Holiday apartment in Sarajevo: Vijećnica, museums and Baščaršija

Sarajevo is particularly impressive when explored through its buildings, museums and sites of remembrance. Between the city’s Ottoman-influenced history, the history of the siege, scientific collections and the memory of the Olympic Winter Games, the city reveals a diverse cultural character.

Culture and history

One prominent landmark is Vijećnica. It was ceremoniously opened on 20 April 1896, reconstructed on the basis of the original documentation and reopened on 9 May 2014. Today, the building is used for ceremonial occasions at state and municipal level, as well as for events from the fields of culture, art and business. Vijećnica also houses permanent and occasional museum facilities.

Baščaršija, Sarajevo’s old market square and the city’s historical and cultural centre, is part of the historic cityscape. The complex was established in the 15th century during the founding of Sarajevo by Isa-bey Ishaković. In 1462, Isa-bey Ishaković founded an inn there and built a number of shops. Brusa Bezistan also dates back to the Ottoman period; it was built in 1551 by Rustem Pasha, Grand Vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent.

Museums and sites of remembrance

The Sarajevo Museum consists of a main building and five annexes: Svrzo’s House, Despić House, Jewish Museum, Brusa Bezistan and Museum of Sarajevo 1878–1914. Its objects take visitors through the history of the city – from the prehistoric settlements in Butmir, through Illyrian and Roman settlements, medieval Bosnia, and the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian periods, up to the present day.

The Tunel D-B complex is publicly known as Tunel spasa, meaning “Tunnel of Hope”. The Butmir side of the memorial complex is open to visitors and offers a historical experience at the authentic site where the D-B facility was created and used. The complex includes an authentic 25-metre-long section of tunnel and a revitalised section measuring 100 metres. An exhibition explains the siege of Sarajevo using a map of the city’s siege.

The “Besieged Sarajevo” exhibition portrays the everyday life of the city’s population during the siege of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1995. Photographs, documents and objects made by the citizens of Sarajevo convey this history, including improvised household items from the wartime period.

The Museum of the Gazi Husrev-beg Library offers a permanent exhibition providing an encounter with the Islamic tradition of the Bosniaks in this region. The foyer contains a lapidarium with stone works. The collection of the Gazi Husrev-beg Library comprises more than 1,200 objects.

Nature and scientific collections

The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina includes a botanical garden covering an area of 14,270 square metres, with twelve scientific and exhibition collections. Around 1,000 plant species grow there. The garden provides knowledge about the native flora and the importance of protecting biodiversity.

The museum’s archaeological collections also extend far back in time. They cover all aspects of human life in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Early Stone Age to the Late Middle Ages. The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina can be reached by every tram line; depending on the direction, visitors can get off at the “Technical School” stop. In addition, a city bus line operates on the Baščaršija–Dobrinja route.

Olympic history and film

The Olympic Museum in Sarajevo preserves the memory of the organisation and staging of the XIV Olympic Winter Games. The sports section covers their preparation, organisation and staging. For groups and visitors, the museum presents films of the opening, the course and the conclusion of the XIV.

The Sarajevo Film Festival brings another cultural dimension to the city. It focuses on the cinema of Southeast Europe and the South Caucasus, supports the film industry through CineLink and promotes the training of young filmmakers through Talents Sarajevo. The programme includes competitions for feature-length, short and documentary films.

For the further regional selection, Ljubina, Popovi, Prijedor, Dvorovi, Popov Most, Ugljevik, Šipovo and Karanovac are available for selection.

For the higher-level travel overview: Republika Srpska.