British magazine Time Out has named the Old Bridge in Mostar the most beautiful bridge in the world, stating that its architecture tells a story of strength and resilience.
The article notes that its stone arch soared nearly 25 meters above the Neretva River from 1566 until 1993, when it was unfortunately destroyed during the war.
It further states that the bridge was rebuilt between 2001 and 2004 thanks to international funding, and that stones from the original bridge were recovered from the Neretva River. UNESCO describes the bridge as a symbol of reconciliation, international cooperation, and the coexistence of different cultural, ethnic, and religious communities.
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) found the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), under the command of Slobodan Praljak, guilty of the destruction of the Old Bridge, ruling that it was part of a joint criminal enterprise.
According to historians, the Old Bridge was designed by Mimar Hayruddin, a student of one of the greatest architectural minds of all time, Mimar Sinan.
As previously mentioned, the first reference to a bridge at this location dates back to the 15th century, when a resident of Dubrovnik recorded that the son of Herceg Stjepan (after whom Herzegovina was named) rebelled and seized Blagaj, two towers, and a bridge over the Neretva River.
Other bridges featured on Time Out’s list of the world’s most beautiful bridges include Umshiang in Meghalaya, India, the Victoria Falls Bridge spanning the Zambezi River between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and the Golden Bridge in Vietnam.
