Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad


World Heritage Identification Number: 1260

World Heritage since: 2007

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Continent: Europe

UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America

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The Architectural Marvel: Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad

The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge, nestled in the picturesque town of Višegrad, stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of artistry and engineering prowess that characterized the Ottoman Empire's golden age. This architectural marvel, completed in 1577, is a masterpiece designed by the renowned Ottoman court architect, Mimar Sinan, under the commission of Grand Vizier Mehmed Paša Sokolović.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge of Višegrad across the Drina River in the east of Bosnia and Herzegovina was built at the end of the 16th century by the court architect Mimar Koca Sinan on the orders of Grand Vizier Mehmed Paša Sokolović. Characteristic of the apogee of Ottoman monumental architecture and civil engineering, the bridge has 11 masonry arches with spans of 11 m to 15 m, and an access ramp at right angles with four arches on the left bank of the river. The 179.5 m long bridge is a representative masterpiece of Sinan, one of the greatest architects and engineers of the classical Ottoman period and a contemporary of the Italian Renaissance, with which his work may be compared. The unique elegance of proportion and monumental nobility of the whole site bear witness to the greatness of this style of architecture.

Encyclopedia Record: Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge

The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge is a historic bridge in Višegrad, over the Drina River in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina part of the Republika Srpska entity. It was completed in 1577 by the Ottoman court architect Mimar Sinan on the order of the Grand Vizier Mehmed Paša Sokolović. In 2003 bridge was included into the List of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina by KONS, and UNESCO inclusion into the World Heritage List followed in 2007.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 1.5 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape

Coordinates: 43.7814444444 , 19.288025

Image

Image of Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad

© Julian Nyča, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Country Information: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Official Name: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Capital: Sarajevo

Continent: Europe

Population (2024): 3,164,253

Population (2023): 3,185,073

Population (2022): 3,204,802

Land Area: 51,200 sq km

Currency: Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (BAM)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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