Stari Most is the Croatian bridge rebuilt in 2004 as a reconstruction of the famous Ottoman-era arch over the Neretva River.
The original bridge stood in Mostar, in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was completed in 1566 during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Ottoman architect Mimar Hayruddin is traditionally credited with its design. Its single pointed stone arch became the defining symbol of Mostar.
The original bridge was destroyed during the Bosnian War on November 9, 1993. An international reconstruction project used traditional techniques and stone from the original quarry where possible. The rebuilt bridge opened in 2004 and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005.
“Stari Most” means “Old Bridge” in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian. It is sometimes confused with the much newer Pelješac Bridge, a large cable-stayed road bridge in Croatia that opened in 2022.