Sarajevo Tunnel, Sarajevo

Sarajevo Tunnel, Sarajevo (must see)

The Sarajevo Tunnel, also known as Tunel spasa and Tunnel of Hope, was a tunnel constructed between March and June 1993 during the Siege of Sarajevo in the midst of the Bosnian War. It was built by the Bosnian Army in order to link the city of Sarajevo, which was entirely cut off by Serbian forces, with Bosnian-held territory on the other side of the Sarajevo Airport, an area controlled by the United Nations.

The tunnel linked the Sarajevo neighbourhoods of Dobrinja and Butmir, allowing food, war supplies, and humanitarian aid to come into the city, and allowing people to get out. The tunnel became a major way of bypassing the international arms embargo and providing the city defenders with weaponry.

After the war, The Sarajevo Tunnel Museum was built onto the historic private house whose cellar served as the entrance to the Sarajevo Tunnel. Visitors can still walk down a small length of the tunnel (approximately 20 metres). The "house" museum exhibits archival materials including an 18-minute-long film, war photographs, military equipment, flags, military uniforms, along with flotsam and jetsam. In 2004, local planning authorities were seeking funding for a "full reconstruction of the tunnel" and the "construction of museum buildings at its entrance and exit points".

The house and the land around Sarajevo Tunnel's entrance are owned by Bajro Kolar, a local man who runs the private museum. In a documentary about the Sarajevo War Tunnel, he talked about his reasons for turning the house into a war facility. He said, "whatever we have, we gave for the defense and liberation of Sarajevo." Having existed for 15 years without any governmental financial support, the museum is becoming one of the most visited sites of the Bosnian capital, with hundreds of daily visitors. Many guided tours in Sarajevo include the Tunnel Museum as one of the war sites most worth visiting in the city.

The museum is open to visitors every working day from 09:00 to 16:00.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Sarajevo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sarajevo Tunnel on Map

Sight Name: Sarajevo Tunnel
Sight Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina (See walking tours in Sarajevo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Create Your Own Walk in Sarajevo

Create Your Own Walk in Sarajevo

Creating your own self-guided walk in Sarajevo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Sarajevo Introduction Walking Tour

Sarajevo Introduction Walking Tour

Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also the country's largest city. This historical and picturesque city is surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and rests along both banks of the Miljacka River.

The city was established by the Ottoman Empire around 1461. It was named "Sarajevo," which means "the plains around the palace." The name is derived from the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Siege of Sarajevo Walking Tour

Siege of Sarajevo Walking Tour

The Siege of Sarajevo was an extended battle in the city during the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1996. It is known to be the most prolonged siege of a capital city, having lasted several months longer than the early 20th century Siege of Madrid.

The Bosnian War began when Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia. The city was blockaded by the Serbs and bombarded by bombs, tanks,...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Ottoman Empire Landmarks Walk

Ottoman Empire Landmarks Walk

The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, was founded in 1461 after the Ottoman Empire conquered the region. Hence, the city's history is closely intertwined with the Ottoman legacy reflected in its landmarks.

One such is the Old Bazaar, a bustling market square dating back to the 15th century. Here, one can immerse oneself in the vibrant atmosphere of traditional crafts, authentic...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles