Thank goodness you didn't hurt yourself! 10 Things to do in Mostar 1. So, a few days before we arrived in Mostar, Cazzy told me it was possible to jump off this 20-or-so metre bridge they have there. In a sterling example of maybe not the greatest judgment, and yet again, going to some kind of length to join a fraternity of history, I visited Mostar, Herzegovina, to do one thing - jump off of their historic bridge into a river that is a mountain spring fed 10 degrees Celsius give or take one or two degrees (between 48 and 52 Fahrenheit . https://www.bizarreglobehopper.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/mostar-bridge-daylight-bosnia-and-hertzegovina.jpg. In the evening haze, legends and ghost stories come alive. Divers hurled themselves from a 24-metre (79-ft) high Ottoman-era bridge in the Bosnian town of Mostar on Sunday, staging a centuries-old contest even though the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many . The tradition of jumping off the bridge in Mostar began in 1664. 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. The shape of the bridge itself also has its own story, it is said that it represents life that the bridge represents one-half of the circle, and its reflection in water is the other half of the circle, and this whole picture represents life. At least one of the Mostar bridge jumping deaths was caused by heart attack: the contrast between a hot summer day and nearly freezing water can take its toll even for a healthy person. during the war in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004. . That was about 5 years ago. As you will read below, once you pay to jump once, you become a member for life and can jump for free. We managed to preserve the tradition and this is one of the most beautiful news from the city, even though only bad news are constantly coming from here. Personally, I still kept on my swim shorts. Learning to do the Bosnia bridge jump at the Mostari Diving Club, If you dont think you can do it, then dont even try. Those are the people you want. Home Blog Adventures Mostar Bridge Jump: Read This Before Jumping Off Mostar Bridge! . First up, you need to speak to the diving club. This might vary depending on the time of year. After an 11-year struggle, Pasic's . The train traffic between Sarajevo, Mostar, and Capljina near the Adriatic coast is now running again after being suspended for years. Once there is sufficient collection, the Mostar bridge jump takes a second. If you do the jump, then leave a comment below, Id love to hear from you! We had awful experience in Sadrvan, which is usually listed among the best restaurants in Mostar (its a tourist trap serving bland and overcooked food). Or perhaps you rotate backward on the way down and land on your back. Youll also be a lifetime member of Mostar Diving Club meaning that you can jump off Stari Most as many times as you wish! As we mentioned, dont try to jump off the bridge without permission. Oh and be warned: dont try this at home! Stari Most was constructed by the Ottomans under the commission of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16 th century. Prince of Neretva, only once managed to get close to the record of Mostars swallows like Emir Bali, who won 13 titles as the best jumper, and won the most titles in the history of the jumps in Mostar. In 2004, he won the title for the first time. 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. I looked down and took a deep breath to steady myself , I gave the instructor one final farewell fist bump . Something went wrong while submitting the form. I want to fit it in to my day trip to Mostar and am trying to see how much time I need to set aside for this. We never had worst situation when it comes to young people. This was something I had to do; I had a feeling that this was an after-dinner story I could dine out on for years to come. By this point, there will be lots of tourists around with cameras preparing to record you. I hope you can fit it in though - it's such an amazing experience! You will then need to pay for the jump. As soon as I jumped off Mostar bridge I knew I had done it wrong. Mostar was named after the bridge keepers who guarded the Stari Most in the medieval times. But, as you rise back up to the surface, you're greeted with a round of applause from all the spectators and you really do feel like a bit of a hero. On New Year's Day a few years ago. We want to use, edit and work with this amazing Image. This school has been on the bridge for hundreds of years and they are essentially its guardians. In person, the bridge does look incredibly high up and it is very daunting. Evidently, they acknowledge the risks of bridge jumping and take great pride in their courage. You might want to read the next chapter about the hazards of jumping off Mostar Bridge or any bridge before making the decision. Mostar and Herzegovina Tour with Kravica Waterfall from Split & Trogir. They will also give you a wetsuit to help protect against the cold. Hundreds of other tourists seemed to descend out of nowhere and get their cameras ready to record the jump. I know a guy who did this when were in Bosnia in 2006. The bridge stood for 427 years until it was destroyed by Croat forces in the Croat-Bosniak War on November 9, 1993. What does that mean? He recalls his beginnings, when he was five or six and began to jump from, two or three meters high cliffs, and this height increased over the years. Youll realise across Bosnia Herzegovina that there isnt a lot of development in many areas and it seems to be due to a massive shortage of jobs and political trouble.. The Stari Most and adjoining areas are a valuable historical, cultural and architectural treasure to the world worth preserving, and fortunately, this was recognized by UNESCO, and they took action. According to history books, the first person jumped off Mostar bridge already in 1664. The bridge was drawn by a famous architect, Mimar Sinan, and constructed by his student Mimar Hajruddin. This is enough time to calm yourself entirely and block out the people around you. Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). Please make sure that the water level is high enough before planning your bridge jump. In Mostar, the Old Bridge marked both the divide and the connection between the Bosniaks, Croats, Serbs, and Yugoslavs. Even the local diving club is named Mostarski Ikari. As you rise from the water, everyone around should hopefully be clapping and you just swim to the shore and go meet your friends once again. If youve heard about the ghosts of Mostar, please share the stories in the comments below! So, Cazzy stood down by the waters edge filming up at me jumping off. The old bridge had stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on 9th November 1993 by Croat forces during the Croat-Bosniak war. When we jumped, there were 3 of us. 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. Every year there are two or three new jumpers from Serbia, Montenegro, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but unfortunately not from Mostar. We live in Croatia, and are always exploring the region. July 2018 marked 452nd annual Mostar bridge diving competition. Good question! The original bridge stood for 427 years before it was destroyed in 1993 during the Croat-Bosniak War. Theres an incredible amount of excitement both in the build up to the jump and the aftermath. It long stood as a symbol of how the diverse Mostar population co-existed peacefully. It is beautiful and the area around it is also beautiful. Yes, its a Bosnian legend: jumping off Mostar Bridge is how a boy becomes a man in Mostar! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If youre still willing, organizing Mostar Bridge jumping is easy. You can jump off the Mostar Old Bridge with permission of the Dive Club to the right of the bridge. Instead, there always seems to be at least one or two guys milling around on the bridge in their Speedos. Since that time, the bridge was rebuilt in 2004 and today, serves as the main tourist attraction in Mostar. Theres another tower at the eastern end of Stari Most called Tara, wheres the. Mostar Bridge Jump Is Jumping Worth It? Almost as legendary as the bridge itself is a photo of jumpers jumping from a 27-meter high bridge into the crystal water of the icy Neretva River. Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, heres a quick rundown of the most popular questions people have and are the same ones that I had before doing the bridge jump. Any number of things could go wrong with your jump. The history of the battles that raged in the area is also of interest. The tradition of jumping is 451 years old. However, most of the jumpers will be from Mostar. Just before sunset, the cream-colored stone surface of Stari Most turns golden, shimmering upon the beautifully renovated old town of Mostar. The. 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. 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. These guys are experienced jumpers and divers and will jump a few times each day once they get enough interest (and donations) from passers-by. Full-day Tours. Recommended. After a few minutes, a small guy came to the front, climbed over the railings and launched himself into the air. 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. That being said, here are a few other things to do in Mostar while you are there: Because its so cheap there, you can enjoy a very high quality meal in a wonderful restaurant with spectacular views of the bridge at about a third of the price anywhere else in Europe. It doesn't leave you many options; I mean, who wants to be a complete failure! Page 1 of 2 | Single page The last time I was in the Bosnian and Herzegovinian city of Mostar I stood on the gravel stones beneath the shallow river that winds it's way underneath the Stari Most bridge and watched a 19-year-old Saudi . The guy had cojones. During the Balkan wars of the 1990s, Mostar suffered great losses, not least the iconic bridge. We travel & write about food, accomm & the best things to do in the Balkans. Well, they take the time to show you the right jumping technique and, as long as you listen and do exactly this, then youll be fine. We need you around! Its also a great place to take a photo of the divers in action. Afterwards, you head back up to the clubhouse to get dressed. They know how to tease the crowds to gather the next 25 to qualify a jump. Thus, on July 30, on the day of the 451st traditional jumping from the Old Bridge, Mostar will be the center of the world. After all, jumping of Mostar Bridge is a 450-year old tradition. Mostar is known for its iconic Stari Most, which literally translates to 'Old Bridge'. If you want to jump from the Stari Most bridge, then you need to do it with the dive school. Before jumping off, listen to your diving instructors final orders and take deep breaths. Then make sure you Pin it! Back up in the clubhouse, they will fill out a certificate that you can take home. And, well, I decided I just had to jump again! The original Stari Most managed to stand for staggering 427 years, through two world wars. I must admit that every year I enjoy jumping more and more, I think I am ready enough to win the first place again. Many tourists have also had a change of hearts before seeing the bridge and standing up there looking down: 24-28 meters doesnt sound like much, but it looks daunting for sure. "Feeling cannot be described. I want to jump it. Mostar is an old city, established in the 15 th century when a small settlement began to form around an old Roman wooden bridge over the Neretva river, but the name Mostar comes from the old white limestone bridge Stari Most ( most . Thanks! In fact, most people visitingSplit or Dubrovnikin Croatia will take a day trip to Mostar to see the iconic bridge. Here is a list of things to do in Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina one of the most diverse places in Europe. Youll be credited with a certificate and your name is written the Diving Club record book. Risk of injuries is high, and even higher when the water level of Neretva River is at its lowest during the summer. Before you can even really think about it, you hit the water! Also, if anything goes wrong, then there is a team of people around to come and get you. 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. The surrounding Stari Grad, the Old City of Mostar, is a perfect example of a historically important multicultural town with pre-Ottoman, eastern Ottoman, and Mediterranean architecture. the instructor will tell you to remain calm. Whats good is that, if you do the 10 meter jump and then don't want to do the big jump, is you only then pay the 10 and that's it. The Mostar bridge jump height is between 20m and 26m Being a symbol for the town and for the whole of Bosnia, as soon as the war was over there were meticulous plans to rebuild it exactly the same as it was before the war, right down to the smallest detail. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Ender Guner. 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. As I was having lunch I saw a crowd gathering on the bridge. 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. Mostar and notably the Mostar Bridge, or Stari Most as its known locally, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovinas major tourist attractions. Legends tell that the architect, Mimar Hajruddin, had to make it or break it. Also, its a great talking point for everyone back home! Even the initial flaws were honored. Expect craggy peaks, turquoise rivers, dark tunnels, and ancient viaducts. 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. 21 Pins 5y Collection by Tour Guide Mostar Similar ideas popular now Diving Travel Bridge Cliff Diving 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. Amazing. However, the worst thing you have to consider isn't the height, but more importantly, the cold temperatures of the water! Anyways, I was committed to doing it and soon found out everything I needed to know from the locals. The Mostar Bridges height is around 29 meters in full length and is approximately 4 meters wide. Be prepared to the cold river and wear a wetsuit if its provided or just bathe in cold water. So what makes the Old Bridge of Mostar so unique? Youll need to do more if you struggle to get the technique right. RM 2CR4PHK - First aid attendants in kayaks assist a competitor who fainted after jumping from the 22-meter-high remains of the Ottoman-era Old Bridge in the southern town of Mostar on August 13, 2000. Mostar Bridge Jump: Read This Before Jumping Off Mostar Bridge! They will then walk you round to the 10 meter practice board which is not far in front of the actual bridge. Home > Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). Mostar Bridge, also known as the Stari Most ('Old Bridge'), is a reconstructed 16th century Ottoman bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Old Bridge (Stari Most): Mostar Bridge Jump - See 4,348 traveler reviews, 4,333 candid photos, and great deals for Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, at Tripadvisor. amazing blog. Even the local diving club is named Mostarski Ikari. Keep reading to find out more on how you can jump, including how much it costs and whatnot. The water is frigid and will help keep you at least a little warm. That day, tourists from all over the world are inevitable guests of this pearl. Since the bridges reconstruction, the Mostar Diving club has maintained records of all the people who have made the Mostar Bridge jump. Just make sure that you take out Green Card insurance before you drive. They run-up prior to jumping from the bridge, they fall down into the river and fly in the air like birds making special kind of stunts. The trains run all the way to Capljina near the Croatian coast, from where you can take a bus to Dubrovnik, Split, or Makarska. The most iconic landmark of the city, and perhaps of all of Herzegovina, the Stari Most (Old [] I am afraid that swallow style will disappear. Usually what happens is this. I couldnt believe 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. The Stari Most really is one of the sites you must absolutely visit when traveling through the Balkans. Including, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,, Montenegro, Slovenia, Turkey, Macedonia, Romania, Kosovo and Serbia. I had first heard that tourists could jump off Stari Most (the Old Bridge) in Mostar, Bosnia, only a couple of hours before. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. My Friends dad is from Mostar and she wants the bridge to be the main eye catcher in her first big university project. Stari most which translates to old bridge is a reconstruction of a 16th century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it crosses the Neretva river and connects two parts of the city. After jumping off a 3ft bench a handful of times to prove I could do it, I asked Igor if I had a good technique and if I was ready to jump off the bridge; he said I jumped like a horse, that I would never be ready to jump off the bridge, but if I still wanted to do it then now was the time. walk on the famous Old bridge. Bridge jumping in Mostar is a tradition that spans back to 1664, when the first recorded person jumped from the famous bridge known locally as, Stari Most, which means "Old Bridge." Since then, jumping from the bridge has since become a tradition, so much that to some locals, the jump is seen as a symbolic right of passage for boys to . Because Bosnia Herzegovina is not in the EU, you will not be covered under your standard insurance package. Last year, he broke his finger at the competition and hurt his wrist, but he did not even think about giving up and still won the first place in such a condition. Thank you! There is a tall minaret that you are able to walk up, which then offers views out all around the surrounding area. How can you say no to that? Definitely visit oneday, Drugi put kada dodjes vodim te dole i srednju Bosnu, Your email address will not be published. Extreme sports might seem like a modern innovation for adrenaline junkies, but in the ancient Bosnian town of Mostar, jumping or diving from the 24-metre-high bridge is a test of courage that . So, thats how I found myself standing on the edge of the bridge, heart pounding, staring at the abyss below. I heard the lady quote one person 50 Euros to jump. tradition. Even the best ice cream in town is served right beside Stari Most and best enjoyed on the bridge. Facts about the Old Bridge. Traditional jumps from Old Bridge in Mostar were held under auspices of BiH's Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic. Thus, on July 30, on the day of the 451st traditional jumping from the Old Bridge, Mostar will be the center of the world. Either way, youll need to travel back up to the bridge to see the team, get changed, and pay. Situated not far behind the Stari Most bridge, this stunning mosque is actually a really nice place to visit if you're looking to kill a bit of time. In winter time (I think) the water flows at its highest so, naturally, the distance from the bridge to the waters surface decreases. Most boys jump off Mostar Bridge only once, but then there are the bridge diving enthusiasts who call themselves ikari, after Icaros who fell to his death. When we jumped in Spring time, it was around 23 meters. He didn't stick the landing and dislocated his arm. Not long! But questions I have know. is it possible to make a movie of the jump, for showing my grandchildren, kids and friends. For its time, the bridge was technologically advanced for a single-span stone bridge. I dont know how she expected me to react, however, if she knows me at all, then she should have predicted my immediate reaction . 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