In fact, they are due to return later this year in August. I dont think wearing a wetsuit is essential, but I would 100% recommend it. By this point, there will be lots of tourists around with cameras preparing to record you. Thank goodness you didn't hurt yourself! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. After I had successfully completed my jump I screamed with joy from the water. walk on the famous Old bridge. The tradition of jumping is 451 years old. Is there a 'best time of year' to do it? As far as physical fitness is concerned, I think that I have given the maximum said Listo, emphasizing that he wants to defend the title but also to pass without injury. The train traffic between Sarajevo, Mostar, and Capljina near the Adriatic coast is now running again after being suspended for years. Afterwards, Ill answer a few of the most common questions (most of which I had myself). In Mostar, the Old Bridge marked both the divide and the connection between the Bosniaks, Croats, Serbs, and Yugoslavs. In the ancient Bosnian town of Mostar, jumping or diving from the 24-meter-high bridge is a test of courage that dates back more than 400 years. 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. During the Balkan wars of the 1990s, Mostar suffered great losses, not least the iconic bridge. Amazing. Before you firmly decide on whether or not you want to jump, head to the bridge itself and take a look for yourself. Mostar Bridge Jump Is Jumping Worth It? Local tradition says that a 16-year-old boy must jump from the bridge as a right of passage, but more importantly, it is said that the boys life will be a complete failure if he doesnt jump. Luckily for me health and safety wasnt an issue here. The water is cold, it's a long way down, and the current is strong. Some of the original limestones were rescued from the bottom of the Neretva River to celebrate the resurrection of Stari Most. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Good luck to you mate. While bridge jumping from Stari Most has become increasingly popular among adrenaline-thirsty tourists, I wouldnt do it or even recommend it. Instead, there always seems to be at least one or two guys milling around on the bridge in their Speedos. Hi travellers! I went up onto the edge of the bride and heaved myself over the railing. You will then pay 30 Euros here and go about your merry day. The history of the battles that raged in the area is also of interest. He entered the competition for the first time in 2000. However, theres no reason for this to happen! spectators watch as competitors take the dive off mostar's old . If youre still willing, organizing Mostar Bridge jumping is easy. Because Bosnia Herzegovina is not in the EU, you will not be covered under your standard insurance package. Check out the view from the Koski Mehmed Paa Mosque 6. It is the shining light in Mostar, a city where the Neretva River snakes its way through the picturesque Mostar valley. Its a fair deal, as eager tourists are willing to pay for the show and pictures, and the diver still risks his life for the thrill. In 2004 the bridge reopened, and from that time, it has remained one of the most famous and unique attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Crooked Bridge looks like a miniature of the Old Bridge. Mostar's youngest diver honors centuries of . 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. Traditional jumps from Old Bridge in Mostar were held under auspices of BiH's Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic. Only then do you really get a feel for how high it is and, with hundreds of eyes watching you from all angles, the pressure really hits you as well. How can you say no to that? After that, we headed back up the bridge for the real jump. What does that mean? They will also enter your name into the official record books alongside the hundreds of others who have completed the jump. If you want to jump from the Stari Most bridge, then you need to do it with the dive school. Be honest with yourself here in deciding whether or not you actually want to do it. 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. He says that unfortunately this year, none of the long-standing jumpers will dare to perform swallow flight. Or perhaps you rotate backward on the way down and land on your back. In 2004, he won the title for the first time. The old town harks back to the Ottoman empire, with its Turkishesque bazaars, colourful narrow streets and impressive mosques. That was about 5 years ago. 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. Divers plunge from 79 foot bosnian bridge in centuries old tradition by reuters july 27, 2020 2:10pm mostar, bosnia - divers hurled themselves from a 79 foot high ottoman era bridge in the. I couldnt believe it. What To Pack For Greece Forget about everyone else around you and listen to what the instructor says. Young men jump from the bridge to the river Neretva. I am happy to report that nearly 400 years later this tradition is still very much alive. I Think its important to note that, yes you should go only when you're ready, but try not to stand there staring for too long. The dive cub will take you through everything you need to do for the jump. 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. Legends tell that the architect, Mimar Hajruddin, had to make it or break it. 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. So I hope, there will be an opportunity to forefill my last dream @Macca Sherifi, my last experience was a cliff dive from about 15 meters at Kamenjak. 10 Things to do in Mostar 1. Any number of things could go wrong with your jump. You dont need a plan to visit Mostar Bridge: just go there and everything will get to you. You will then need to pay for the jump. It's only 23 metres high, think you can handle it? Old Town, a Soviet-era prison, Patarei, trendy restaurants, nice craft beer scene. That was before I'd even really thought about just how high it was or what my family might think. If you do land a little off-balance, then having the wetsuit will reduce any pain you feel on impact. from. Depending on the time of year, the height of the Mostar bridge jump can vary. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The best traditional restaurant in Mostar according to our inspection is FoodHouse on the western bank of Neretva, appr. Note: Some posts may contain affiliate links. Here a list of things to do in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Little Donkey absolutely loved the bridge, and we decided to sit at one of the little cafes overlooking the bridge and observe it in all its glory. As you will read below, once you pay to jump once, you become a member for life and can jump for free. What To Pack For Croatia In fact, most people visitingSplit or Dubrovnikin Croatia will take a day trip to Mostar to see the iconic bridge. Once you stand there over the barrier, you must relax and take your time. What To Pack For Turkey So, thats how I found myself standing on the edge of the bridge, heart pounding, staring at the abyss below. 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. region. Youve jumped the Old Bridge in Mostar! As we mentioned, dont try to jump off the bridge without permission. Every year in Mostar, at the end of July, a diving contest is organized from the top of the bridge. A man is free fall after jumping off the old bridge in Mostar. Thus, on July 30, on the day of the 451st traditional jumping from the Old Bridge, Mostar will be the center of the world. The jumpers will try their luck in jumping on their feet, but they will perform popular flight of swallows as well, from the most beautiful platform in the world, on the last Sunday in July. So, for 25 euros, the majority of which goes on the maintenance of the bridge, you get the opportunity to join the 24-metre club. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. If you do the whole thing and pay the full 30 Euros, then be aware that you will also become an official member of the Mostar Dive Club! We never had worst situation when it comes to young people. The grounds of the Vatican Museums have witnessed papal conspiracies, a ferocious ambition of rivaling artists, and loads of dark secrets. 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. Ironically, it was a war that finally destroyed this symbol of peace. That day, tourists from all over the world are inevitable guests of this pearl. Of course, tourists are briefed for jumping off safely and accustoming their bodies to the cold. 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. Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar was declared as Unesco World Heritage Site in 2005, gorgeous trip by train from Sarajevo to Mostar, Sarajevo to Mostar by Train: Iconic Train Journey is Back 2019, 8 Best Tips for Successful Day Tripping to Tallinn, Estonia, The Forbidden City a Nest of Ghost Stories, A Peek Into the Middle Ages Medieval Torture Equipment Exhibition in Toledo, Spain, Hunting the Art Treasures And Ghosts of Vatican, Valencias Old Town Merges Famous Sights With Street Art. Wow, fair play to you if you do it Arnoud. History of Mostar Bridge Mostar Bridge was commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557. After an 11-year struggle, Pasic's . [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. You will receive a unique code. Dubrovnik is 81 kilometers (51 miles) away. But my thinking was, if so many other people can do it, then why would it be so bad for me? A Bosnian highdiver hurls himself from the 24-metre (79-ft) high Ottoman-era Old Bridge (aka "Stari Most") in the Bosnian town of Mostar during the traditional high diving competition, on July 25 . Even though it was undoubtedly beautiful, it was also one of the most imposing I have ever seen. So, what else could I do? Mostarski Ikari Diving Club organizes all bridge jumps for adrenaline rush seeking tourists. The tradition of jumping off the bridge in Mostar began in 1664. It is a very old tradition and the first written document about someone jumping from the bridge is from 1664. First published May 7, 2003. Make sure someone is on hand with a camera! Also, be aware that its very deep below the bridge, so theres very little chance of you going so low that you hit bottom. Divers hurled themselves from a 24-metre (79-ft) high Ottoman-era bridge in the Bosnian town of Mostar on Sunday, staging a centuries-old contest even though the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many . Either way, youll need to travel back up to the bridge to see the team, get changed, and pay. In my honest opinion, hell yeah, its worth it! There have been at least 4 reported deaths since 2012. Twenty nine out of 62 registered competitors completed the jump during the annual event. The white-marbled Mostars Old Bridge arches upon rapidly flowing Neretva River, as a symbol of peace and hope. Night view of Mostar . And of course, we wanted it to be recorded. When driving through Bosnia Herzegovina, one of the best things you can do is the Mostar Bridge jump! 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 of course, whenever you look into visiting Mostar, you come across their famous bridge . Thus, on July 30, on the day of the 451st traditional jumping from the Old Bridge, Mostar will be the center of the world. You just need to head a little way out of town, but not very far. The dive instructor will stand over in the middle of the bridge and help you to step over the railing one person at a time. A memorial stone located near the Old Bridge in Mostar's Old Town; the stone is one of the original pieces of the Old Bridge, destroyed in 1993. 21 Pins 5y Collection by Tour Guide Mostar Similar ideas popular now Diving Travel Bridge Cliff Diving There are a number of ways to get to Mostar, and it is a very popular tourist city. & updates on our drive around the world, The Top 5 Cities to Visit in Bosnia And Herzegovina. Youll be credited with a certificate and your name is written the Diving Club record book. 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. Even the initial flaws were honored. I'm not too sure I'd do it again though - I think once was enough for me! The Ottoman sultan was so tired of unsuccessful bridge building attempts that he threatened to execute every failing architect. 020 7155 9863 The Mostar Bridge Jumping Festival! Subscribe to our travel newsletter here. "It looks like the arch of a rainbow," the travel writer Evliya elebi remarked in the 1600s. This might sound like a lot just for a jump. The nearby airport is called Mostar International Airport and its only a 10-15 minute drive outside the heart of the city. As such, if youre coming from a different part of Bosnia, or even a different country, then you can get buses there. Earlier in the year, we decided to visit Mostar and experience the place for ourselves. 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. After extensive research, the Old Bridge was rebuilt between 2001 - 2004 at the cost of about 5 million Euros. 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. You might want to read the next chapter about the hazards of jumping off Mostar Bridge or any bridge before making the decision. Footage showed the ancient town and the iconic bridge itself. It really wasn't long, because it's not much training. 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. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. You are like gazelle leaping into the air! I felt pumped up, elated, and I wanted to do it again. Still up to it and ready to leap? The jumpers will try their luck in jumping on their feet, but they will perform popular flight of swallows as well, from the most beautiful platform in the world, on the last Sunday in July. Check out the view from the bridge itself there always seems to be recorded before I 'd it... The arch of a rainbow, & quot ; the travel writer Evliya elebi remarked the... 1990S, Mostar suffered great losses, not least the iconic bridge itself the and. 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