Central and Eastern Europe, International Journalism and PR, Tourism

UNESCO World Heritage site in Višegrad and Stonetown

Višegrad is a city on the banks of the river Drina, 113 km away from Sarajevo and is part of Republic of Srpska, which is an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The beginnings of Višegrad stem from the period of Illyrians (1500 BC). The territory was inhabited by Illyrian tribes Autariats and Ardies at that time. Later area of Visegrad became part of the Roman Province named “Malavico”. It was under the influences of Ottoman Emipre, Austro-Hungarian Empire. After the First World War Visegrad become part of The Kingdom of Yugoslavia, within Bosnia and Herzegovina. Višegrad was severely destroyed during World War I and World War II.

Višegrad is well known for its UNESCO World Heritage site, Mehmed paša Sokolović Bridge, Ivo Andrić, nobel prize winner in 1961 for the novel The Bridge over the Drina, the Andric grad (Andrictown meaning Andric’s town also known as Stonetown ) project of the film director Emir Kusturica and the narrow-gauge railway line Šargan Eight connection with Mokra Gora. (read more here: https://www.communications-unlimited.nl/mokra-gora-and-the-sargan-eight-magnificent-trip-into-the-past/)

The main architect of the bridge was Mimar Sinan, the greatest architect of the Otoman empire. The bridge itself has 11 stone arches, a big stone portal and sofa in the middle, which was designed for passengers to rest.

The bridge was fully repaired in the period from 1949 to 1952.
In 2007, bridge was included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage, as a bridge with big cultural impact, and also as a best representative of a classical ottoman style in bridge making.

The total length of the bridge is 179.5 m, height above the normal water level of the river is 15.40 m and the width of the bridge is 6.30 m. There are extensions above the sixth pillar on both sides of the bridge.
Andrictown is the town dedicated to Ivo Andric. Construction of Andrictown started on 28 June 2011, and it was officially opened on 28 June 2014. Andrictown is a tourist, cultural, administrative and educational complex. Architecture reflects the history of Visegrad and is a mix of different eras as well as styles: the Byzantine style, the Ottoman period, the Renaissance, the Classicism.
Some of the main objects of Andrictown are: Ivo Andric’s institute with a centre for Slavic languages, Fine arts Academy, Town hall, the Church of Saint Lazar, renaissance theatre, multiplex cinema, accommodation objects and much more.

 

 

Sources: http://visegradturizam.com/, Lonely Planet, Wikipedia, Communications-Unlimited.nl

Photos: © Copyright www.communications-unlimited.nl, 2018. All rights reserved.

Watch also:

 

 

Read also:

An unforgettable little house in the middle of the wild river

Emir Kustorica’s wooden ethno village best architectural achievement in Europe and a film festival visited by Johnny Depp and many other stars

An unforgettable little house in the middle of the wild river

Sarajevo: feel the past and feel the dynamic future

Polish immigration in Bosnia and Herzegovina