Sarajevo
For over four hundred years, mosques,
synagogues, Orthodox and Roman Catholic
churches have been built and have stood
side by side here.
Citizens of different nationalities and
religious orientations live and work together,
developing their city and their own style
of togetherness regardless of conquerors
and foreign rulers whose identity changed
over and over again, fast or slowly, depending
on the historical and geopolitical situations
and the great-power interests.
The river Miljacka flows through the city
from east to west and is one of the city's
chief geographic features. The source of
the river Bosna, Vrelo Bosne is found on
the city's outskirts near Ilidža and is
one of the most well known natural landmarks
in the country.
The city is surrounded by five major mountains.
They are part of the Dinaric Alps mountain
range that winds through Croatia,BiH and
SiCG. The mountains are popular tourist
attractions for hiking and sking. In alphabetical
order they are: Bjelašnica, Igman, Jahorina,
Trebević and Treskavica.
Sarajevo is located close to the geometric
center of the triangularly-shaped Bosnia
and Herzegovina, and covers some 142 km2(88.2
mi2) of land. The core of the city is built
in the Sarajevo valley (Also translated
as Sarajevo field), a small depression 500
meters above sea level nestled in between
the surrounding mountains. Although much
of the city itself is relatively flat, some
of the outskirts and far eastern parts are
hilly. Neighborhoods in the old town in
particular are well known for their steep
streets and landscape.
Climate
Sarajevo has a continental climate, lying
between the climate zones of central Europe
to the North and the Mediterranean to the
South. Sarajevo experiences warm summers,
with temperatures of 35 C (95 F) not being
uncommon, and cold winters, when snow is
guaranteed due to the city's high altitude.
Sarajevo has three major weather stations.
They are located on Bjelašnica mountain,
Butmir, and in the city itself.
The warmest month of the year is July, when
the average temperature is about 19 °C (66
°F), although August's average temperature
is only a degree lower. The coldest month
of the year is January when the average
temperature is -1 °C (30 °F). The average
year-round temperature is 10 °C (45 °F).
Sarajevo receives about 905 mm (36 inches)
of preciptation in a year. The rainiest
month is October when the city receives
89.4 mm (3.5 in) of rainfall. The dryest
is February when the city gets only 61.4
mm (2.4 in) of precipitation. Average atmospheric
pressure at the city's elevation is 942.3
millibars, and this varies little throughout
the year.
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HISTORY
Perhaps no other city represents the promise
and the tragedy of the Balkans than Sarajevo.
Located in the river valley of the Bosna
and Neretva Rivers (at the Miljacka River),
Sarajevo stands at the crossroads between
Asia Minor and Central Europe. This resulted
in the greatest diversity of anywhere in
Southeastern Europe, the greatest potential
for peaceful co-existence of cultures and
also the greatest potential for turf battles.
Neolithic remains in the area indicate human
habitation as early as 2400 B.C. However,
like elsewhere in the region, the first
recorded inhabitants were the Illyrians
(the ancestors of today’s Albanians).
Roman and Goth settlements were followed
by Slavs from Serbia in the 7th century.
Bosnia was first mentioned by name in the
Middle Ages and the area which would eventually
encompass Sarajevo was known as Vhrbosna.
When Hungary ruled Croatia in the early
12th century, it also extended its power
to Bosnia, but not for long. Bosnia earned
freedom from Hungarian control and start
to develop as an independent kingdom.
Sarajevo and Bosnia essentially became the
dividing line between the Roman Catholic
and Orthodox faiths when the church divided
between Rome and Byzantium. As a reaction
to being caught between the Catholic and
Orthodox worlds, an ascetic Christian cult
developed in the 12th century. Known as
the Bogumils, they were loosely linked to
Manicheenism in their austerity and belief
in the human aspects of Christ.
Through its history, Sarajevo's location
made it become a melting pot of cultures
and religions: Catholic from Croatia, Slavic
Orthodox from Serbia, Sephardic Judaism
from Southwestern Europe, and ultimately
Islam from Turkey.
Its location at such a crossroads not only
made Sarajevo a trading center, but also
a prize to be conquered. In the 15th century,
the Bosnian Kingdom was taken over by the
Ottoman Empire. It was in this period that
many of the Bogumils converted to Islam,
possibly in exchange for military protection,
keeping land or being free from feudal obligations.
These economic reasons for conversion meant
that Bosnian Islam would develop in its
own way distinct from Islam practiced in
the Middle East and North Africa. Even today,
Sarajevo represents an unusual duality –
the faithful attend mosques, smoking and
alcoholic drink are commonplace, and women
dress in high fashion western clothing.
It was also during the Ottoman rule that
Sarajevo officially came to be. Called Saraj
Ovas (or Castle Field in Turkish), Sarajevo
was first mentioned by name in the early
1500s. It became the first Turkish military
base.
The Ottoman influence and Sarajevo's unique
location helped it develop into a major
city for trade. The Bascarsija became one
of the city's main bazaars and center for
trade, culture, and Islam in Bosnia and
Sarajevo was renowned for its skilled craftsmen.
In 1697, the city was burned by Prince Eugene
of Savoy trying to regain the territory
for Austria. Sarajevo once again became
a turf to be fought over by both the Austro-Hungarian
and Ottoman Empires.
In the early 19th century, Bosnian peasants
revolted against control from either Empire,
but were ultimately suppressed. Serbia and
Montenegro supported the peasantry by declaring
war against Turkey, with the assistance
of Russia. By this time, Sarajevo was the
effective capital of Bosnia.
After Austria-Hungary defeated the Ottoman
Empire in 1878, Sarajevo was once again
occupied under a different administration.
Ostensibly it had some autonomy and Vienna
invested heavily in industrializing the
city. Although Bosnia was considered autonomous,
Austria-Hungary officially annexed the area
in 1908.
Sarajevo was first put on the world map
in 1914 as the site where Serbian nationalist
Gavrilo Princip assassinated the heir to
the Austrian throne and precipitated World
War I. Bosnians of Croatian origin tended
to side with Austria-Hungary while Bosnians
of Serbian origin were more sympathetic
towards Princip's wish to unite with Serbia.
Muslims were divided.
At war's end, Bosnia joined the Kingdom
of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (what would
ultimately become Yugoslavia). During World
War II, it was occupied by the Croatian
Ustashe state.
After World War II, Sarajevo became a regional
capital of the Bosnian Republic within Socialist
Yugoslavia. Although Bosnia was one of the
poorer of the Yugoslav republics, Sarajevo
developed into one of the most vibrant cultural
and intellectual centers of the country.
It showed off its mountainous beauty and
hospitality as the host of the 1984 Winter
Olympics. The multi-ethnic city in the most
westernized socialist state was a symbol
of unity. Less than a decade later, history
would take Sarajevo and Bosnia on a different
track.
After Bosnia declared independence from
Yugoslavia in 1992, Serbia with bosnians
serbs help started agresion on BiH and Capital
city. Sarajevo became a temporary refuge
for thousands of Muslims forced out of rural
villages. But this would not last as Bosnian
Serb forces, supported by the Yugoslav National
Army, surrounded Sarajevo and proceeded
to bomb the valley city from the hills.
Within a month, the Grbavica section of
Sarajevo was occupied and the rest of it
was subject to shelling, sniper attacks,
and starvation.
The images associated with Sarajevo from
this time: bombed buildings, bullet-ridden
streetcars, an Olympic stadium full of graves,
ordinary citizens trying to cross a street
under sniper fire or being killed while
shopping for vegetables at a market. The
siege of Sarajevo lasted nearly 1400 days,
ending in 1996, just a few months after
the Dayton Peace Accords.
The city which boasted a 1991 population
of nearly 526,000 people saw over 10,000
deaths and 50,000 injuries as a direct result
of war. In addition the casualties, thousands
left the city altogether – emigrating elsewhere
in Europe, North America, and Australia.
After four years of war, Sarajevo's population
had diminished to somewhere between 349,000.
SARAJEVO 1984 XIV - Olympic Winter Games.
Sarajevo was quite a surprising choice for
the Winter Olympics, as no Yugoslavian athlete
had ever won an Olympic medal in the Winter
Games.
In 1984, the Winter Games took place in
a Socialist country for the first and only
time. The people of Sarajevo gained high
marks for their hospitality, and there was
no indication of the tragic war that would
engulf the city only a few years later.
Skier Jure Franko brought joy to the host
nation by earning Yugoslavia’s first Winter
Olympics medal : a silver in the giant slalom.
Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen won all three individual
cross-country races for women. In speed
skating, Gaétan Boucher and Karin Enke each
won two gold medals. Biathlete Eirik Kvalfoss
earned a complete set of medals.
Twin brothers Phil and Steve Mahre took
first and second place in the slalom. The
highlight of the figure skating competitions
was the free dance performance of Jane Torvill
and Christopher Dean. Their interpretation
of Ravel’s Bolero earned across-the-board
perfect scores for artistic impression.
Sarajevo 8 February 1984. Arrival of the
Olympic Flag.
One event is added to women's Nordic skiing
- the 20km race, which give women a total
of four races.
Friendly ski-wolf "Vucko" was
a symbol of the Olympic Games.
- 49 NOCs (Nations)
- 1,272 athletes (274 women, 998 men)
- 39 events
- 10,450 volunteers
- 7,393 media (2,363 written press, 5,030
broadcasters)
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SARAJEVO - ACCOMMODATION
Name Hotel: “Holliday Inn” -
Recomended
Adress: Zmaja od Bosne 4
Web page: www.holiday-inn.com/sarajevo
Tel/fax: +387 33 288 000 / 663 862
“Hotel Bosnia”
Adress: Kulovića 9
Web page: www.bosniahotels.com
Tel/fax: +387 33 209 454 / 444 - 572
“Hotel Astra”
Adress: zelenih beretki 9
Web page: www.hotel-astra.com.ba
Tel/fax: +387 33 252-100 / 252-200
“Hotel Astra Garni”
Adress: Kundurdžiluk 2
Web page: www.hotel-astra.com.ba
Tel/fax: +387 33 475-100 / 209-939
”Hotel Italia”
Pofalićka 7
www.hotelitalia.ba
Tel/Fax: +387 33 650 – 450 / 231 938
”Hotel Dardanija”
Radićeva 19
www.dardanija.cjb.net
Tel/fax: +387 33 213 613 / 213 616
“Hotel Europa – Garni”
Vladislava Škarića 3
www.europa-garni.ba
Tel: +387 33 232 851 / 232 855
”Hotel Saraj”
Nevjestina 5
www.hotelsaraj.com
Tel/fax: +387 33 237 810 / 233 500
“Hotel Grand”
M. ef. Pandže 7
www.hotelgrand.com
Tel/fax: +387 33 205 444 / 205 866
”Hotel Palas”
Krivajska 1
www.palas.com.ba
Tel/fax: 387 33 655 782 / 656 767
”Hotel Belvedere”
Višnjik 2-4
www.belvedere-sa.com
Tel/fax: +387 33 262 140 / 206 470
”Hotel Halvat”
Kasima ef. Dobrače 5
www.halvat.com.ba
Tel: +387 33 237 714 / 237 715
Mobile: 061 130 093
”Omega Ambasador Hotel”
Omera Stupca19
Tel/ Fax: 277 200 / 277 249
Hotel ”Orijent”
Oprkanj 6
www.villa.ba
Tel/fax: +387 33 232 702 / 441 044
The list of the pensions in Sarajevo
follows.
”Pansion Čobanija”
Čobanija 29
Tel / Fax: +387 33 441 749 / 203 937
“Halvat”
Kasima ef. Dobrače 5
www.halvat.com.ba
Tel: +387 33 237 714 / 237 715
”Meridijan”
Jaroslava Černija 3
www.meridian.ba
Tel/fax: +387 33 446 177 / 446 176
”America”
Himzarina 23
Tel: +387 33 214 445
”Hondo”
Zaima Šarca 23
Tel: +387 33 666 564
”Relax House”
Safvet bega Bašagića 36
Tel: +387 33 238 726
”Dom Faletići”
Ul. Faletići br 4
www.domfaletici.co.ba
Camping
In the wider area of Sarajevo, in the suburb
of Ilidža, the camping site «Oaza» was opened
recently. It is fully refurbished and it
hosted the first guests in May this year.
Kamp «Oaza»
Hrasnička cesta 14
71000 Sarajevo
Tel: +387 33 636 140
We believe that there is no need for a special
introduction into the night life of Sarajevo,
particularly during the Film Festival in
Summer. Nevertheless, here is a short lost
of cafes, clubs, bars and discos that could
be good starting point to explore Sarajevo
by Night.
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SARAJEVO - ENTERTAINMENT
BARS AND CLUBS
“Obala Meeting Point”
ADRESS:Hamdije Kreševljakovića 13
Telephone :+387 33 668-186
“Club Rock”
Kranjčevićeva bb.
+387 33 211 911
“Babaloo”
Kranjčevićeva 19
+387 33 208-595
”Brasil”
Dalmatinska 2
+387 33 666-000
”Central Café”
Štrosmajerova bb
+387 33 200-442
”City Bar”
Alipašina
+387 33 299-948
”Euronet Y caffe”
Obala Kulina Bana 2
+387 33 668-227
”Galerija”
Čemaluša 12
+387 33 210-205
”Gradska kafana”
Fra Grge Martića 4
+387 33 207-961
”Kogo”
Dalmatinska 2
+387 33 213-465
”Mama Mia”
Himze Polovine 45
+387 61 552-453
”Manhattan”
Kulovića 15
+387 33 204-498
”Metropolis”
Maršala Tita 21
+387 33 203-315
”Michelle”
Ferhadija 25
+387 33 444-484
”Opera”
Branilaca Sarajeva 25
+387 61 156-943
”Quadro”
Štrosmajerova bb
+387 33 220 356
CLUBS
”Barhana”
Džulagina Čikma 8
+387 61 365-408
”Bilijar klub 69”
Merhemića Trg bb
+387 33 66 47 85
”Boemi”
Valtera Perića 16
+387 61 374-350
”Bock”
Musala b.b.
+387 61 172 227
”Buddha bar”
Radičeva 10
+387 61 172 894
”City Pub”
Hadžiristićeva bb
+387 33 209-789
”Extreme club”
Kranjčevićeva 43
+387 33 172-794
Marquee
Obala Kulina Bana 6
”Oscar”
Merhemića trg 14
+387 33 714-680
”Pub Guinness”
Ferhadija 28
+387 61 722-260
”Rock Teatar”
Čobanija 10
”SA club”
Kranjčevićeva bb
+387 33 211 911
”Urban Loco club”
Tekija čikma bb
CASSINO
”Coloseum club”
Terazije bb
+387 33 250-860
”Admiral”
Kulovića 7
+387 33 650-459
”Hot Casino”
Grbavička 5
”Pivnica”
HS
Franjevačka 15
+387 33 239-740
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SARAJEVO RESTORANS
“Brazil”
Adress: Dalmatinska 6
Tel: +387 33 666-000
“Fellini”
Branilaca Sarajeva 5
Tel: +387 33 441-716
“Kibe”
Adress: Vrbanjuša 164
Tel: +387 33 441-936
“Staklo”
Adress: Bravadžiluk veliki 5
Tel: +387 33 538-359
“Vinoteka”
Skenderija 12
Tel: +387 33 214-996
Web page: www.vinoteka.ba
“Avlija”
Čekaluša 64a
+387 33 444-483
”Bazeni”
- Bentbaša bb
+387 33 441-240
”Bon Appetit”
Kranjčevićeva 11
+387 33 223-715
”Caballo”
Himze Polovine 37
+387 33 221-819
”Cappuccino”
Grbavička 8
+387 33 523-637
”Cedar”
Despićeva 8
+387 33 209-789
”Hot Wok Café”
Titova 12
info@hotwokcaffe.com
+387 61 171-760
“Lovac”
Petrakijna 24
+387 33 664-176
”Magnum”
Kranjčevićeva 18
+387 33 213-334
”Peppers”
Zagrabačka 4
+387 33 201-550
”Park Prinčeva”
Iza Hrida 7
+387 33 532-403
”The Club”
Titova 7
info@theclub.ba
tel: +387 33 550-550
fax: +387 33 208-288
”Via Del Corso”
Kolodvorska 11
info@viadelcorso.co.ba
+387 33 718-595
PIZZERIE
”Dandee”
Patriotske lige 25
+387 33 212-171
”Diablo”
Dr Mustafe Pintola 2
+387 33 621-998
”Galija”
Čobanija 20
+387 33 443-350
”Pizza Hot”
Ferhadija 5
+387 33 211-202
”Pomodorino”
Branilaca Sarajeva 51
+387 33 218-810
”U2”
Kulovića 13
+387 33 215-700, 217-217
NATIONAL COOKING
”Ašdžinica ASDŽ”
Veliki Čurčiluk 1
+387 33 537-503, 447-853
”Ćevabdžinica Hodžić”
Bravadžiluk 34
+387 33 532-866
”Ćevabdžinica Mrkva”
Bravadžiluk 13
+387 33 532-519
”Ćevabdžinica Željo”
Kundudžiluk 19
+387 33 447-000
”Inat kuća”
Veliki Alifakovac 1
+387 33 447-867
SARAJEVO CINEMAS
UNITIC
Fra Anđela Zvizdovića 1,
+387 33 295 001
APOLO
Mis Ibrina 3
+387 33 445 201
BKC
Branilaca Sarajeva 24
+387 33 205 538
Bosna
Alipašina 19
Imperijal
Maršala Tita 56
+387 33 443 021
Obala Meeting Point
Hamdije Kreševljakovića 13
+387 33 668 186
Tesla
Obala Kulina Bana 2
+387 33 443 617
SARAJEVO THEATRES
Centar za kulturu
Jelića 1
+387 33 232 595
Kamerni teatar 55 - CHAMBER THEATER '55
Maršala Tita 54/II
+387 33 471 184
Narodno pozorište - THE NATIONAL THEATER
Obala Kulina Bana 9
+387 33 663 647
Pokretno pozorište
Husrefa Redžića 10
+387 33 219 805
Pozorište mladih - SARAJEVO YOUTH THEATER
Kulovića 8
+387 33 205 799
SARTR
Dalmatinska 2
+387 33 665 189
SARAJEVO MUSEUMS
Zemaljski Muzej BiH - BiH LAND MUSEUM
Zmaja od Bosne 3
+387 33 668 027
MUZEJ KNJIŽEVNOSTI I POZORIŠNE UMJETNOSTI
BIH /
BIH MUSEUM OF LITERATURE AND THEATER ARTS
S. M. Sarajlije 7
+387 33 471 828
Muzej grada Sarajeva - CITY OF SARAJEVO
MUSEUM
Obala Kulina bana
+387 33 533 288
Jevrejski muzej - BiH JEWISH MUSEUM
Velika avlija b.b.
+387 33 663 473
Historijski muzej BiH - BiH HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Zmaja od Bosne 5
+387 33 210 418
Despića kuća – Despic Haus
Despića b.b.
+387 33 215 534
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Welcome To Sarajevo
(Bosnia & Herzegovina)