Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge

The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge is a limestone arch bridge crossing the Drina River in Višegrad with eleven arches spanning roughly 180 meters. The arches vary in width and create a distinctive profile when viewed from the riverbank.

Built between 1571 and 1577 by architect Mimar Sinan under orders from Grand Vizier Mehmed Paša Sokolović, the structure served as an important administrative and trade link in the Ottoman Empire. Its construction marked a period of significant investment in regional infrastructure.

The bridge appears in Ivo Andrić's novel as a meeting point where different communities encounter one another. Today, visitors often recognize the structure through this literary connection that shaped how people understand the place.

Walking across the bridge is the best way to experience its structure and the river from different angles. Boat tours on the Drina offer another perspective on the architecture and typically operate during favorable weather.

The bridge is known to remain exceptionally stable during floods, having retained its structural integrity through major flood events over centuries. This characteristic of its construction demonstrates careful engineering in response to the river's seasonal behavior.

Location: Republika Srpska

Architects: Mimar Sinan

Official opening: 1577

Architectural style: Ottoman architecture

Length: 179.5 m

Made from material: limestone

GPS coordinates: 43.78248,19.28794

Latest update: December 20, 2025 12:43