Today, Vijecnica (City Hall) marks 118 years since Baron Johhan Appel opened Sarajevo’s City hall, which represents the most beautiful and the most representative object from the Austro-Hungarian period built in pseudo-Moorish style.
On the Day of Europe and the victory over fascism, on the 9th of May, 22 years after it was burned, the solemn opening of City hall will take place. Vijecnica represents a symbol of suffering, but also of the indestructibility of Sarajevo.
City of Sarajevo is preparing the ceremony program regarding the opening of this symbol of the city of Sarajevo. There is a great interest between citizens, tourists and guests to see the opening, and the arrival of numerous invitees was confirmed.
Currently, there are works inside of the object, and which are a part of the last, fourth phase of reconstruction. During these days the imaging of walls along the stairway, and the setting of a parquet (First class, oak) in the solemn hall, in the hall where the sessions of the City Council of Town of Sarajevo will be held. Moreover, the parquet will be set in the mayor’s cabinet and in the cabinet of the Presiding of the City Council. During last week, the technical acceptance of the IV phase of Vijecnica’s reconstruction was done.
Considering that the City of Sarajevo had a leading role in the start of Vijecnica’s reconstruction, the mayor of Sarajevo Ivo Komšić is grateful to numerous partners and friends who gave material and all other types of support, namely, to the European Union, Republic of Austria, Kingdom of Spain and Hungary, and to cities of: Budapest, Podgorica, Vienna, Prague, Ljubljana, Tirana, Niccosia and Pecuj. Moreover, thanks to libraries of Serbia, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Cyprus and Norway, to the embassies of the United States of America, Great Britain, the Association for the Vijecnica Reconstruction from Austria and to the Association of friends for inter religious understanding “Abraham” from Germany.
Apart from the City of Sarajevo, the reconstruction of Vijecnica was helped by the Ministry of spatial planning and environment protection of Canton Sarajevo, Institute for the protection of cultural-historic heritage of Canton Sarajevo and the FB&H Ministry of Culture and Sports.
