Stara Ćuprija Explained

Bridge Name:Stara Ćuprija
Other Name:Old stone bridge in Konjic
Locale:Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Coordinates:43.6511°N 17.9627°W -->
Carries:Pedestrians
Crosses:Neretva
Begin:1682
Complete:1683
Open:1683
Collapsed:March 1945
Rebuilt:2009
Below:- metres at mid-span
Design:Multiple-Arch
Length:- metres
Width:4 metres
Heritage:National Monument of BiH
Builder:Ali-aga Hasečić
Material:Tufa
Material1:Mortar
Material2:Limestone
Number Spans:6
Piers In Water:5
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Zoom:15
Mapframe-Stroke-Color:
  1. 944601
Mapframe-Stroke-Width:3
Mapframe-Shape-Fill:
  1. 944601
Mapframe-Marker:bridge
Mapframe-Marker-Color:
  1. 944601
Mapframe-Id:Q28402964

Stara Ćuprija (Bosnian: The Old Bridge) is a bridge spanning the Neretva River in the town of Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a significant example of Ottoman bridge architecture in the Balkans, and is a listed National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[1]

History

The bridge was built between 1682 and 1683 by Ali-aga Hasečić (as commemorated by a stone plaque at the center span) atop six slightly-pointed stone arches. In March 1945, the bridge's deck was destroyed by explosive charges laid by the retreating German army. While the arches suffered heavy damage, all five piers survived, preserving the bridge's basic structural integrity and permitting eventual reconstruction.

After World War II, the Yugoslav government decided to temporarily repair the bridge for basic use, with a makeshift deck made of iron beams laid across the still-intact masonry piers supporting a one-lane tarmac for motorized vehicle traffic. This temporarily solution lasted for more than five decades, until after the Yugoslav Wars. The bridge was restored to its original appearance with European financial assistance between 2003 and 2009, and is once again a landmark of Ottoman architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The bridge was reopened on 16 June 2009.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Komisija za očuvanje nacionalnih spomenika . old.kons.gov.ba.
  2. Web site: Otvoren Stari kameni most u Konjicu . Historija.ba . bs.