Sarajevo Tunnel, War memorial tunnel museum in Butmir, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Sarajevo Tunnel is an underground passage of 800 meters in length, preserved as a museum and memorial site from the time of the siege. The site includes a two-story residential house whose basement served as the southern entrance, along with a walkable section featuring low concrete walls and wooden supports.
Between 1993 and 1995, residents dug this passage beneath the airport runway to bring people and supplies into the besieged city. After the peace agreement, the Kolar family house was turned into a museum, with a portion of the original route kept open for visitors.
The museum is known locally as the "Tunel spasa" or "Tunnel of Hope", a name reflecting its vital role for families separated by the siege. Inside the exhibition rooms, personal items and clothing worn by people crossing the passage are displayed alongside letters and handwritten notes.
The walkable section inside is low and narrow, so visitors should bend down and watch for uneven flooring. The site is located in a residential area outside the city center, so a taxi or organized transfer offers the easiest route.
Construction teams laid railway tracks and installed water pumps, allowing carts to transport up to 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of cargo at a time. At the dampest points, several centimeters of water often pooled on the floor, requiring workers to pump constantly.
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