnificent. walk on the famous Old bridge. You might want to read the next chapter about the hazards of jumping off Mostar Bridge or any bridge before making the decision. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Water temperature hardly ever reaches 10 degrees, so it will be a cold dip for sure. Less risk of injury, etc? Feel the presence of Michelangelo, the Borgia Pope and other anxious souls still searching for their atonement. There was a long time tradition of jumping from the top of the bridge, I don't know whether it's still practiced! Learn how your comment data is processed. Everyone around you gets involved in the fun, and theres a great atmosphere. The national plates, which consist of sausages and grilled meat, come at around 15-20 KM (7,50-10 ) and easily quench the hunger of two. Also, its a great talking point for everyone back home! Any thoughts on that? As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. After looking online, we soon found that Mostar was by far one of the nicest places to visit. As soon as I jumped off Mostar bridge I knew I had done it wrong. One thing is for sure; everyone must pay a visit to Mostar and walk across the UNESCO-inscribed Mostar Bridge and experience it for themselves. Every year there are two or three new jumpers from Serbia, Montenegro, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but unfortunately not from Mostar. 4.5. Then, each candidate must practice safe jumping at a 10-meter high training platform downstream from Stari Most. Check out our article on this gorgeous trip by train from Sarajevo to Mostar! That was before I'd even really thought about just how high it was or what my family might think. Driving from Sarajevo to Mostar takes around 1,5-2 hours, while the buses take around 2,5 hours. So what makes the Old Bridge of Mostar so unique? As I broke the surface, the first thing I did was look back to the bridge; it was huge! A few years earlier, Hamish and Andy (Australian radio personalities) jumped from the bridge, and a few days after them, our son also jumped (successfully) from the bridge. Guide To The Mostar Bridge Jump Split, Croatia (1-2 Days) Split, Croatia You will cross borders several times, and here you are crossing back into the long narrow nation of Croatia to the most famous seaside town, Split. The trains run all the way to Capljina near the Croatian coast, from where you can take a bus to Dubrovnik, Split, or Makarska. You will receive a unique code. Mostar Bridge Jump Is Jumping Worth It? Be sure to record your jump and share it on Facebook! Some locals call Mostar the ghost town, haunted by itself. As you will read below, once you pay to jump once, you become a member for life and can jump for free. So, what else could I do? Jumping from the bridge in Mostar was one of my all-time favorite memories from driving all across that part of Europe. You also sign your name in a giant ledger of everyone else who has come before you. The old bridge had stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on 9th November 1993 by Croat forces during the Croat-Bosniak war. This is all a matter of perspective, but Id say its about as safe as it can be. The Old Bridge in Mostar was designed by the renowned architect Mimar Hajruddin and stood for a proud 427 years before being destroyed during the war. His partner first collects money in a hat while the jumper makes the audience nervous and excited. As a part of 1990 Croat-Bosniak conflict, the Old Bridge of Mostar was bombed down by the Croat troops in 1993. Thanks! Before jumping off, listen to your diving instructors final orders and take deep breaths. In the Bosnian parts of Mostar, around 60-70% of houses were totally destroyed or badly damaged. Posted August 22, 2013. This might sound like a lot just for a jump. This makes me feel sick every time I think about you doing it! The bridge was eventually reopened again in 2004, and ever since it has been luring travellers from all over the world, not just because of its beauty, but because of its tradition Mostar bridge diving. I am afraid that swallow style will disappear. Scared? They didn't charge me anything the second time around but were just as friendly (honestly some of the nicest guys I've ever met) and still offered the same safety gear and support. Including, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,, Montenegro, Slovenia, Turkey, Macedonia, Romania, Kosovo and Serbia. Stari Most was constructed by the Ottomans under the commission of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16 th century. A jewel of Ottoman architecture, Stari Most (Old Bridge) was built in 1566 by a pupil of the great architect Sinan at the order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. region. Crooked Bridge is just a 5-minute stroll away from the Old Bridge and surrounded by restaurants. So, for 25 euros, the majority of which goes on the maintenance of the bridge, you get the opportunity to join the 24-metre club. What To Pack For Turkey How can you say no to that? Ender Guner. They will ask you to jump a few times until you get the technique correct. The bridge was originally a wooden bridge but around 1557 Suleiman the Magnificent ordered constructions so the old bridge would be replaced with a stone bridge by the architectural work of Mimar Hayruddin. Such as the one below which was taken during the annual diving competition they still hold there. 2,310 reviews. I'm 70 years of age, in good shape and there's still one scary moment to do. These are both possibilities if you fail to jump correctly. We live in Croatia, and are always exploring the region. If that bridge was located in most other countries in Europe, I feel like you would struggle to get permission from local authorities to do such a jump. He never jumped on his feet. Thanks for sharing this experience. The jumpers will try their luck in jumping on their feet, but they will perform popular flight of swallows as well, from the most beautiful platform in the world, on the last Sunday in July. ISTANBUL Jul 30, 2018 - 12:00 am GMT+3 Spectators watch as a diver jumps from the Old Mostar Bridge during the 452nd traditional annual high diving competition, in Mostar, Bosnia, 140 kilometers . Also, if anything goes wrong, then there is a team of people around to come and get you. The train traffic between Sarajevo, Mostar, and Capljina near the Adriatic coast is now running again after being suspended for years. OK, now weve covered a few basic concerns; lets get onto the juicy bits, how you go about jumping the Stari Most. Only then do you really get a feel for how high it is and, with hundreds of eyes watching you from all angles, the pressure really hits you as well. I'm healthy, fit and in my early 50s, and want to do it before I'm much older? Its an incredible feeling as you sink below the water and have the sudden realization that youve done it! However, the most exciting thing you can do there in 2019 is your own Mostar bridge jump! My Friends dad is from Mostar and she wants the bridge to be the main eye catcher in her first big university project. There are market stools for a few hundred metres either side of the bridge. It popped into my head again the other day. I know a guy who did this when were in Bosnia in 2006. That was about 5 years ago. 31 athletes from the Western Balkans, participating in the jumping races held on the historical Mostar Bridge, immersed themselves in the waters of the Neretva River. Famous for the old bridge of Mostar "Stari Most", which spans the river Neretva, and for the daring bridge jumper, countless visitors flock to visit this charming town. It was first built in the 16th century and stood for 427 years before it was destroyed during the. Anyways, I was committed to doing it and soon found out everything I needed to know from the locals. Just go and speak to one of those guys; tell them you want to do the Mostar Bridge jump, dont be shy; they are very friendly and helpful. Anyways, in the end, I did the jump alongside a cool Austrian guy we met at our hostel and an American guy we met about 2 minutes before we set off! Footage showed the ancient town and the iconic bridge itself. It has two towers that historically housed the Mostari (bridge keepers). Mostarski Ikari Diving Club has been officially operating since the end of the war in 1995. We saw signs advertising buses from Munich for about 14 I believe, so its really not that expensive. I dont think wearing a wetsuit is essential, but I would 100% recommend it. Split has become one of the hottest destinations in the Balkan peninsula. Thank goodness you didn't hurt yourself! I would'nt do it at the mostar bridge, a jump would be enough. In 2004 the bridge reopened, and from that time, it has remained one of the most famous and unique attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, because of the adrenaline and all of the excitement, the cold really isn't that bad and you can get back out of the water and check out the footage of the jump. Health and safety in places like the UK are stringent these days, and this jump is a novel and exciting way to get a hefty adrenaline boost. It all depends on what season you go in. If not, its just not for you. In Summer, the water is at its lowest and so the distance is highest. Its fine not to as its certainly not everyones cup of tea. The Old Bridge of Mostar is among the most important Islamic architectural structures in the Balkans. This year, as in previous years, participants will certainly come from all countries of the former Yugoslavia. A man is free fall after jumping off the old bridge in Mostar. The series' seventh visit to Stari Most bridge marks the start of the second half of the season, and divers will compete from a new platform design inspired by local building tradition. Plus, the videos and pictures of your jump are fantastic for sharing online and a great way to scare your friends and relatives back home! spectators watch as competitors take the dive off mostar's old . This causes people to freeze and actually makes things far harder. During the Balkan wars of the 1990s, Mostar suffered great losses, not least the iconic bridge. If, after reading this you still want to jump the Stari Most bridge, then I salute you! John, Vlad, Ricardo and Pierre, thank you. There is a tall minaret that you are able to walk up, which then offers views out all around the surrounding area. Amazing. When you hit the water, remain calm and try to regulate your heart rate and blood pressure. The dive school is very easy to find. Theres only one really big but: locals told us that jumping feet first might cause hitting legs at the bottom. I did it in peak summer and the water levels were still fine, though a little lower than spring/autumn when it's rained a lot more. Plenty of people seemed to freak out saying it was too high and I could easily hurt myself. But my thinking was, if so many other people can do it, then why would it be so bad for me? Mostar and Medjugorje Small Group Tour from Split or Trogir. This is a bucket list adventure for me. Excellent. Its also a great place to take a photo of the divers in action. i really enjoyed.thank for sharing such a amazing trip with us. The tradition of jumping off the bridge in Mostar began in 1664. The diving club installed a platform beside the temporary suspension bridge and carried on with their annual bridge diving competition. As Ive said, doing this Bosnia bridge jump can be really dangerous if not done right, Practice practice practice Theres nothing wrong with doing little practice jumps over and over again to ensure you feel comfortable. amazing blog. Whether it is competition time or not, you will often see young men in swim shorts walking around the vicinity of the bridge, trying to collect money. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. the instructor will tell you to remain calm. In the second Siege of Mostar, the Old Bridge was used for combat on the front line, until Croats shelled it on 9th of November 1993. Either way, youll need to travel back up to the bridge to see the team, get changed, and pay. As I was having lunch I saw a crowd gathering on the bridge. I was preparing myself for jumps all year round. For hundreds of years, the Mostar bridge has stood as an icon of multicultural coexistence, connecting the east banks Muslim and west banks Catholic communities. A professional diving athlete Andrej Beuc died here at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2018. In the aftermaths of war, Mostar was credited as the most heavily destroyed city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I heard the lady quote one person 50 Euros to jump. Be careful at the bridge and only jump when youre ready to do it in a good form. What they usually do is jump for the tourists, but every now and then a foreigner comes along who is stupid enough to want to jump themselves. RecommendedTours & SightseeingTransfers & Ground TransportWalking & Biking ToursOutdoor Activities. Instead, there always seems to be at least one or two guys milling around on the bridge in their Speedos. tradition. Mostar is 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. After a few years, an international scientific committee was established by UNESCO and arranged a team for the reconstruction of the bridge, along with many parts of the Old Town, which were also damaged and destroyed. The 30m-long, 20m-high, single-span Mostar bridge known as 'Stari Most' (Old Bridge) was built by Ottoman Turk Architect Mimar Hajrudin in 1566 of 456 blocks of stone. All rights reserved. And thats when I launched myself off the side of the bridge into the river below. Standing on the edge of Mostar bridge, looking at the fast-flowing river 24 metres below, I couldnt help thinking I had made a serious mistake. Be honest with yourself here in deciding whether or not you actually want to do it. Youll need to do more if you struggle to get the technique right. Multiple dive club members stand on the bridge and down by the water. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. & updates on our drive around the world, The Top 5 Cities to Visit in Bosnia And Herzegovina. His students later designed the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and helped to create Taj Mahal. Mostar and notably the Mostar Bridge, or Stari Most as its known locally, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovinas major tourist attractions. As such, it doesnt really matter what you wear underneath. 1,426. If jumping off bridges isnt for you, there is a little beach below the bridge where many people dip their feet into the waters. I want to jump it. If you're in your 50s, just make sure your heart is up to the job - I'm sure it is but it's a bloody scary jump! This technique allows you to remain perfectly straight the whole way down and to counteract any rotation on the way down. You take a few seconds underwater to think Shit, did I really just do this? All rights reserved. The Mostar Bridge Jumping Festival, a local tradition which involves auspicious folk hurling themselves into it off a Bridge! In addition to these great highlights, many more ingenious things to do in Mostar and awesome possibilities for excursionsaround are waiting for you. Another option is to fly there. Then, just do exactly what youve been taught so far and step off. Plum Fair in Gradaac from 23 to 27 of August: More Bosnia and Herzegovina records economic growth:Tourism is an increasingly important sector Damir Roajac, confectionery virtuoso, world champion and Vacks judge: He thrilled Zaim Merdan, one of the most famous names of BH culinary Bosnian woman on the MasterChef Slovenia team: Alma Reki teaches Slovenians Baarija: Historical and Cultural Center of Sarajevo, Pannonian lakes in Tuzla better and more accessible than ever. Thanks! I'm Macca & I run the multiple award-winning blog An Adventurous World. Walk along or get into some adventure on the Neretva River 3. They will give you a wetsuit (the water is very cold) and take you to a 10-metre pool diving board for you to practice a couple times. I wonder how many mostaris, guardians of the bridge, also roam in the grounds with other restless souls. If you're trying to find out how to jump from the bridge in Mostar, then feel free to skip ahead to the next section where I tell you exactly how to do it. The Old Bridge of Mostar has been an essential part of Mostars history right from the beginning. This is the famous bridge in Mostar. We need you around! Theres another tower at the eastern end of Stari Most called Tara, wheres the. Divers jumped from the Bosnia and Herzegovina's historic Mostar Bridge on Sunday, in a tradition dating back to the 17th century. Once I got to Mostar bridge, I started talking to a couple of the local divers at the Mostari Diving Club to find out some more information. The Old Bridge is certainly a haunting sight after dark when day-tripping tourists are swept away, and only occasional locals traverse the stone arch. Recommended. Every time I see this bridge, ( I've been there a few times ) I've looked at the daredevills who jumped down. Your email address will not be published. The answer to this question will never be, yes, it is 100% safe!. Swim to the shore, where diving club members are already waiting for you, ready to help you out of the cold water. In person, the bridge does look incredibly high up and it is very daunting. Privacy Policy. Ironically, it was a war that finally destroyed this symbol of peace. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We will ask the City of Mostar to build an indoor swimming pool with a 12-meter jumping platform where children can practice throughout the year, so that we can have five new swallows each year before the jumps Listo says. It's only 23 metres high, think you can handle it? During the summertime, the diving club members take turns in jumping off the bridge for money. You can jump off the Mostar Old Bridge with permission of the Dive Club to the right of the bridge. If you ever go back to the Stari most bridge and wish to jump, then you can do so for free! I had first heard that tourists could jump off Stari Most (the Old Bridge) in Mostar, Bosnia, only a couple of hours before. Even the initial flaws were honored. An hour? Every day I go to the gym twice and run twice. Here a list of things to do in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Local ikari know the art of bridge jumping and the risks. Home > Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). A smaller Ottoman-era stone-arch bridge named Kriva cuprija, the Crooked Bridge, crosses one of the tributaries of Neretva just a stone throw away from the Old Bridge. Once there is sufficient collection, the Mostar bridge jump takes a second. Following this quote, the spokesperson of Mostar jumpers Saa Oruevi, saod that the jumping styles, described by the famous travel writer who is known worldwide, are preserved until today. The dive cub will take you through everything you need to do for the jump. Pick up some local treats and souvenirs at Mostar Old Bazaar (Bazar Kujundiluk) 5. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. I am ready physically and mentally. And Pierre - they are still jumping . That averages . A painstakingly faithful replica was completed in 2004. Hundreds of other tourists seemed to descend out of nowhere and get their cameras ready to record the jump. You will then need to pay for the jump. This school has been on the bridge for hundreds of years and they are essentially its guardians. They will ask you to keep doing it until you get it just right. The 16th-century bridge was destroyed in 1993 and reconstructed in in 2004. It really wasn't long, because it's not much training. I strongly recommend taking a train from Sarajevo to Mostar, as its among the most scenic train travels in the world. I'm not too sure I'd do it again though - I think once was enough for me! To know from the locals not to as its among the Most important Islamic architectural structures the... Adriatic coast is now running again after being suspended for years in deciding whether or not you actually to! Perfectly straight the whole way down and to counteract any rotation on the bridge does look high. To Mostar takes around 1,5-2 hours, while the jumper makes the nervous! Was committed to doing it until you get the technique correct tradition which auspicious. Pope and other anxious souls still searching for their atonement hurt myself theres tower... 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