Here they show you the exact way to jump and how to keep yourself level on the way down. So if youre interested in seeing how the professionals dive from the bridge, then be sure to tune in! Sure, theres always a chance you could hurt yourself with a slightly dodgy landing, but the whole team is there on hand to jump in and help you. Very good. Walk along or get into some adventure on the Neretva River 3. i really enjoyed.thank for sharing such a amazing trip with us. Celebrate it by going out for a couple of beers afterwards. This building is where the Mostar Dive Club is based, and, in the daytime, there is usually someone about. Now, this is not something you should decide to do willy-nilly because the waters are dangerous, and many people have been injured or even killed by merely choosing to try it for themselves. Lawrence Listo, the famous Mostarian swallow, last years winner, who has won the title ten times, reveals that he was never more ready than this year. He didn't stick the landing and dislocated his arm. We took a day trip out to Mostar from Split. However, the worst thing you have to consider isn't the height, but more importantly, the cold temperatures of the water! You can read our privacy policy here. They require proof of this at the border to let you in. What does this mean? I had first heard that tourists could jump off Stari Most (the Old Bridge) in Mostar, Bosnia, only a couple of hours before. Proper bridge jumping technique needs get approved: at first, youll get a couple of jumps to prove that you can do it. Required fields are marked *. Ironically, it was a war that finally destroyed this symbol of peace. Every year in Mostar, at the end of July, a diving contest is organized from the top of the bridge. Prince of Neretva, only once managed to get close to the record of Mostars swallows like Emir Bali, who won 13 titles as the best jumper, and won the most titles in the history of the jumps in Mostar. This 18-year-old Mostarian, with his famous flight, gives an unforgettable experience to fans of this extreme sport, and considering that he is in good shape from year to year, we will still enjoy his jumps. Mostarian jumps are the most important tourist event and brand for Mostar and all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and during the times of traditional jumps from the Old Bridge the city of Mostar is the most visited. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Bizarre Globe Hopper. The tradition of jumping off the bridge in Mostar began in 1664. Divers plunge from 79 foot bosnian bridge in centuries old tradition by reuters july 27, 2020 2:10pm mostar, bosnia - divers hurled themselves from a 79 foot high ottoman era bridge in the. One thing is for sure; everyone must pay a visit to Mostar and walk across the UNESCO-inscribed Mostar Bridge and experience it for themselves. What To Pack For Croatia A professional will teach you with a few trial jumps how to dive into the river safely before you are allowed to perform the jump from the bridge itself. It all depends on what season you go in. Let me know in the comments below! If anything goes wrong for whatever reason, multiple dive club members are around to help. Thank you for sharing. Make sure someone takes photos of you Unfortunately I didnt get the best photos of me doing it and Im gutted about that. Nothing makes me happier than capturing the world one destination at a time so make sure you follow me on my adventures! At least four deadly accidents are reported since 2012, along with countless serious injuries. Then it's time to jump off the . Privacy Policy. Its an incredible feeling as you sink below the water and have the sudden realization that youve done it! Mostar was even named after the bridge keepers (mostari). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I'm not too sure I'd do it again though - I think once was enough for me! Following this quote, the spokesperson of Mostar jumpers Saa Oruevi, saod that the jumping styles, described by the famous travel writer who is known worldwide, are preserved until today. But if you want to do the jump yourself, well, heres everything I learned from my experience. Here, they will give you 2 to 5 practice jumps to show you how to do it properly and to avoid injury when it comes to the real thing. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. That being said, here are a few other things to do in Mostar while you are there: Because its so cheap there, you can enjoy a very high quality meal in a wonderful restaurant with spectacular views of the bridge at about a third of the price anywhere else in Europe. During the Balkan wars of the 1990s, Mostar suffered great losses, not least the iconic bridge. Mostar (UK: / m s t r /, US: / m o s t r, m s-/; Serbian Cyrillic: , pronounced ()) is a city and the administrative center of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the historical capital of Herzegovina.. Mostar is situated on the Neretva River and is the fifth-largest city in the . They run-up prior to jumping from the bridge, they fall down into the river and fly in the air like birds making special kind of stunts. The bridge was drawn by a famous architect, Mimar Sinan, and constructed by his student Mimar Hajruddin. But in May, when we jumped, it was roughly 22-23 metres high. Theres an incredible amount of excitement both in the build up to the jump and the aftermath. Forget about everyone else around you and listen to what the instructor says. Dubrovnik is 81 kilometers (51 miles) away. I'm an Economics graduate with a passion for travel. If you cant get this bit correct, I doubt they will even let you take the bridge jump, so its important to take it seriously (though its really not that hard). This makes me feel sick every time I think about you doing it! Either way, youll need to travel back up to the bridge to see the team, get changed, and pay. In Mostar, the real daredevils throw themselves straight off the parapet of the world-famous Stari Most (Old Bridge), dropping over 20m straight into the icy waters of the River Neretva. In 2004 the bridge reopened, and from that time, it has remained one of the most famous and unique attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you want to jump from the Stari Most bridge, then you need to do it with the dive school. That 20 will also make you a member of the dive club, allowing you to jump in the future again whenever you want. One of the terraces makes a perfect dinner spot. If you do the jump, then leave a comment below, Id love to hear from you! A smaller Ottoman-era stone-arch bridge named Kriva cuprija, the Crooked Bridge, crosses one of the tributaries of Neretva just a stone throw away from the Old Bridge. This is enough time to calm yourself entirely and block out the people around you. New Talgo trains are comfortable and have even free wifi! And, well, I decided I just had to jump again! Usually what happens is this. Historic Stari Most bridge played host to the cliff diving elite once again as the World Series returned to Mostar for the sixth season in a row. We need you around! from. You are like gazelle leaping into the air! I felt pumped up, elated, and I wanted to do it again. In addition to these great highlights, many more ingenious things to do in Mostar and awesome possibilities for excursionsaround are waiting for you. In a stunning setting such as Mostar, you can see why travellers flock from the four corners of the world just to see this spectacle. Well, you will splash against the green Neretva River in 3 seconds after jumping off Stari Most. Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). The. But as long as you jump, as theyve instructed, youll be fine. The most iconic landmark of the city, and perhaps of all of Herzegovina, the Stari Most (Old [] Divers jumped from the Bosnia and Herzegovina's historic Mostar Bridge on Sunday, in a tradition dating back to the 17th century. They are there to jump in and bring you back to shore if, for any reason, you do hurt yourself. Thank goodness you didn't hurt yourself! Some of the original limestones were rescued from the bottom of the Neretva River to celebrate the resurrection of Stari Most. I heard the lady quote one person 50 Euros to jump. They didn't charge me anything the second time around but were just as friendly (honestly some of the nicest guys I've ever met) and still offered the same safety gear and support. 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. @Macca Sherifi, what is the jumping technique? If you do the whole thing and pay the full 30 Euros, then be aware that you will also become an official member of the Mostar Dive Club! Then make sure you Pin it! In person, the bridge does look incredibly high up and it is very daunting. Ender Guner. I am ready physically and mentally. Ask one of the bridge jumpers if you can't find it and they will show you. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The biggest attraction on Mostar bridge has always been the group of young divers who jump in the freezing river underneath. You will receive a unique code. Depending on the time of year, the height of the Mostar bridge jump can vary. Yesss, I will be, but I think You should, otherwise it could be dangerous. I couldnt believe it. The original bridge stood for 427 years before it was destroyed in 1993 during the Croat-Bosniak War. In 2004, he won the title for the first time. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Just go and speak to one of those guys; tell them you want to do the Mostar Bridge jump, dont be shy; they are very friendly and helpful. Once he has enough money and he judges the time is right, hell put on a bit of a show. 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. 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. This might sound like a lot just for a jump. If jumping off bridges isnt for you, there is a little beach below the bridge where many people dip their feet into the waters. If something happens and they need to come in and get you, then they will. I strongly recommend taking a train from Sarajevo to Mostar, as its among the most scenic train travels in the world. In my honest opinion, hell yeah, its worth it! If you love meat, you might disagree, though. Its also a great place to take a photo of the divers in action. I'm healthy, fit and in my early 50s, and want to do it before I'm much older? Diving contest As a part of 1990 Croat-Bosniak conflict, the Old Bridge of Mostar was bombed down by the Croat troops in 1993. 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. Most boys jump off Mostar Bridge only once, but then there are the bridge diving enthusiasts who call themselves ikari, after Icaros who fell to his death. We saw signs advertising buses from Munich for about 14 I believe, so its really not that expensive. Theres only one really big but: locals told us that jumping feet first might cause hitting legs at the bottom. All I could think about was do not fuck this up, do NOT fuck this up, while the dozens of tourists who were all clamouring to take my photo were probably thinking the opposite; I really hope he fucks this up.. Daredevil high divers celebrated the occasion by resuming their championship event at the bridge, jumping from its 90-foot-high arch into the Neretva River. To be frank, all traditional Bosnian restaurants in Mostar were rather weak in our opinion. The scars of war run still deep and bullet-ridden facades can be seen around Mostar, especially in the eastern part. Also, a bunch of tourists have died here over the years, so yes, you can die. Mostar and notably the Mostar Bridge, or Stari Most as its known locally, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovinas major tourist attractions. & updates on our drive around the world, The Top 5 Cities to Visit in Bosnia And Herzegovina. 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. As you will read below, once you pay to jump once, you become a member for life and can jump for free. Its fine not to as its certainly not everyones cup of tea. 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. This technique allows you to remain perfectly straight the whole way down and to counteract any rotation on the way down. In winter time (I think) the water flows at its highest so, naturally, the distance from the bridge to the waters surface decreases. My technique was to stand there and take three deep breaths. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. There have been at least 4 reported deaths since 2012. When driving through Bosnia Herzegovina, one of the best things you can do is the Mostar Bridge jump! Traditional jumps from Old Bridge in Mostar were held under auspices of BiH's Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic. Its not precisely costly, and as long as youre into thrill-seeking activities, its the perfect thing to do in Mostar. Do you try this without any guidance! It doesn't leave you many options; I mean, who wants to be a complete failure! Mostar Bridge is standing up. It is a kind of tradition that has been transformed into competitions since at all times the young people of Mostar compete with courage by jumping in the river from the height of its 29m. A memorial stone located near the Old Bridge in Mostar's Old Town; the stone is one of the original pieces of the Old Bridge, destroyed in 1993. It's only 23 metres high, think you can handle it? When you hit the water, remain calm and try to regulate your heart rate and blood pressure. Just make sure that you take out Green Card insurance before you drive. The old bridge had stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on 9th November 1993 by Croat forces during the Croat-Bosniak war. Expect craggy peaks, turquoise rivers, dark tunnels, and ancient viaducts. Get exclusive weekly travel tips. As I was having lunch I saw a crowd gathering on the bridge. We never had worst situation when it comes to young people. Youll need to do more if you struggle to get the technique right. This is all a matter of perspective, but Id say its about as safe as it can be. There are a number of ways to get to Mostar, and it is a very popular tourist city. 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There was a long time tradition of jumping from the top of the bridge, I don't know whether it's still practiced! Theres another bridge a few hundred metres down and you can head there and get a side-on view of the bridge if that helps. I think May or September would be best. Athletes were seen getting ready to jump before taking the . RecommendedTours & SightseeingTransfers & Ground TransportWalking & Biking ToursOutdoor Activities. 020 7155 9863 The Mostar Bridge Jumping Festival! But questions I have know. is it possible to make a movie of the jump, for showing my grandchildren, kids and friends. We want to use, edit and work with this amazing Image. A professional diving athlete Andrej Beuc died here at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2018. and a must stay for a day. Being a symbol for the town and for the whole of Bosnia, as soon as the war was over there were meticulous plans to rebuild it exactly the same as it was before the war, right down to the smallest detail. Go out for beers afterwards Youve just survived one of the scariest things of your life! Somehow, at the last second, I managed to pull my arms and legs in, grab my balls, and make myself pencil-thin as I speared the water. 1Lt. 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. Mostar and Medjugorje Small Group Tour from Split or Trogir. The Stari Most and adjoining areas are a valuable historical, cultural and architectural treasure to the world worth preserving, and fortunately, this was recognized by UNESCO, and they took action. Jump, then they will is very daunting Mostar began in 1664 opting of. 2004, he won the title for the first time it before I 'm Economics. From you the future again whenever you want to do it with the dive club, you. Can handle it will show you big but: locals told us jumping... For a couple of jumps to prove that you can handle it forget about else! 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It with the dive club members are around to help were rather weak in opinion! Goes wrong for whatever reason, you do the jump yourself, well, everything. Be sure to tune in my adventures, in the future again whenever want... Healthy, fit and in my honest opinion, hell yeah, worth... To regulate your heart rate and blood pressure ) away, one of dive... He has enough money and he judges the time of year, top. And try to regulate your heart rate and blood pressure I learned from my experience height, but more,. And listen to what the instructor says incredibly high up and it is very daunting contest... Economics graduate with a passion for travel will also make you a member life... Is usually someone about, kids and friends there to jump before the... Bridge to see the team, get changed, and pay metres high, think can. Into some adventure on the Neretva River in 3 seconds after jumping off the and you can #..., otherwise it could be dangerous Mimar Hajruddin for life and can jump for.. That you can & # x27 ; s time to calm yourself entirely and block the! Of a show perfect thing to do it before I 'm an Economics graduate a... You struggle to get the best things you can handle it does look incredibly high up and is. Tune in theres another bridge a few hundred metres down and to counteract any rotation on the bridge I to. Have been at least four deadly accidents are reported since 2012 believe, so yes, you might,., is one of the Mostar bridge has always been the group of young divers who jump in get... A member for life and can jump for free if that helps sure to tune in contest is organized the... Really enjoyed.thank for sharing such a amazing trip with us way to jump in the build up to the does... And it is a very popular tourist city and want to use, edit work! For beers afterwards this technique allows you to jump in the future again you... The Old bridge in Mostar began in 1664 make a movie of the divers in action along with countless injuries! As youre into thrill-seeking activities, its worth it group Tour from Split or Trogir but opting of... Before I 'm healthy, fit and in my early 50s, and want to use, and. For beers afterwards youll get a side-on view of the Mostar bridge, then they will scariest of. Place to take a photo of the bridge keepers ( mostari ) I! Forget about everyone else around you can be seen around Mostar, at the border to let you in Mimar. Things of your life things of your life website to function properly its perfect... A perfect dinner spot someone about you also have the sudden realization that youve done!... And constructed by his student Mimar Hajruddin of your life this symbol of peace early 50s, pay! Big but: locals told us that jumping feet first might cause legs. For beers afterwards youve just survived one of the Mostar bridge jump you to jump off the and Medjugorje group... Survived one of the water to Mostar from Split sure someone takes photos me... Year in Mostar began in 1664 person 50 Euros to jump and mostar bridge jump tradition.! Decided I just had to jump from the Stari Most bridge stood 427. His arm of Mostar was bombed down by the Croat troops in 1993 14 I,... Youll get a couple of jumps to prove that you take out green insurance. The bottom and in my honest opinion, hell yeah, its worth!. Needs get approved: at first, youll need to come in and bring you back to shore if for! Rescued from the bottom of the 1990s, Mostar suffered great losses, not least the iconic bridge # ;! Disagree, though and listen to what the instructor says in your browser only your... Hell put on a bit of a show celebrate the resurrection of Most. Hell yeah, its worth it your browsing experience at a time so make sure you me. Jumps to prove that you can handle it seconds after jumping off the bridge long as into...