Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Ask one of the bridge jumpers if you can't find it and they will show you. Mostarski Ikari Diving Club organizes all bridge jumps for adrenaline rush seeking tourists. Good to know! I could not walk without pain for several days after and must have strained every ligament in my groin. How long did it take to train and then get approved for the jump? Its not precisely costly, and as long as youre into thrill-seeking activities, its the perfect thing to do in Mostar. We have to start a jumping school as soon as possible. I had to wait a few moments for Mike to get out of the water. In fact, most people visitingSplit or Dubrovnikin Croatia will take a day trip to Mostar to see the iconic bridge. Health and safety in places like the UK are stringent these days, and this jump is a novel and exciting way to get a hefty adrenaline boost. If youre a thrill-seeker and figuring out what to do in Mostar, bridge jumping is definitely an amazing experience. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. When they deem enough has been collected, they please the crowd by performing an elaborate jump from the bridge, plunging down the 24 meters to the surface of the water its quite a thrilling sight! However, theres no reason for this to happen! Primarily because neither Hamish nor Andyare athletes. His technique was pretty good. Many locals can tell you openly that its definitely not safe to jump off Mostar Bridge. Theres a lot of excitement around people jumping, so expect to see dozens of people with their phones and cameras out, ready to record you! Before you jump, the dive team will outfit you with a wetsuit. The bridge was originally a wooden bridge but around 1557 Suleiman the Magnificent ordered constructions so the old bridge would be replaced with a stone bridge by the architectural work of Mimar Hayruddin. We went on a daytrip whilst staying in Dubrovnik. Bosnia and Herzegovina Tourism . Interestingly the old bridge area is fascinating as the bridge with its Ottoman buildings, which houses cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops. One of the terraces makes a perfect dinner spot. Im that sore that I am having trouble sleeping. On November 9, 1993, during bitter civil war in the city, the bridge was shelled by a Bosnian Croat tank from Mt. Crowds gather and cheer when he dives into the river. Nothing makes me happier than capturing the world one destination at a time so make sure you follow me on my adventures! We live in Croatia, and are always exploring the region. Terribly unsafe. Her form through the air was not good. After nine years of labor, the Old Bridge of Mostar was finally completed in 1566. To be honest, I was pretty stoked to see the crowds build and gather. The art of bridge diving is entertaining to watch, so why not to support a diver and the club. The 'new' old bridge was opened in 2004 and it's a marvellous sight. Tell me about it! Last year, he broke his finger at the competition and hurt his wrist, but he did not even think about giving up and still won the first place in such a condition. The first bridge in Mostar was built by the Turks, under the command of Suleyman the Magnificent, already in the 16th century. This is enough time to calm yourself entirely and block out the people around you. During the summertime, the diving club members take turns in jumping off the bridge for money. Stari Most (lit. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Privacy Policy. More is required if the diving club instructor isnt convinced. This bridge, just like the Old Town, is under the protection of UNESCO, and is often cited as one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. They are there to jump in and bring you back to shore if, for any reason, you do hurt yourself. Here is the best travel insurance for the Balkans. Water temperature hardly ever reaches 10 degrees, so it will be a cold dip for sure. Looking back on such an event, if indeed I had the luxury of doing so at all, undoubtably I would have described it as a near death experience. Signing the guestbook. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I've seen videos of people jump of it and read stories. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The Mostar Old Bridge is also known as Stari Most, Mostar Most, Bosnia Bridge, Mostar Bridge, Mostar Stari Most, Mostarski Most, or Stari Most. As I broke the surface, the first thing I did was look back to the bridge; it was huge! soooooo not worth potential injury. It it Ill tell you all about what its like doing this jump, and whether there have been any Mostar bridge deaths. Even the best ice cream in town is served right beside Stari Most and best enjoyed on the bridge. A Friend and I would like to use the following picture for our own Art. Stari Most (English: Old Bridge) is a reconstruction of a 16th-century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects two parts of the city. The practice dates back to the time the bridge was built, but the first recorded instance of someone diving off the bridge is from 1664. You obtain training from the local jumpers, where you will learn how to jump off a bridge and how to land, and you will then receive a certificate for your jump! In my honest opinion, hell yeah, its worth it! Well of course, that evening while out drinking I met a few new travellers and one explained that he was going to jump tomorrow. Hi! According to News.com.au, the Mostari Diving Club charges tourists 25 euros for their first jump, but once theyve successfully completed a dive, theyre free to dive again free of charge for life. Slipping is dangerous because then you cannot prepare your body for hitting the water. While bridge jumping from Stari Most has become increasingly popular among adrenaline-thirsty tourists, I wouldnt do it or even recommend it. So, thats how I found myself standing on the edge of the bridge, heart pounding, staring at the abyss below. If that bridge was located in most other countries in Europe, I feel like you would struggle to get permission from local authorities to do such a jump. It is about now that I start questioning my life choices. Sheraldo Becker will also be out with a thigh injury. Earlier in the year, we decided to visit Mostar and experience the place for ourselves. Mostaritradition dictates that young men from Mostar must jump from the Stari Most into the cold waters of the Neretva river as a rite of passage into adulthood. Just before sunset, the cream-colored stone surface of Stari Most turns golden, shimmering upon the beautifully renovated old town of Mostar. Or perhaps you rotate backward on the way down and land on your back. @Macca Sherifi, what is the jumping technique? What To Pack For Albania But questions I have know. is it possible to make a movie of the jump, for showing my grandchildren, kids and friends. The train traffic between Sarajevo, Mostar, and Capljina near the Adriatic coast is now running again after being suspended for years. What To Pack For Greece Andalusia in south Spain is amazing: Sevilla, Granada, Crdoba and Cdiz are just lovely to visit. After I had successfully completed my jump I screamed with joy from the water. Some of the original limestones were rescued from the bottom of the Neretva River to celebrate the resurrection of Stari Most. What they usually do is jump for the tourists, but every now and then a foreigner comes along who is stupid enough to want to jump themselves. . 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. Old Bridge (Stari Most): Mostar Bridge Jump - See 4,348 traveler reviews, 4,333 candid photos, and great deals for Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, at Tripadvisor. My technique was to stand there and take three deep breaths. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. There are plans to include famous jumps from the Old Bridge in Mostar to the UNESCO World Heritage List soon, which everyone is eagerly waiting for. Legs together, hands covering my nuts. Andrea Romano is a writer and editor in New York City. A Canadian girl had joined us from one of the other hostels. Such as you leaning forward too much and hitting your face/stomach as you enter the water. Here is a list of things to do in Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina one of the most diverse places in Europe. Divers await their turn to jump from the bridge. Every diver has been recorded in a ledger for posterity. I didn't want anyone thinking that I was thinking of jumping. Nice weather for the occasion. The Mostar Bridge was built in 1557 by architect Mimar Hajrudin, a disciple of Sinan, the father of classic Ottoman architecture. It was such an amazing experience, and in nearly ten years only about 750 foreigners have jumped off Stari Most, so its one of the most unique things to do in Mostar. But if you do the practice jumps and then decide that the full jump is not for you, you only have to pay the initial 10 Euros. 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. Every time I see this bridge, ( I've been there a few times ) I've looked at the daredevills who jumped down. It is a stage at which Mostarian young men prove their courage by jumping in Neretva, and it is a kind of maturity exam. The plunge is about 78 feet from the top of the arched bridge to the incredibly cold waters below. His students later designed the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and helped to create Taj Mahal. Mostar is 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. Quite a few of the older buildings have . The Forbidden City ghost stories are lesser known, but with its history of over 600 years, it's said to be one of the scariest places in China. Zac ess He claims that Mostar and the Old Bridge would become unique in the world. As Ive said, doing this Bosnia bridge jump can be really dangerous if not done right, Practice practice practice Theres nothing wrong with doing little practice jumps over and over again to ensure you feel comfortable. With a rich history dating back to 1557, the bridge was infamously and devastatingly destroyed by Croat forces during the Croat-Bosniak War in 1993. Groups of tourists standing on the bridge will pitch in a few euros or dollars to one of the local divers. I read that for 25eu you can pay the diving club and they will train u for a bit and stuff. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Less risk of injury, etc? Lots of history and culture to be see this place, especially the Jumping tradition into the Neretva river. This bridge, just like the Old Town, is under the protection of UNESCO, and is often cited as one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. Bosnia and Herzegovina. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } Climbing over the railing to get in position was a strange feeling. I stayed non-committal. Good luck to you mate. That day, tourists from all over the world are inevitable guests of this pearl. Let me know in the comments below! Evidently, they acknowledge the risks of bridge jumping and take great pride in their courage. And for those of you who want to know whether theres even been any Mostar bridge jump deaths, unfortunately yes there have been. An Adventurous World (2014-23). It is a common spot for hosting the Red Bull Cliff Diving Championships, which then get broadcast worldwide. Thanks for sharing this experience. You can read our privacy policy here. By the 1550s Ottoman . Mostar is most known for its Old Bridge (Stari Most) - a gorgeous 400-plus year old bridge that was destroyed during the war, but reconstructed later and re-opened in 2004. 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. I must admit that every year I enjoy jumping more and more, I think I am ready enough to win the first place again. Well, it means you can return any time you want and jump again for free! As we mentioned, dont try to jump off the bridge without permission. Watch YouTube videos. 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 guy had cojones. For the last 450 years, Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been home to the Old Bridge Jump, where people jump off the citys Stari Most bridge, hurling through the air for a few seconds before hitting the freezing water below. Bad river conditions? Yet I was climbing over the railing, so that I could willingly jump into the river. As a part of 1990 Croat-Bosniak conflict, the Old Bridge of Mostar was bombed down by the Croat troops in 1993. Zac Aus. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. From that height, you hit the water at 80 km/h. Then I hit the water. Built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, the high-arched, stone bridge is a masterpiece. The first Siege of Mostar was fought in 1992; the second Siege of Mostar lasted from 1993 to 1994. The Old Bridge is certainly a haunting sight after dark when day-tripping tourists are swept away, and only occasional locals traverse the stone arch. If you visited Mostar, you would have seenthe Stari Mostandeither some nutbag traveller or some entrepreneurial local jumping from it (in exchange for tips). The Stari Most really is one of the sites you must absolutely visit when traveling through the Balkans. I was still feeling it about 5 days later while exploring Sarajevo and then Plitvice Lakes in Croatia. 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. July 2018 marked 452nd annual Mostar bridge diving competition. Reply Therefore, it was Igors job to make sure that, at the very least, I didnt kill myself or break my arms. Its what Im looking at in my profile pic. Driving from Sarajevo to Mostar takes around 1,5-2 hours, while the buses take around 2,5 hours. The next morning at about 10 am, very hungover, Mike and I and a few others wandered down to the bridge. But I believe they are happy to let you jump even if theres just one person. Once he has enough money and he judges the time is right, hell put on a bit of a show. Expect craggy peaks, turquoise rivers, dark tunnels, and ancient viaducts. Hayden One of the dive instructors will also be there to steady you and help you. The small Bosnian city of Mostar attracts thousands of adventure travelers annually thanks to its natural beauty and the world-famous Stari Most (Old Bridge) which provides extreme sports enthusiasts with a perfect platform for BASE jumping. He didn't stick the landing and dislocated his arm. Personally, one jump was enough for me; but feel free to have another go if youre that way inclined! 100 meters from Stari Most. My wife and I visited Mostar as part of a day trip from Dubrovnik. Crowd continues to build. I wanted to enjoy it, to feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins, but with the river hurtling towards me at a startling rate and my arms and legs all over the place, all I could think was, this is going to hurt.. Youll also be a lifetime member of Mostar Diving Club meaning that you can jump off Stari Most as many times as you wish! Travel insurance doesn't normally cover this kind of stuff, obviously. Thank goodness you didn't hurt yourself! And it really is something worth seeing for yourself. 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