Mostar Bridge is standing up. One of the best things to see in Mostar are the bridge divers. 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. Split has become one of the hottest destinations in the Balkan peninsula. Legends tell that the architect, Mimar Hajruddin, had to make it or break it. You will then need to pay for the jump. Privacy Policy. The art of bridge diving is entertaining to watch, so why not to support a diver and the club. Twenty nine out of 62 registered competitors completed the jump during the annual event. Free shipping for many products! 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. Good question! As well as being very ornate inside, it actually offers some of the best views anywhere in Mostar. 2,310 reviews. Go out for beers afterwards Youve just survived one of the scariest things of your life! It all depends on what season you go in. What To Pack For Croatia As we mentioned, dont try to jump off the bridge without permission. Mostar is 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. The alarm turned on in Mostar, because there are no younger generations. After I had successfully completed my jump I screamed with joy from the water. The jump is a centuries-old a rite of passage in Mostar, but for outsiders (and many locals), it's a terrifying one. The grounds of the Vatican Museums have witnessed papal conspiracies, a ferocious ambition of rivaling artists, and loads of dark secrets. Igor came running down to the river to meet me; You are no horse! These leave from many of the major cities in Croatia. History of Mostar Bridge Mostar Bridge was commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557. By this point, there will be lots of tourists around with cameras preparing to record you. Be prepared to the cold river and wear a wetsuit if its provided or just bathe in cold water. You also sign your name in a giant ledger of everyone else who has come before you. Thanks! I strongly recommend taking a train from Sarajevo to Mostar, as its among the most scenic train travels in the world. A few years earlier, Hamish and Andy (Australian radio personalities) jumped from the bridge, and a few days after them, our son also jumped (successfully) from the bridge. Read Also: The Top 5 Cities to Visit in Bosnia And Herzegovina. 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. Keep your form: be careful not to lean backward or forward. Also, can I use sandals for my feet, because climbing ashore will hurt my feet because of the sharp stones. Any thoughts on that? It is a very old tradition and the first written document about someone jumping from the bridge is from 1664. All in all, it doesn't take long from booking the jump to actually doing it. If you want to jump from the Stari Most bridge, then you need to do it with the dive school. The water hits you before you have time to really think of much else. Everyone around you gets involved in the fun, and theres a great atmosphere. After that, we headed back up the bridge for the real jump. Plus, the videos and pictures of your jump are fantastic for sharing online and a great way to scare your friends and relatives back home! How can you say no to that? 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. 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. Back then the iconic stone bridge was collapsed, but it didnt hold them back. This is all a matter of perspective, but Id say its about as safe as it can be. Theres another tower at the eastern end of Stari Most called Tara, wheres the. Plenty of people seemed to freak out saying it was too high and I could easily hurt myself. It was made with 456 blocks of white stone, held together by a system of anchors and dowels. New Talgo trains are comfortable and have even free wifi! In addition to these great highlights, many more ingenious things to do in Mostar and awesome possibilities for excursionsaround are waiting for you. But it is now time for the actual jump! Before hitting the water, bring arms tightly towards your body (and protect your precious body parts). Scared? As I was having lunch I saw a crowd gathering on the bridge. 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). Once I got to Mostar bridge, I started talking to a couple of the local divers at the Mostari Diving Club to find out some more information. July 2018 marked 452nd annual Mostar bridge diving competition. I dont say this lightly please make sure this is something you want to do and something you are comfortable with. Reuters Under measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, only 100 people were. Water temperature hardly ever reaches 10 degrees, so it will be a cold dip for sure. Personally, I still kept on my swim shorts. The biggest attraction on Mostar bridge has always been the group of young divers who jump in the freezing river underneath. from. The scars of war run still deep and bullet-ridden facades can be seen around Mostar, especially in the eastern part. 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. The Mostar Old Bridge is also known as Stari Most, Mostar Most, Bosnia Bridge, Mostar Bridge, Mostar Stari Most, Mostarski Most, or Stari Most. The Ultimate Guide to Mostars Old Bridge: Bridge Jumping, Legends, and Ghosts of War. While many locals say that the Old Bridge is haunted, to our misfortune we didnt catch any ghost stories. Guide To Jumping The Mostar Bridge From Someone Who Did It, A Few Important Things To Know About Jumping From Mostar Bridge, How Can You Jump From The Stari Most Bridge, Head Back To The Mostar Bridge And Prepare Yourself, Receive Your Mostar Bridge Jump Certificate And Pay. If you're not fussed on seeing much else in Bosnia Herzegovina, then you could always get a day tour to Mostar. According to history books, the first person jumped off Mostar bridge already in 1664. Check out the view from the Koski Mehmed Paa Mosque 6. As you head up onto the bridge, you will see a small building on the side of the bridge with an overhead arch. And can I use a gopro when jumping. If you're trying to find out how to jump from the bridge in Mostar, then feel free to skip ahead to the next section where I tell you exactly how to do it. i've been to Mostar before and walked the bridge. Forget the Mile High Club, how many people can claim theyve joined the 24 metre-high club in Bosnia? The first Siege of Mostar was fought in 1992; the second Siege of Mostar lasted from 1993 to 1994. They will take you back up to the bridge and ask you if you are still 100% sure you still want to jump. A Friend and I would like to use the following picture for our own Art. Luckily, his work was celebrated as the widest man-made arch in the world! Also, youll likely see one or two guys sat on the bridge or walking around wearing swim trunks. And Pierre - they are still jumping . Built in the 16th century and designed by Mimar Hajruddin, Mostar Bridge took nine years to build and is an excellent example of Ottoman bridge architecture. Just before sunset, the cream-colored stone surface of Stari Most turns golden, shimmering upon the beautifully renovated old town of Mostar. And thats when I launched myself off the side of the bridge into the river below. No spam, we promise, unsubscribe at any time. Your submission has been received! 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. Mostar and Herzegovina Tour with Kravica Waterfall from Split & Trogir. It probably shuts around 5ish or 6ish. We saw few local youth jumping from the bridge. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. If they say it's okay to jump, then do it! 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. 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. Every year there are two or three new jumpers from Serbia, Montenegro, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but unfortunately not from Mostar. 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. He claims that Mostar and the Old Bridge would become unique in the world. 4.5. 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. Oops! Yes, people have died jumping off Mostar Bridge. Whats the craziest thing youve ever done on your travel? Then it's time to jump off the . It really wasn't long, because it's not much training. Within the last year, many Bosnians have feared that the country. It is a kind of tradition that has been transformed into competitions since at all times the young people of Mostar compete with courage by jumping in the river from the height of its 29m. It's only 23 metres high, think you can handle it? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. There really is no shame in backing out, and a lot of people do find the 10m board too daunting. He says that unfortunately this year, none of the long-standing jumpers will dare to perform swallow flight. For its time, the bridge was technologically advanced for a single-span stone bridge. The Mostar Bridge was built in 1557 by architect Mimar Hajrudin, a disciple of Sinan, the father of classic Ottoman architecture. But if you want to do the jump yourself, well, heres everything I learned from my experience. Top Tips for Finding the Right Work-Life Balance, Things to do in London that You Might Not Know About. I wish you the best of luck and, most of all, have fun! We need you around! The tradition of jumping off the bridge in Mostar began in 1664. Mostar Bridge Jump Is Jumping Worth It? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. They will also give you a wetsuit to help protect against the cold. The guy had cojones. Our top picks for a great day in Tallinn, Estonia. @Macca Sherifi, what is the jumping technique? 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. 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. What did he do wrong? When we arrived back up, a large crowd of spectators had gathered. Personally, one jump was enough for me; but feel free to have another go if youre that way inclined! We have to start a jumping school as soon as possible. You'll find me working out of a cafe in Bali, perhaps on a riverboat in Brazil or maybe even an airport lounge in New Delhi. A professional diving athlete Andrej Beuc died here at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2018. Youll then need to do a few practice jumps. With contributions from the international community, the reconstruction was carried out . But questions I have know. is it possible to make a movie of the jump, for showing my grandchildren, kids and friends. And for those of you who want to know whether theres even been any Mostar bridge jump deaths, unfortunately yes there have been. Subscribe to our travel newsletter here. The dive team there are great people and youre in for a cool adventure! The series' seventh visit to Stari Most bridge marks the start of the second half of the season, and divers will compete from a new platform design inspired by local building tradition. This makes me feel sick every time I think about you doing it! What To Pack For Greece 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. . It was ethnically rooted civil war, were neighbors and loved ones were set against each other. How long did it take to train and then get approved for the jump? The Mostar bridge jump in Bosnia costs 25 euros per person. Home > Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). With the help of UNESCO, Mostar Bridge was rebuilt in 2004, stone by stone and according to the original architecture. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The Mostar Bridge Jumping Festival, a local tradition which involves auspicious folk hurling themselves into it off a Bridge! In my experience with diving from a young age, its never a good idea to stand there for too long. There are a number of ways to get to Mostar, and it is a very popular tourist city. 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. Interestingly the old bridge area is fascinating as the bridge with its Ottoman buildings, which houses cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops. The. After all, jumping of Mostar Bridge is a 450-year old tradition. It costs 20 Euros to sign up for the bridge jumping into the water and an additional 10 Euros for your practice jumps from a smaller 10-meter platform. Marvel at Stari Most Old Bridge 2. The answer to this question will never be, yes, it is 100% safe!. You dont need a plan to visit Mostar Bridge: just go there and everything will get to you. 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. Night view of Mostar . 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. My wife and I visited Mostar as part of a day trip from Dubrovnik. 1,426. You just need to head a little way out of town, but not very far. 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. Youve jumped the Old Bridge in Mostar! Still up to it and ready to leap? 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 . More than an architectural masterpiece was lost. An Adventurous World (2014-23). Also, be aware that its very deep below the bridge, so theres very little chance of you going so low that you hit bottom. We didnt do this unfortunately, but apparently you can kayak down the river. Also, a bunch of tourists have died here over the years, so yes, you can die. Including, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,, Montenegro, Slovenia, Turkey, Macedonia, Romania, Kosovo and Serbia. Luckily for me health and safety wasnt an issue here. And, well, I decided I just had to jump again! 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. John, Vlad, Ricardo and Pierre, thank you. While many blogs claim Mostar bridge jumping safe, YouTube is full of videos of jumps gone bad by unlucky tourists. Health and safety in places like the UK are stringent these days, and this jump is a novel and exciting way to get a hefty adrenaline boost. This causes people to freeze and actually makes things far harder. These are both possibilities if you fail to jump correctly. Do you try this without any guidance! But it can reach mid to high 20s in Summer. All rights reserved. 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! 3 years on, this post is still fully accurate. [wzslider autoplay="true"]When I visited Mostar in 2003, it was still a city reeling from the effects of the 1990s war that had left such unmistaken traces of its destruction, and wounds that are still healing to this day. The water is frigid and will help keep you at least a little warm. Thank goodness you didn't hurt yourself! Ok, so here's an easy step-by-step guide on how to jump from the bridge in Mostar. More is required if the diving club instructor isnt convinced. His partner first collects money in a hat while the jumper makes the audience nervous and excited. Pop in the pub at the eastern end the Crooked Bridge for craft beer at the terrace overlooking the bridge. Ilya Burlak. Proper bridge jumping technique needs get approved: at first, youll get a couple of jumps to prove that you can do it. Thus, on July 30, on the day of the 451st traditional jumping from the Old Bridge, Mostar will be the center of the world. 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