Višegrad, River town in eastern Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Višegrad sits where the Drina and Rzav rivers meet, with the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge spanning 179 meters (587 feet) across the water as its defining feature. The town is shaped by its riverside location and the bridge's presence at its center.
The region was part of the medieval Serbian Nemanjić dynasty until 1454, when Ottoman forces took control and shaped the town's development and architecture. This transition marked a turning point in how the place grew and was built.
The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge became famous worldwide through Ivo Andrić's novel The Bridge on the Drina and earned UNESCO World Heritage recognition. The structure shapes the town's identity and connects communities through its enduring presence.
Walk through the old town toward the riverside to see the bridge from different angles and experience the town's layout firsthand. Local restaurants near the water serve traditional food, and the House of Culture Andrićgrad hosts exhibitions throughout the year.
The bridge features a carved stone platform built into its center where people have gathered for centuries, a detail central to Andrić's novel. Original Arabic inscriptions from the sixteenth century remain visible on this meeting point, which locals and visitors use today.
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