Višegrad · Ottoman heritage · History
Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge
The UNESCO-listed 16th-century Ottoman bridge in Višegrad, made famous by Ivo Andrić's novel The Bridge on the Drina. History and visitor tips.
- Time needed
- 1 hour for the bridge, 2 to 3 hours with Andrićgrad and a boat trip
- Best time
- Late afternoon for the light on the bridge
- Region
- Višegrad
Why visit Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge?
The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad is one of the masterpieces of Ottoman architecture. It was completed in 1577 by Mimar Sinan, the greatest architect of the Ottoman Empire, for Grand Vizier Mehmed Paša Sokolović, who was born in a village near Višegrad. Its 11 stone arches cross the Drina for about 180 meters.
The bridge is the center of Ivo Andrić's novel The Bridge on the Drina, which tells four centuries of Bosnian history through the life of the bridge and helped Andrić win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1961. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007.
The bridge also has a darker recent history: in 1992 it was one of the sites where Bosniak civilians of Višegrad were killed.
Things to do
- The bridge: Walk across and stop at the sofa (kapija), the raised stone terrace in the middle, which plays a central role in Andrić's novel.
- Andrićgrad: A stone "town within a town" built in the 2010s by film director Emir Kusturica, next to the bridge.
- Drina boat trips: Boat rides on the river and up the Drina canyon toward Perućac.
Getting there
About 2 hours by car from Sarajevo.
Practical info
- Entry
- Free
FAQ
Who built the Višegrad bridge?
Mimar Sinan, the chief Ottoman architect, completed it in 1577 for Grand Vizier Mehmed Paša Sokolović.
Is the Višegrad bridge a UNESCO site?
Yes, since 2007.
What book is about the Višegrad bridge?
The Bridge on the Drina by Ivo Andrić.
