Sarajevo City Hall (Vijećnica)
Vijećnica
A lavish neo-Moorish City Hall, set on fire by shelling in 1992 and reopened in 2014. Its colorful domed atrium is stunning.
Built by the Austro-Hungarian government in 1896 in a neo-Moorish style modeled on Andalusian architecture in Spain, the City Hall is instantly recognizable by its yellow-and-red striped facade. Archduke Franz Ferdinand set off from here on the day he was assassinated. Later it served as the national and university library. In August 1992 it was shelled and set on fire by Serb forces, destroying around 1.5 million books, and it became a defining symbol of the siege. Restored and reopened in 2014, the hexagonal atrium with its stained-glass dome and staircase is spectacular, and the basement has an exhibition on the history of the siege. Tickets cost about 10 BAM. It is located at the eastern end of Baščaršija, by the river.
Opening hours
Daily 09:00–20:00 (until 17:00 in winter)
Nearby sights
- Baščaršija
- Morića Han
- Emperor's Mosque
- Old Orthodox Church
- Trebević Cable Car
- Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
- Latin Bridge & Museum Sarajevo 1878–1918
- Yellow Fortress