Mostar Historic Center

Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
16th century
Prior to the war that ravaged Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995, the city of Mostar was noted for its rich stock of architecture from the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and even Socialist periods that made it a truly multicultural city. The destruction in 1993 of the famous Ottoman bridge, constructed in 1566, symbolized the end of Mostar's long and continuous history of urban development. Repeated bombardment resulted in the loss of nearly 75 percent of housing, along with most of the historic buildings of major importance, especially in the eastern sector. Mostar, now a ravaged urban landscape, remains a politically divided city. To mend the cityscape--both politically and architecturally--funding is required to renovate countless buildings damaged in attacks, which remain vulnerable to the elements, vandalism, and collapse. A reconstruction program has been launched, financed by the World Bank in cooperation with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, UNESCO, and WMF, but additional investors are needed. International publicity and material assistance are necessary to Mostar's recovery and reemergence.