BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Streetart Sarajevo - Baščaršija - Ferhadija 43 - Meeting Of Cultures

Sarajevo Meeting Of Cultures – Orient & Occident

Hardly any other place better illustrates the history of this city – from the Orient to the Occident. This is where two worlds symbolically converge: the Ottoman-influenced Old Town of Baščaršija to the east and the Western-influenced Sarajevo from the era of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The transition is not only visible architecturally, with oriental bazaars, narrow alleys, and mosques on one side, and wide streets and Central European-style buildings on the other, but also symbolizes the city’s cultural diversity.

This striking contrast has historical roots. In 1697, during the Great Turkish War, Sarajevo was captured by the troops of Prince Eugene of Savoy and almost completely burned to the ground. Large parts of the city were destroyed. When Bosnia and Herzegovina came under the administration of Austria-Hungary in 1878, extensive reconstruction and urban expansion began, particularly west of the Old Town, based on Central European ideals. Thus, right next to the preserved Ottoman Old Town, a completely new district emerged with stately buildings, wide streets, and architecture in the style of the Habsburg Monarchy.

For centuries, Muslims, Orthodox and Catholic Christians, and Jews lived in relatively close proximity to one another in Sarajevo. That is why the city is often referred to as the “Jerusalem of Europe.” A mosque, a Catholic church, an Orthodox church, and a synagogue are all located just a few minutes’ walk from one another.