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| '''Sarajevo''' |
'''Sarajevo''', the capital and largest city of ] (population: 450,000 (1991), est. 500,000 (2003)). | ||
| Sarajevo hosted the XIV ] in ]. In a brutal war that took place in ]-], Sarajevo was severely destroyed and suffered the longest siege in world history. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ==Geography== | |||
| Sarajevo was the host city for the ] ]. It was devastated during the ]. | |||
| Sarajevo is located close to the geometric center of triangular shaped Bosnia and Herzegovina, a few miles east of the spring of river ]. A small river named ] flows through the city. The old city core is placed in a wide walley that forms a natural ]. | |||
| ⚫ | == |
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| City center is at 511 metres above sea level with some suburbs reaching 700 metres, which makes Sarajevo one of the most elevated cities in Europe. The mountain peaks that surround Sarajevo reach and surpass 2000 metres above sea. | |||
| The first neolithic settlements in this area date back to the ] culture in the 3rd millennium BC. | |||
| In the last few decades, satellite towns ] and ] have mostly merged with Sarajevo and became city suburbs. | |||
| Following neolithic people, the next known inhabitants were the ] tribes in the 2nd millennium BC in ] and ] regions. | |||
| ⚫ | ==History== | ||
| Illyrian tribes were fighting against the ] for several centuries, until they were defeated in the year ]. As a part of the ], the Sarajevo valley was an important road connecting the Adriatic coast with ]. | |||
| The area of present day Sarajevo was continuously inhabited since ]. However, little material evidence is available, mostly due to later construction. A ] town named Aquae S... (probably Aquae Sulphurae) existed on the location of present Ilidža. | |||
| Roman presence can be detected in several localities, including Debelo Brdo, where military posts were held until the ], ], the administrative and cultural center of this area, and Crkviste, Stupsko Brdo, Crkvina, Svrakino Selo, Marijin Dvor, and Vasiljeva Basca, to name a few. | |||
| During the early ], Sarajevo was a closely knit cluster of villages that shared a marketplace and a fortress named ]. | |||
| The year usually mentioned as the city creation is ], when the first ] governor of Bosnia - ] - intentionally transformed this village cluster into a city and a state capital by building a number of key objects, including a ], a closed marketplace, a public bath, a hostel and of course the Governors castle (''saray'') which gave the city its present name. | |||
| Sarajevo flourished in ] when its greatest donor and builder ] built most of the city downtown. It is generally believed that throughout most of 16th and ] Sarajevo was the largest city in ], save for ]. | |||
| In a raid led by ] in ] Sarajevo was burned down and leveled. It was later rebuilt, but it didn't truly recover from this destruction for centuries to follow. Bosnian capital was transferred to ]. | |||
| In ], Bosnia was occupied by ]. The clear intention of Austria-Hungarian architects was to rebuild Sarajevo as a modern European capital. They were unexpectedly aided by a fire that burned down a large part of central city area (''čaršija''). This has resulted in a unique blend of the remaining oriental city market and contemporary western architecture. Sarajevo hosts some shiny examples of ] and ] styles that date from this period. | |||
| ⚫ | In the event that triggered the ], ] and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo on ], ]. | ||
| Following the ], Sarajevo grew rapidly. Modern city blocks were built west of the old city, adding to Sarajevos architectural uniqueness. The peak of city growth occured in early ]ies, when Sarajevo was elected to host the ]. | |||
| In ], ], Sarajevo was surrounded by forces of Bosnian Serbs. The warfare that lasted until the October of ] resulted in a large scale destruction and dramatic changes in population. See ]. | |||
| Reconstruction of Sarajevo started as soon as the war ended, in ]. By ] most of the city was rebuilt, with only a few remaining visible ruins in the city center. Modern business buildings and skyscrapers are constructed throughout the city. Rampant capitalism shows little respect for old architectural traditions, which has already resulted in some damage to the unique architecture of Sarajevo. | |||
| ==Transportation== | |||
| Sarajevo international airport (intl. code SJJ) is located just a few kilometers southwest of the city. | |||
| A highway that connects Sarajevo with ] and central Europe is being modernized, but presently it is at some spots a little more than a paved countryside road. The speed limit is at most parts 60 or 80 km/h. | |||
| ==Sports== | |||
| The favorite sport of Sarajevoans is ]. The two football clubs, ''FC Sarajevo'' and ''FC Željezničar'', both have a long tradition of competing in European and world cups. | |||
| Basketball club ''Bosna'' Sarajevo won the European championship in ]. The chess club ''Bosna'' Sarajevo is at the very top of world chess since ]ies. | |||
| Many believed that following the Winter Olympics Sarajevo will become a regional skiing center, but that didn't happen. One of the principal reasons is global warming which rendered mountains arround Sarajevo useless for the most part of the year. | |||
| ==External resources== | |||
| * (presently available in ] only) | |||
| * | |||
| During the ] of the 1990s (see ]) a main street was known as ]'s Alley. | |||
| ] ] ] ] ] ] | ] ] ] ] ] ] | ||
Revision as of 11:17, 22 January 2004
Sarajevo, the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina (population: 450,000 (1991), est. 500,000 (2003)).
Sarajevo hosted the XIV Winter Olympics in 1984. In a brutal war that took place in 1992-1995, Sarajevo was severely destroyed and suffered the longest siege in world history.
Geography
Sarajevo is located close to the geometric center of triangular shaped Bosnia and Herzegovina, a few miles east of the spring of river Bosna. A small river named Miljacka flows through the city. The old city core is placed in a wide walley that forms a natural amphitheatre.
City center is at 511 metres above sea level with some suburbs reaching 700 metres, which makes Sarajevo one of the most elevated cities in Europe. The mountain peaks that surround Sarajevo reach and surpass 2000 metres above sea.
In the last few decades, satellite towns Ilidža and Vogošća have mostly merged with Sarajevo and became city suburbs.
History
The area of present day Sarajevo was continuously inhabited since Stone age. However, little material evidence is available, mostly due to later construction. A Roman town named Aquae S... (probably Aquae Sulphurae) existed on the location of present Ilidža.
During the early Middle ages, Sarajevo was a closely knit cluster of villages that shared a marketplace and a fortress named Vrhbosna.
The year usually mentioned as the city creation is 1461, when the first Ottoman governor of Bosnia - Isa-beg Ishaković - intentionally transformed this village cluster into a city and a state capital by building a number of key objects, including a mosque, a closed marketplace, a public bath, a hostel and of course the Governors castle (saray) which gave the city its present name.
Sarajevo flourished in 16th century when its greatest donor and builder Gazi Husrev-beg built most of the city downtown. It is generally believed that throughout most of 16th and 17th century Sarajevo was the largest city in Balkans, save for Istanbul.
In a raid led by Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1699 Sarajevo was burned down and leveled. It was later rebuilt, but it didn't truly recover from this destruction for centuries to follow. Bosnian capital was transferred to Travnik.
In 1878, Bosnia was occupied by Austria-Hungary. The clear intention of Austria-Hungarian architects was to rebuild Sarajevo as a modern European capital. They were unexpectedly aided by a fire that burned down a large part of central city area (čaršija). This has resulted in a unique blend of the remaining oriental city market and contemporary western architecture. Sarajevo hosts some shiny examples of Seccession and Pseudo-Maori styles that date from this period.
In the event that triggered the World War I, Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914.
Following the World War II, Sarajevo grew rapidly. Modern city blocks were built west of the old city, adding to Sarajevos architectural uniqueness. The peak of city growth occured in early 1980ies, when Sarajevo was elected to host the Winter Olympics.
In April 6th, 1992, Sarajevo was surrounded by forces of Bosnian Serbs. The warfare that lasted until the October of 1995 resulted in a large scale destruction and dramatic changes in population. See Sarajevo siege.
Reconstruction of Sarajevo started as soon as the war ended, in 1995. By 2003 most of the city was rebuilt, with only a few remaining visible ruins in the city center. Modern business buildings and skyscrapers are constructed throughout the city. Rampant capitalism shows little respect for old architectural traditions, which has already resulted in some damage to the unique architecture of Sarajevo.
Transportation
Sarajevo international airport (intl. code SJJ) is located just a few kilometers southwest of the city.
A highway that connects Sarajevo with Budapest and central Europe is being modernized, but presently it is at some spots a little more than a paved countryside road. The speed limit is at most parts 60 or 80 km/h.
Sports
The favorite sport of Sarajevoans is football. The two football clubs, FC Sarajevo and FC Željezničar, both have a long tradition of competing in European and world cups.
Basketball club Bosna Sarajevo won the European championship in 1979. The chess club Bosna Sarajevo is at the very top of world chess since 1980ies.
Many believed that following the Winter Olympics Sarajevo will become a regional skiing center, but that didn't happen. One of the principal reasons is global warming which rendered mountains arround Sarajevo useless for the most part of the year.
External resources
- The official page of the City of Sarajevo, including an interactive city map (presently available in Bosnian language only)
- City info service