Places to visit in Sarajevo

Among the most popular historical and touristic places in the Balkans is Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are many places to visit in this city known for its historical, cultural richness and natural beauties. The tragic wars that took place had negative effects on the development of this beautiful city. It is possible to see the traces of the tragedies that took place on city tours everywhere. Despite this, this Balkan country with its unique beauty continues to host people from many different cultures from east to west. Let’s take a look at the places you should definitely see in Sarajevo, which is among the most popular places in Balkan tours.

Baščaršija

  • Baščaršija, the historical center of Sarajevo, is home to bazaars and markets from the Ottoman period. Important structures such as Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, Clock Tower and Sebil are located here.

Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque

  • Built in 1530, this mosque is one of the most important religious buildings from the Ottoman period. The mosque is notable for its architecture and interior decoration.

Sebil

  • Located in Baščaršija Square, Sebil is a fountain from the Ottoman period. It is considered one of the symbols of the city.

Sarajevo Tunnel (Tunnel of Hope)
This tunnel, which connected the people of Sarajevo to the besieged city during the Bosnian War between 1992 and 1995, is one of the symbols of the city’s resistance.

Vijećnica (Sarajevo City Hall)

  • Built in Neo-Mongolian architecture, this impressive structure is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city. It houses the Sarajevo Library.

Latin Bridge


This bridge, where the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, commemorates the event that led to the beginning of World War I.

Sarajevo Cathedral (Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral)

  • Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral largest Catholic cathedral in Sarajevo, located in the city center. Built in the Gothic style.

Avaz Twist Tower

  • The tallest building in Sarajevo, Avaz Twist Tower has an observation deck where you can watch the city panoramically.

National Museum (Zemaljski Muzej)

  • The oldest museum in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it exhibits archaeological findings, ethnographic artifacts and historical documents.

Miljacka River and Vrelo Bosne


The Miljacka River, which flows through Sarajevo, adds a special beauty to the city. Vrelo Bosne is the source of the river and is an ideal place for nature walks.
Since Sarajevo is a city rich in history and culture, you can find many hidden corners and places to discover outside of these places.

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s war history has gained great importance, especially with the Bosnian War that took place between 1992-1995. This war went down in history as one of the bloodiest conflicts that occurred during the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Here is general information about Bosnia-Herzegovina’s war history:

The Dissolution of Yugoslavia and the Beginning of the War

Yugoslavia began to weaken in the 1980s due to economic difficulties and increasing ethnic tensions. After the death of Josip Broz Tito in 1980, nationalist movements within the country gained strength.

With Slovenia and Croatia declaring their independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, demands for independence began to grow stronger in Bosnia-Herzegovina. On March 1, 1992, Bosnia-Herzegovina held an independence referendum and a large majority voted for independence.
Bosnian Serbs, who did not recognize the declaration of independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina (April 1992), attacked Bosnia and Herzegovina with Serbian support. This attack marked the beginning of the Bosnian War, which would last three years.

The Bosnian War (1992-1995) saw violent ethnic and religious clashes between Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks). The siege of Sarajevo (1992-1996) is one of the most symbolic events of this war.

During the war, Serbian forces systematically pursued ethnic cleansing policies against Bosnian Muslims and Croats. This process led to tragedies such as the Srebrenica Massacre, in which approximately 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed in July 1995.
The United Nations (UN) and NATO made limited interventions during the war, but these were not sufficient to ensure effective peace. The war, which continued until 1995, received a great deal of backlash from the international community.

Peace Talks: In 1995, peace talks were held in Dayton, Ohio, under the mediation of the USA, to end the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Bosnian War ended with the Dayton Agreement signed on December 14, 1995. The agreement divided Bosnia-Herzegovina into two entities: the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (Bosniaks and Croats) and the Serb Republic (Republika Srpska). In addition, the Brčko District was established as an autonomous administration.

After the war, Bosnia-Herzegovina became a complex state with a multi-layered administrative structure. Ethnic tensions and the traumas of the war left deep marks on the socio-political structure of the country.
The International Criminal Court (ICTY) tried many Serb, Croat and Bosniak leaders for war crimes committed during the Bosnian War. After the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina underwent economic and social reconstruction, but the country continues to face the deep wounds of the war.

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