Despić House, Museum house in Stari Grad, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Despić House is a museum-house at the corner of Obala Kulina bana and Despićeva Street, near the Latin Bridge in Sarajevo's Baščaršija. Built in stages, its oldest section dates from the 17th century. The interior preserves 19th-century residential features: musandare (built-in cupboards), rafe (shelves), tiled stoves with small pots, and peškuni (washbasins), along with restored painted wooden planks.

The oldest part of the house dates from the 17th century, and it was built in several phases across three periods. It belonged to the wealthy Orthodox Despić family, who gave it to the city of Sarajevo together with another building that now houses the Museum of Literature and Performing Arts. The house was repaired in 2001 with support from the Swedish foundation Cultural Heritage without Borders, the Sarajevo Canton government and the Institute for the Protection of Monuments.

The house is remembered as the forerunner of modern theatre in Sarajevo: its rooms hosted the city's first classical theatre performances. The Despić family, wealthy Orthodox Serb merchants, gave the house to Sarajevo together with a second building that now holds the Museum of Literature and Theatre Arts.

The building operates today as an exhibition space open to visitors who want to see the interior furnishings and arrangement. It is best to check current opening times before your visit, as they may vary seasonally.

The oldest section keeps musandare, rafe, built-in cupboards with small pots and peškuni, showing 19th-century living culture. Look for the directly painted wooden planks, restored and reconstructed after the house was repaired in 2001 with the Swedish foundation Cultural Heritage without Borders, the Sarajevo Canton government and the Federal monument protection institute.