The train traffic between Sarajevo, Mostar, and Capljina near the Adriatic coast is now running again after being suspended for years. Before the jump, the team takes you to a practice board to show you how to jump off the Mostar Bridge, which tells you the safest way to complete the jump. Collecting money from passersby before jumping Suiting up before jumping The view from the bridge The arc of the bridge Stari Most, the bridge at Mostar An onlooker carrying scars and tattoos possibly from the Bosia-Croatia war A dog's life. This year, as in previous years, participants will certainly come from all countries of the former Yugoslavia. Theres an incredible amount of excitement both in the build up to the jump and the aftermath. 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 such, if youre coming from a different part of Bosnia, or even a different country, then you can get buses there. When we jumped in Spring time, it was around 23 meters. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It probably shuts around 5ish or 6ish. Because Bosnia Herzegovina is not in the EU, you will not be covered under your standard insurance package. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. UNESCO has recognized it as a world cultural heritage. I'm not too sure I'd do it again though - I think once was enough for me! 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. Many restaurants offer million-dollar views to the Old Bridge of Mostar, which alone qualifies for a romantic dinner. After looking online, we soon found that Mostar was by far one of the nicest places to visit. Very good. spectators watch as competitors take the dive off mostar's old . Once done, you are more than welcome to jump in again. Wow, fair play to you if you do it Arnoud. Walk along or get into some adventure on the Neretva River 3. Oops! Mostarian jumps are the most important tourist event and brand for Mostar and all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and during the times of traditional jumps from the Old Bridge the city of Mostar is the most visited. You can look down off the railings from the top and get a feel for how high it is. An hour? The Mostar Bridges height is around 29 meters in full length and is approximately 4 meters wide. They will also give you a wetsuit to help protect against the cold. If they say it's okay to jump, then do it! Fore more great ideas, check out this awesome guide on what else to do in Mostar! I looked down and took a deep breath to steady myself , I gave the instructor one final farewell fist bump . Driving from Dubrovnik takes around 2,5 hours, while the bus takes around 3,5 hours. After that, we headed back up the bridge for the real jump. In turn, as long as you do what they say, then you should have no problems with your jump! It was blown up by Bosnian-Croat forces in November 1993. . Back up in the clubhouse, they will fill out a certificate that you can take home. Id say wear it as the water really is cold! The tradition of jumping from the bridge goes back hundreds of years and is a key part of the local culture and history. Neretva is among the coldest rivers in the world. Your short flight has a speed nearing 80 km/h. Pick up some local treats and souvenirs at Mostar Old Bazaar (Bazar Kujundiluk) 5. The Ottoman sultan was so tired of unsuccessful bridge building attempts that he threatened to execute every failing architect. . If you do land a little off-balance, then having the wetsuit will reduce any pain you feel on impact. Ok, thats a joke! I knew I only had one shot at this thing. There really is no shame in backing out, and a lot of people do find the 10m board too daunting. I dont think wearing a wetsuit is essential, but I would 100% recommend it. Athletes were seen getting ready to jump before taking the . After a few minutes, a small guy came to the front, climbed over the railings and launched himself into the air. Slipping is dangerous because then you cannot prepare your body for hitting the water. Risk of injuries is high, and even higher when the water level of Neretva River is at its lowest during the summer. I was in the tiny village of Llanthony in the rural Welsh borderlands. Its an incredible feeling as you sink below the water and have the sudden realization that youve done it! Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. This technique allows you to remain perfectly straight the whole way down and to counteract any rotation on the way down. The Old Bridge, Stari Most, is the heart and soul of Mostar: its the playground for local kids, lovers gazing at sun dipping below the banks of Neretva, bridge jumping adrenaline junkies, and souvenir shopping tourists. 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The 30m-long, 20m-high, single-span Mostar bridge known as 'Stari Most' (Old Bridge) was built by Ottoman Turk Architect Mimar Hajrudin in 1566 of 456 blocks of stone. 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. i've been to Mostar before and walked the bridge. amazing blog. More is required if the diving club instructor isnt convinced. I'm 70 years of age, in good shape and there's still one scary moment to do. Go out for beers afterwards Youve just survived one of the scariest things of your life! There are always a couple of guys from the dive club hanging around the bridge and theyre usually wearing swimming suits. 1Lt. Immortalized on the flag and coat of arms of the city, the Old Bridge is the center of life in Mostar since its construction in the 16th century. Things to do in Mostar; Old Town Historic Stari Most bridge played host to the cliff diving elite once again as the World Series returned to Mostar for the sixth season in a row. And Pierre - they are still jumping . Somehow, at the last second, I managed to pull my arms and legs in, grab my balls, and make myself pencil-thin as I speared the water. Characteristics. It was great fun watching Joe (the American) and Dom (the Austrian) jump first, and there's a real buzzing atmosphere of excitement all around the bridge. fantastic pictures and place is amazing to visit there. and a must stay for a day. You will then pay 30 Euros here and go about your merry day. The first bridge in Mostar was built by the Turks, under the command of Suleyman the Magnificent, already in the 16th century. Luckily, his work was celebrated as the widest man-made arch in the world! Mostar and Herzegovina Tour with Kravica Waterfall from Split & Trogir. Posted August 22, 2013. If you want to jump from the Stari Most bridge, then you need to do it with the dive school. Thats because you are now an official member of the Mostar Diving Club! So, thats how I found myself standing on the edge of the bridge, heart pounding, staring at the abyss below. This school has been on the bridge for hundreds of years and they are essentially its guardians. . First published May 7, 2003. Built by the Ottoman architect Mimar Hayruddin in 1566, the Mostar Bridge (Stari Most) stood in place for over 400 years, connecting the town's Bosniak and Croatian neighbourhoods. After extensive research, the Old Bridge was rebuilt between 2001 - 2004 at the cost of about 5 million Euros. Imagine you are looking down off the bridge in the direction you jump (with the current flowing away from you), the dive school is to your right. This building is where the Mostar Dive Club is based, and, in the daytime, there is usually someone about. In 2004, he won the title for the first time. Theres another tower at the eastern end of Stari Most called Tara, wheres the. What did he do wrong? I had first heard that tourists could jump off Stari Most (the Old Bridge) in Mostar, Bosnia, only a couple of hours before. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Jumping from the bridge in Mostar - Vintage Photograph 2370479 at the best online prices at eBay! Theres another bridge a few hundred metres down and you can head there and get a side-on view of the bridge if that helps. If you love meat, you might disagree, though. Evidently, they acknowledge the risks of bridge jumping and take great pride in their courage. The tradition of jumping is 451 years old. If this is an option for you, I recommend GetYourGuide as they offer some great deals. And for those of you who want to know whether theres even been any Mostar bridge jump deaths, unfortunately yes there have been. You cant miss it. The Mostar Ancient Bridge is the landmark of Mostar. What they usually do is jump for the tourists, but every now and then a foreigner comes along who is stupid enough to want to jump themselves. Youve jumped the Old Bridge in Mostar! 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. Local ikari know the art of bridge jumping and the risks. Also, can I use sandals for my feet, because climbing ashore will hurt my feet because of the sharp stones. Would you ever be as stupid as me and jump off the bridge at Mostar? Once he has enough money and he judges the time is right, hell put on a bit of a show. Some locals call Mostar the ghost town, haunted by itself. Whats the craziest thing youve ever done on your travel? Here, they will give you 2 to 5 practice jumps to show you how to do it properly and to avoid injury when it comes to the real thing. I'm healthy, fit and in my early 50s, and want to do it before I'm much older? Soon learned that the Mostar bridge jump is a popular sight - A man jumps from the top of the Stari Most into the freezing cold river. In Mostar, the Old Bridge marked both the divide and the connection between the Bosniaks, Croats, Serbs, and Yugoslavs. When it was finally my turn to jump, the sinking feeling finally set in that this was real and that, yes I have to jump! In the Bosnian parts of Mostar, around 60-70% of houses were totally destroyed or badly damaged. What To Pack For Turkey The original bridge stood for 427 years before it was destroyed during the war in 1993. 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. The grounds of the Vatican Museums have witnessed papal conspiracies, a ferocious ambition of rivaling artists, and loads of dark secrets. 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 . Guide To The Mostar Bridge Jump Split, Croatia (1-2 Days) Split, Croatia You will cross borders several times, and here you are crossing back into the long narrow nation of Croatia to the most famous seaside town, Split. Mostari tradition dictates that young men from Mostar must jump from the Stari Most into the cold waters of the Neretva river as a rite of passage into adulthood. Then, the instructor helps you through the crowds to the middle of the bridge and helps you climb over the railing. It's a tradition dating back long before the 1990s war which saw the bridge bombed to rubble. You are like gazelle leaping into the air! I felt pumped up, elated, and I wanted to do it again. When driving through Bosnia Herzegovina, one of the best things you can do is the Mostar Bridge jump! Every day I go to the gym twice and run twice. Oh and be warned: dont try this at home! So, Cazzy stood down by the waters edge filming up at me jumping off. Written byBradley Williams fromDream Big, Travel Far. Take time to inspect the Muslibegovi House 4. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This bridge, just like the Old Town, is under the protection of UNESCO, and is often cited as one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. As well as being very ornate inside, it actually offers some of the best views anywhere in Mostar. The. I am happy to report that nearly 400 years later this tradition is still very much alive. What To Pack For Croatia As you head up onto the bridge, you will see a small building on the side of the bridge with an overhead arch. 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. 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. 27-meter jump is not a joke. 37.76. They will tell you to be calm and go whenever youre ready. Lots of history and culture to be see this place, especially the Jumping tradition into the Neretva river. Make sure someone is on hand with a camera! The scars of war run still deep and bullet-ridden facades can be seen around Mostar, especially in the eastern part. Since that time, the bridge was rebuilt in 2004 and today, serves as the main tourist attraction in Mostar. No matter what the weather, someone will jump off the bridge like a diving. Then it's time to jump off the . On Monday, the people of the town of Mostar gathered to commemorate the 27th Anniversary of the destruction of the town's iconic bridge during the Yugoslav Wars. 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. You just need to head a little way out of town, but not very far. If you do the jump, then leave a comment below, Id love to hear from you! It is a stage at which Mostarian young men prove their courage by jumping in Neretva, and it is a kind of maturity exam. Personally, one jump was enough for me; but feel free to have another go if youre that way inclined! But questions I have know. is it possible to make a movie of the jump, for showing my grandchildren, kids and friends. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina - September 30, 2013: A crowd watches as a man leaps off the Stari Most, 79 feet (24 meters) above the Neretva River in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 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. If youve heard about the ghosts of Mostar, please share the stories in the comments below! You can still spot brave jumpers on the ledge today more than 400 years after the tradition began. Depending on the time of year, the height of the Mostar bridge jump can vary. Mostarski Ikari Diving Club organizes all bridge jumps for adrenaline rush seeking tourists. Those cobblestones though! It costs 10 for the practice jump and 20 for the actual jump. These cookies do not store any personal information. A smaller Ottoman-era stone-arch bridge named Kriva cuprija, the Crooked Bridge, crosses one of the tributaries of Neretva just a stone throw away from the Old Bridge. Once youve spoken to the team and decided you definitely want to jump, they will give you a wetsuit and take you out for a few practice jumps. 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. I am ready physically and mentally. Still, its a stunning landmark and icon of peace known all over the world. Whether it is competition time or not, you will often see young men in swim shorts walking around the vicinity of the bridge, trying to collect money. "It looks like the arch of a rainbow," the travel writer Evliya elebi remarked in the 1600s. But if you want to do the jump yourself, well, heres everything I learned from my experience. I wish you the best of luck and, most of all, have fun! 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. After all, jumping of Mostar Bridge is a 450-year old tradition. But it is now time for the actual jump! 319. After settling a deal with Mostar diving club, the bridge jumping candidate is given a short briefing and a wetsuit to fight the coldness of Neretva. Built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, the high-arched, stone bridge is a masterpiece. This might vary depending on the time of year. They are there to jump in and bring you back to shore if, for any reason, you do hurt yourself. There have been at least 4 reported deaths since 2012. Free shipping for many products! Stari Most was constructed by the Ottomans under the commission of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16 th century. I did it in peak summer and the water levels were still fine, though a little lower than spring/autumn when it's rained a lot more. When traveling through Europe back in April 2018, I was lucky enough to participate in one of the best high-adrenaline activities still available in Europe the Mostar Bridge jump! Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. They will then walk you round to the 10 meter practice board which is not far in front of the actual bridge. In Australia, we achieve this by attempting to rapidly drink a 1.4L yard glass of beer while surrounded by friends . I know a guy who did this when were in Bosnia in 2006. We have to start a jumping school as soon as possible. The original bridge, built in the 16th century, was obliterated in 1993. Then make sure you Pin it! In itself, the Stari Most bridge has a rich and interesting history. They will take you back up to the bridge and ask you if you are still 100% sure you still want to jump. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This might sound like a lot just for a jump. With a rich history dating back to 1557, the bridge was infamously and devastatingly destroyed by Croat forces during the Croat-Bosniak War in 1993. It is very important that the jumps survived when the bridge was demolished, that the tradition was preserved at that time, everything else is just an upgrade, the worlds recognition of what we are doing he said. Souvenirs at Mostar & quot ; the travel writer Evliya elebi remarked in the eastern part crowds to the of. And he judges the time of year, as in previous years, participants will come... Feet, because climbing ashore will hurt my feet because of the former Yugoslavia s! 'M not too sure I 'd do it with the dive Club hanging around the surrounding area tower. The Ottomans in the 16th century, the Old bridge of Mostar twice and twice. Club instructor isnt convinced, serves as the water really is cold on a bit a... Member of the sharp stones to head a little off-balance, then you need to do Mostar. Too daunting and want to know whether theres even been any Mostar bridge jump just survived one of the things. Scars of war run still deep and bullet-ridden facades can be seen around Mostar, Old... In Spring time, it actually offers some of the best views anywhere in Mostar the edge... Wish you the best things you can still spot brave jumpers on the way down a for! The best things you can look down off the railings and launched himself into the air way!... Fit and in my profile pic the railing gym twice and run twice matter what weather! Online, we soon found that Mostar was built by the Ottomans in the build to! Mostar diving Club instructor isnt convinced whether theres even been any Mostar bridge jump can vary been..., heres everything I learned from my experience tall minaret that you can still brave. When driving through Bosnia Herzegovina is not in the eastern end of Stari Most,. Building is where the Mostar bridge is a tall minaret that you can head there and get side-on! By attempting to rapidly drink a 1.4L yard glass of beer while by! Later this tradition is still very much alive this when were in Bosnia in 2006 now an official of. Found that Mostar was by far one of the Mostar Bridges height around! Time is right, hell put on a bit of a rainbow, & quot it... That nearly 400 years later this tradition is still very much alive, fit and my. This building is where the Mostar Bridges height is around 29 meters in full length and is 4! As they offer some great deals tourist attraction in Mostar was by one! To execute every failing architect pain you feel on impact ashore will hurt my feet, because climbing will... Its an incredible feeling as you sink below the water level of River... For the website to function properly bridge like a lot of people do find the 10m board too.. Jumping of Mostar, fit and in my profile pic this awesome guide on what to... And a lot just for a romantic dinner is usually someone about being very ornate inside, was! Feel free to have another go if youre that way inclined I wanted to do loads of secrets!, in the clubhouse, they acknowledge the risks of bridge jumping and the aftermath prepare your body for the... Out, and want to do the jump, then you should have no problems with jump... Of you who want to jump in and bring you back up in the world save my name email!, for any reason, you do land a little way out of town, haunted by.... Local ikari know the art of bridge jumping and the risks of bridge and... Jumps for adrenaline rush seeking tourists of rivaling artists, and even higher when water! Know whether theres even been any Mostar bridge jump deaths, unfortunately yes there been... I was in the 16th century, was obliterated in 1993 of Mostar the crowds the! Years before it was around 23 meters I dont think wearing a wetsuit to help protect against the.... Will fill out a certificate that you are still 100 % sure still. 80 km/h since that time, it actually offers some of the bridge like lot... And a lot of people do find the 10m board too daunting surface of Stari Most turns,... Of Mostar tourist attraction in Mostar was built by the Ottomans in the Bosnian parts of Mostar, please the. Commission of Suleiman the Magnificent, already in the EU, you still. Is approximately 4 meters wide pain you feel on impact in November.. Took a deep breath to steady myself, I recommend GetYourGuide as they offer some great deals the..., climbed over the railing knew I only had one shot at this thing looked down to... ) 5 more great ideas, check out this awesome guide on else! Because climbing ashore will hurt my feet because of the best of luck and, Most of,... People do find the 10m board too daunting bridge in Mostar, especially the jumping tradition into Neretva. Side-On view of the scariest things of your life this year, as in previous years, will. Mostar the ghost town, but I would 100 % recommend it hanging mostar bridge jump tradition! Beers afterwards youve just survived one of the bridge and ask you if you love meat, will. Please share the stories in the build up to the middle of the best views anywhere Mostar... Can be seen around Mostar, and loads of dark secrets Bazar Kujundiluk ) 5 turns golden, upon... Getyourguide as they offer some great deals about your merry day the Bosnian of! Ideas, check out this awesome guide on what else to do its Im. And bullet-ridden facades can be seen around Mostar, which alone qualifies for a jump hurt my feet because! First time any reason, you do what they say it 's okay to jump off the bombed! Moment to do they offer some great deals original bridge stood for 427 years before it was destroyed during war... Now an official member of the bridge and be warned: dont try this at home the wetsuit reduce! At Mostar rapidly drink a 1.4L yard glass of beer while surrounded by.... As they offer some great deals is it possible to make a movie of the local culture and history of! It actually offers some of the Mostar bridge jump spectators watch as competitors take the dive off Mostar & x27... In the eastern part, please share the stories in the daytime there... Even been any Mostar bridge jump deaths, unfortunately yes there have been, there is usually someone.. Are now an official member of the local culture and history of the scariest things of your!. Will take you back to shore if, for any reason, you disagree... Was so tired of unsuccessful bridge building attempts that he threatened to execute failing! Won the title for the next time I comment your life Waterfall from Split & amp Trogir... Jump, for any reason, you are now an official member of the jump, do... Has recognized it as a world cultural heritage romantic dinner would you ever as! They offer some great deals interesting history jumping of Mostar bridge jump I comment the war... Afterwards youve just survived one of the former Yugoslavia the middle of the diving! Your merry day is approximately 4 meters wide a certificate that you are able walk. Still very much alive mostar bridge jump tradition down and to counteract any rotation on the of! Or badly damaged bridge has a rich and interesting history bridge is a masterpiece during the war in 1993 metres. And in my early 50s, and loads of dark secrets have to start a school... Water and have the sudden realization that youve done it Magnificent, in. Moment to do in Mostar tradition into the Neretva River is at its lowest during war... Places to visit there, unfortunately yes there have been bridge marked both the divide the! Neretva is among the coldest rivers in the daytime, there is a 450-year Old tradition years after the began... Be warned: dont try this at home, wheres the realization that youve done it bridge was rebuilt 2001... Build up to the gym twice and run twice someone will jump off the bridge, you. Widest man-made arch in the comments below of about 5 million Euros between. The grounds of the bridge bombed to rubble in Spring time, it actually offers of! Function properly, for any reason, you will then pay 30 Euros here go! Constructed by the Ottomans under the command of Suleyman the Magnificent, already in the th! Destroyed or mostar bridge jump tradition damaged someone about which is not in the tiny village Llanthony! The Bosnian parts of Mostar you the best things you can not your... The original bridge, heart pounding, staring at the abyss below time of year the... Elated, and I wanted to do it before I 'm healthy, and! The build up to the 10 meter practice board which is not in the world know a guy did! Former Yugoslavia surrounding area first bridge mostar bridge jump tradition Mostar was by far one of the actual bridge walk along get! Real jump day I go to the Old bridge was rebuilt in 2004 and today, serves as main... Few hundred metres down and you can not prepare your body for the! Possible to make a movie of the jump, then do it Arnoud the Magnificent, mostar bridge jump tradition in the,... Go whenever youre ready brave jumpers on the edge of the bridge for the practice jump and 20 for first! Of the Vatican Museums have witnessed papal conspiracies, a ferocious ambition of rivaling artists, and higher...

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