Šeher-Ćehaja Bridge: An Ottoman-Era Crossing in Sarajevo
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.8
- Popularity
- Low
- Country
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Primary era
- Early Modern
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Early Modern
- Civilizations
- Ottoman
- Site type
- Infrastructure
- Remains
- Bridge
On this page5 sections
History
Šeher-Ćehaja Bridge is an Ottoman-period stone crossing over the Miljacka River in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, probably built in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. It is regarded as one of the earliest crossings of the river and possibly the oldest, and it was the first bridge built in Sarajevo during the Ottoman period. The bridge probably occupied the site of an earlier medieval crossing.
Construction and foundation traditions
The bridge’s construction date remains uncertain. A copy of a chronogram, an inscription that records a date, preserved in the Mostar City Archive gives 1585–1586, while another dating places the bridge in 1620. Its name connects it with a šeher-ćehaja, a municipal official whose title can be translated as city steward or city administrator.
A long-standing foundation tradition attributes the bridge to Hadži Husein Hodžić, who served as Sarajevo’s šeher-ćehaja in 1610. According to the story, he began the work after his only son Mustafa left for Constantinople and chose not to return. Hadži Husein’s death interrupted the construction, but Mustafa came back after learning what had happened and completed the bridge. The tradition also says that Mustafa Hodžić was buried at Alifakovac beside his wife.
Another legend tells that Hadži Husein had a large diamond set into one of the bridge’s piers, a vertical support carrying the bridge’s weight, as a reserve for future repairs. The diamond was supposedly stolen. After the thief was caught, a qadi, an Islamic judge administering justice under Islamic law, released him on the condition that he return it to its owner. The stone was not placed back in the bridge.
Flood damage and modern restoration
Floods damaged the bridge in 1619 and 1629. In 1843, the Miljacka destroyed two piers while repairs associated with Mustafa Pasha were under way, and further damage occurred in 1880. Later deterioration resulted from motor-vehicle traffic and from the 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The bridge received state protection as a significant Ottoman-period monument through a decision dated 18 April 1962. It is also a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a state heritage designation for sites recognized for cultural, historical, architectural, or other importance. Restoration between 1999 and 2001 returned the bridge to its original appearance. Stone bollards were added at both entrances to prevent motor vehicles from crossing, and lighting was installed.
Remains
Stone crossing over the Miljacka
Šeher-Ćehaja Bridge spans the Miljacka in Sarajevo’s historic center, near Vijećnica, the city’s historic City Hall. It is built of stone, specifically tuff, a porous volcanic rock, and limestone. The restored structure carries pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and its physical form follows the appearance restored in 1999–2001.
Stone bollards mark both entrances, while installed lighting forms part of the present bridge. The bridge stands close to Inat House, a historic Sarajevo residence whose name means “House of Spite”; in a view from Vijećnica, the residence appears to the left of the crossing.
