You can look down off the railings from the top and get a feel for how high it is. This year, as in previous years, participants will certainly come from all countries of the former Yugoslavia. To be frank, all traditional Bosnian restaurants in Mostar were rather weak in our opinion. So, what else could I do? Since the bridges reconstruction, the Mostar Diving club has maintained records of all the people who have made the Mostar Bridge jump. Mostar was developed further during the Austro-Hungarian period in the 19th and 20th centuries. In fact, theres a good chance you will have seen people jumping or diving from the bridge in the past. It was such an amazing experience, and in nearly ten years only about 750 foreigners have jumped off Stari Most, so its one of the most unique things to do in Mostar. If you are enthusiastic to jump from the Old bridge in Mostar, the local divers will teach you how to do it for 25 EUR. I went up onto the edge of the bride and heaved myself over the railing. You take a few seconds underwater to think Shit, did I really just do this? Facts about the Old Bridge. It is said that the tradition began just after its inauguration and since 1968 an annual diving tournament is held there. The Mostar Ancient Bridge is the landmark of Mostar. A professional diving athlete Andrej Beuc died here at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2018. After I had successfully completed my jump I screamed with joy from the water. 10 for the practice jump and 20 for the real Mostar bridge jump. An hour? Here they show you the exact way to jump and how to keep yourself level on the way down. Water temperature hardly ever reaches 10 degrees, so it will be a cold dip for sure. After an 11-year struggle, Pasic's . Such as: Mostar really is a wonderful place to visit, however, it is quite a poor city. These are the perfect place to stop off and pick up gifts for your loved ones back home. After living in Croatia for 5 weeks, we decided we should drive through and stop off in Bosnia Herzegovina before heading back home to the UK. One of the terraces makes a perfect dinner spot. Your short flight has a speed nearing 80 km/h. Reuters Under measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, only 100 people were. Another option is to fly there. Even the best ice cream in town is served right beside Stari Most and best enjoyed on the bridge. Even the local diving club is named Mostarski Ikari. The Stari Most was built by a student of Mimar Sinn, a famed architect of the Ottoman Empire. After all, jumping of Mostar Bridge is a 450-year old tradition. So what makes the Old Bridge of Mostar so unique? This might vary depending on the time of year. The tradition of jumping off the bridge in Mostar began in 1664. John, Vlad, Ricardo and Pierre, thank you. Its easy to forget you are in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Youve jumped the Old Bridge in Mostar! Still up to it and ready to leap? It has two towers that historically housed the Mostari (bridge keepers). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Pop in the pub at the eastern end the Crooked Bridge for craft beer at the terrace overlooking the bridge. 319. The Stari Most really is one of the sites you must absolutely visit when traveling through the Balkans. The bridge, a masterpiece of Ottoman Turkish architecture, was commissioned by none other then Suleiman the Magnificent, and designed by Mimar Hayruddin, a student of the famous Mimar Sinan. I heard the lady quote one person 50 Euros to jump. I wanted to enjoy it, to feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins, but with the river hurtling towards me at a startling rate and my arms and legs all over the place, all I could think was, this is going to hurt.. Including, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,, Montenegro, Slovenia, Turkey, Macedonia, Romania, Kosovo and Serbia. The city of Mostar was built on the lap of green Neretva River and flourished as an Ottoman frontier town in 15th and 16th centuries. Get exclusive weekly travel tips. Standing on the edge of Mostar bridge, looking at the fast-flowing river 24 metres below, I couldnt help thinking I had made a serious mistake. The Forbidden City ghost stories are lesser known, but with its history of over 600 years, it's said to be one of the scariest places in China. Athletes were seen getting ready to jump before taking the . Risk of injuries is high, and even higher when the water level of Neretva River is at its lowest during the summer. 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. Written byBradley Williams fromDream Big, Travel Far. 2,310 reviews. Subscribe to our travel newsletter here. In fact, they are due to return later this year in August. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. And can I use a gopro when jumping. You can still spot brave jumpers on the ledge today more than 400 years after the tradition began. 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. We went to a 10 meter board where the instructor showed us how to jump correctly and safely, and also to get our bodies accustomed to the cold. The tradition of jumping off the bridge in Mostar began in 1664. Please make sure that the water level is high enough before planning your bridge jump. I'm not too sure I'd do it again though - I think once was enough for me! As soon as I jumped off Mostar bridge I knew I had done it wrong. My wife and I visited Mostar as part of a day trip from Dubrovnik. A man is free fall after jumping off the old bridge in Mostar. This causes people to freeze and actually makes things far harder. 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 couldnt believe it. Some thousand tourists and residents of BiH were watching the jumps which are a tradition for Mostar's young men to jump from the Old Bridge in the cold Neretva River. The original Stari Most managed to stand for staggering 427 years, through two world wars. Good luck to you mate. Driving from Sarajevo to Mostar takes around 1,5-2 hours, while the buses take around 2,5 hours. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. By this point, there will be lots of tourists around with cameras preparing to record you. I think it combines its striking Ottoman architecture, the beautiful blue Neretva river it crosses, the divers who leap from the jump into the depths of the river, and the long history which has seen it destroyed and then restored from the rubble. Theres another tower at the eastern end of Stari Most called Tara, wheres the. 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. A jewel of Ottoman architecture, Stari Most (Old Bridge) was built in 1566 by a pupil of the great architect Sinan at the order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). What To Pack For Greece Good question! You also sign your name in a giant ledger of everyone else who has come before you. I was preparing myself for jumps all year round. Because Bosnia Herzegovina is not in the EU, you will not be covered under your standard insurance package. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Ironically, it was a war that finally destroyed this symbol of peace. 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. Once you stand there over the barrier, you must relax and take your time. 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. Before you can even really think about it, you hit the water! 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. Read Also: The Top 5 Cities to Visit in Bosnia And Herzegovina. Theres a lot of excitement around people jumping, so expect to see dozens of people with their phones and cameras out, ready to record you! 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. If youre still willing, organizing Mostar Bridge jumping is easy. A professional will teach you with a few trial jumps how to dive into the river safely before you are allowed to perform the jump from the bridge itself. If something happens and they need to come in and get you, then they will. Make sure someone is on hand with a camera! 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You must hit water properly to avoid injuries: thats what the training is all about. What To Wear On A Longhaul Flight. They say that only the most skilled and best trained should jump, and that certainly wasnt me. 100 meters from Stari Most. @Macca Sherifi, what is the jumping technique? 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. 020 7155 9863 The Mostar Bridge Jumping Festival! During the Bosnian conflict, 100000-200000 people were slaughtered, mainly on the streets of Sarajevo, Mostar, Srebrenica, and Banja Luka. Before you jump, the dive team will outfit you with a wetsuit. Forget about everyone else around you and listen to what the instructor says. The most iconic landmark of the city, and perhaps of all of Herzegovina, the Stari Most (Old [] A Friend and I would like to use the following picture for our own Art. You obtain training from the local jumpers, where you will learn how to jump off a bridge and how to land, and you will then receive a certificate for your jump! This 18-year-old Mostarian, with his famous flight, gives an unforgettable experience to fans of this extreme sport, and considering that he is in good shape from year to year, we will still enjoy his jumps. If you arrive there during a busy time of day, then you likely wont even need to visit the office. This is a bucket list adventure for me. As a part of 1990 Croat-Bosniak conflict, the Old Bridge of Mostar was bombed down by the Croat troops in 1993. Also, be aware that its very deep below the bridge, so theres very little chance of you going so low that you hit bottom. Earlier in the year, we decided to visit Mostar and experience the place for ourselves. We saw few local youth jumping from the bridge. All in all, it doesn't take long from booking the jump to actually doing it. In 2016 I decided to ditch the office environment, work from my laptop and travel to every country in the world. You can jump off the Mostar Old Bridge with permission of the Dive Club to the right of the bridge. Thanks! Narrow alleys of El Carmen host a weird mix: subcultures and street art, orange gardens, old mansions, and the most iconic sights of the city. On New Year's Day a few years ago. The Crooked Bridge looks like a miniature of the Old Bridge. 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. My technique was to stand there and take three deep breaths. You dont need a plan to visit Mostar Bridge: just go there and everything will get to you. Ilya Burlak. This one took place in the early 1990s when the bridge wasn't even there as it had recently been destroyed in the war! 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. and a must stay for a day. 4.00 USA - 19-Aug-19 - . Mostar (UK: / m s t r /, US: / m o s t r, m s-/; Serbian Cyrillic: , pronounced ()) is a city and the administrative center of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the historical capital of Herzegovina.. Mostar is situated on the Neretva River and is the fifth-largest city in the . 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. Our top picks for a great day in Tallinn, Estonia. Privacy Policy. Then make sure you Pin it! In turn, as long as you do what they say, then you should have no problems with your jump! Back then the iconic stone bridge was collapsed, but it didnt hold them back. Floods swiped away much of its footpath in December 2000, but once again UNESCO came to help and restored the Crooked Bridge to its former glory. Oops! It is beautiful and the area around it is also beautiful. So technically, the current bridge is not old, but its still a replica of the old bridge. 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. When driving through Bosnia Herzegovina, one of the best things you can do is the Mostar Bridge jump! It's only 23 metres high, think you can handle it? I am happy to report that nearly 400 years later this tradition is still very much alive. As we mentioned, dont try to jump off the bridge without permission. In person, the bridge does look incredibly high up and it is very daunting. Jumping from the bridge in Mostar was one of my all-time favorite memories from driving all across that part of Europe. 1,426. After a few minutes, a small guy came to the front, climbed over the railings and launched himself into the air. Mostarski Ikari Diving Club has been officially operating since the end of the war in 1995. Everyone around you gets involved in the fun, and theres a great atmosphere. 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. 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. And Pierre - they are still jumping . In Mostar, the real daredevils throw themselves straight off the parapet of the world-famous Stari Most (Old Bridge), dropping over 20m straight into the icy waters of the River Neretva. Theres only one really big but: locals told us that jumping feet first might cause hitting legs at the bottom. 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. He didn't stick the landing and dislocated his arm. Mostar's youngest diver honors centuries of . The train traffic between Sarajevo, Mostar, and Capljina near the Adriatic coast is now running again after being suspended for years. The Ottoman sultan was so tired of unsuccessful bridge building attempts that he threatened to execute every failing architect. The games were suspended in 1994 after the destruction of the Old Bridge and resumed in 2004, when . Stari Most is 13 ft (4 meters) wide, 100 ft (30 . I think May or September would be best. The injuries, such as broken bones, could get you into serious trouble in the water. 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