Hello everyone.
Today I want to share old bridges of city Sarajevo. There are four preserved stone bridges in Sarajevo. Those are Goats Bridge, Šeher Ćehaja Bridge, Latin Bridge and Roman Bridge.
When I was reading about Roman Bridge after I first time visited the bridge it was stated that it is one of the four stone bridges in city Sarajevo. So whenever I would go there it would be in my mind that there are three more stone bridges. Šeher Ćehaja Bridge and Latin Bridge are the ones that I already visited but Goats Bridge is the one that I did not know about.
So this weekend me and friend decided to visit all these bridges. We started of with Goats Bridge. It is around 30-35 minutes walk from the Šeher Ćehaja Bridge. Then when we were back we visited Šeher Ćehaja Bridge and Latin Bridge respectively. I did not manage to visit all four of them in one day. Yesterday I visited Roman Bridge which is on the other side of the city near spring of River Bosna and finished my quest of four bridges. Roman Bridge is the only preserved stone bridge on River Bosna.
Here are the bridges in order of visit.
Kozja Ćuprija or Goats Bridge
Kozja Ćuprija or Goats Bridge is stone bridge on the river Miljacka. It is one of the four old bridges in city Sarajevo. It is located around 2 kilometers from city center. It was built by Ottomans in 16th century. This is only bridge dating from Ottoman period that is fully intact.It was built on the way that lead from Sarajevo to Istanbul. In Ottoman time this was place where people would welcome viziers from Istanbul and also people would farewell pilgrims for their pilgrimages from this bridge. The oldest written record of this bridge was made by Mula Mustafa Bašeškija, who noted in 1771 that a stone wall was built from Kozija Ćuprija all the way to Alifakovac.
Bridge was made National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2004.
It took us around 30-35 minutes to get to the Goats bridge from Sarajevo City Hall. It is approximately 2 kilometers from City Hall.
There are some view points from where you can see Goats Bridge.
It is surrounded by forest and greenery.
Surrounded by nature and intact since its construction.
Goats bridge has one large arch and two smaller openings. It is 42 meters in length and 4.25 meters wide. Span of the vault is 17 meters.
View from the bridge is very beautiful. River Miljacka and all greenery around is so refreshing.
I tried to take photos from the side of the bridge but there was no place from where I could take good photo.
Going down to the river bed was challenging since there is no road down to the river bed except steep terrain.
But going down is worth for sure.
Bridge fits so well on this place.
River Miljacka on its way to city Sarajevo. Canyon is beautiful.
These are photos from other side of Goats bridge. Here access to river side is easier.
Bridge is somehow hiding.
It is my first time visiting Goats bridge and it was worth it. Such a gem hidden on the river bed of Miljacka river.
Šeher-Ćehajina Ćuprija or Šeher Ćehaja Bridge
Thirteen bridges were built in Ottoman period and Šeher Ćehaja Bridge is first one to be built. There is not much information about construction of the bridge. According to one of written documents in archive of city Mostar bridge was already built in 1585/1586 year. Also some sources indicate that it was built in 1620s. Šeher Ćehaja Bridge is on the list of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2005. In 1897 after regulation of flow of river Miljacka one of the arches was covered.
From 1999 to 2001 bridge was reconstructed to its original old appearance.
Bridge with its arches looks beautiful.
Šeher Ćehaja Bridge is close to the City Hall. You can see City Hall building on the left.
There is a story of a diamond.
Hadži Husein was person who ordered construction of the bridge. After it was finished he said that diamond of decent size should be put in one of the pillars. Reason is that later it can be used in case that some repairment is needed. Only people close to him knew the place of the diamond. But not long after diamond was installed it was stolen. Since at that time Sarajevo was small city thief was caught. It was some young man who was poor and he wanted to amd wanted to give diamond to his girlfriend.
When judge (kadija) heard his story he released him with condition that he gives back diamond to its owner. After that owner did not built in diamond in the bridge again.
Šeher Ćehaja Bridge is couple minutes away from Old Bazaar Sarajevo which can be considered as heart of the city.
Latinska Ćuprija or Latin bridge
First bridge on this place was wooden and it was mentions in documents in 1541. Flood damaged the bridge in 1791 and it was renewed in 1798/1799. Length of the bridge is 39 meters. Also during regulation of the flow of river Miljacka one of the arches is removed (one pillar was walled).
Near the bridge, in 1914, the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sofia were assassinated. Assassination of heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand is considered to be cause for first World War.
Bridge has 4 arches. The middle part is a bit similar to the Goats Bridge.
Latin Bridge is just couple minutes away from Šeher Ćehaja Bridge. Also Old Bazaar or Baščaršija is very close.
Rimski most or Roman Bridge
Roman Bridge is old stone bridge on river Bosna. It is located in Ilidža, one of the municipality of city Sarajevo. In symbolic sense it can be said that Goats Bridge is eastern gate of the city Sarajevo and Roman Bridge is western gate.
It is only preserved stone bridge built over river Bosna. Bridge is built somewhere between 1530 and 1550. During construction stones from old ruins were used so the name Roman Bridge comes from there.
Its length is 52.10 meters and it is 4.55 meters wide. It has 7 arches.
This is the path to the Roman Bridge.
Rimski Most and river Bosna.
Water is not deep at all. Maybe half a meter to one meter at most.
Bridge with its arches and reflections is very beautiful.
View from the bridge is super.
This is River Bosna. Spring of river Bosna is in this direction and it is very close.
Lovely place to come and relax. There are sitting benches around the bridge. River Bosna and you can see even swans swimming.
Here are couple photos from previous visit to Roman Bridge.
I had very good time visiting all stone bridges. They are part of history. I would not mind repeating it. It can be easily done in one day and if you are in Sarajevo you may try to visit all four of these beautiful bridges.
