Visegrad Bridge

The Visegrad Bridge is a historic bridge located in the town of Visegrad in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was built during the Ottoman period in the mid-16th century and spans the Drina River, connecting the two banks of the river. The bridge was commissioned by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Mehmed Paša Sokolović, who was born in the nearby village of Sokolovići and is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Ottoman history.

The Visegrad Bridge is considered one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture in the Balkans, and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. The bridge is 179 meters long and 6 meters wide, and is supported by 11 arches. Its distinctive hump-backed shape is designed to allow boats to pass underneath it during times of high water.

The bridge has played an important role in the history of the region, and has been the scene of several significant events, including the Battle of Visegrad in 1806 during the Serbian Uprising against the Ottomans, and the massacre of Bosniak civilians by Bosnian Serb forces during the Bosnian War in the 1990s. Despite these tragic events, the Visegrad Bridge remains an iconic symbol of the town and its history, and continues to attract visitors from around the world.

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