Ovčiji Brod

Ovčiji Brod
Coordinates	43°14′34″N 18°13′50″E / 43.242763°N 18.230460°E / 43.242763; 18.230460Coordinates: 43°14′34″N 18°13′50″E / 43.242763°N 18.230460°E / 43.242763; 18.230460
Carries	Pedestrians and bicycles
Crosses	Zalomka river
Locale	Nevesinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Heritage status	KONS
Characteristics
Design	Arch
Material	Stone
Total length	cca 50 m (164 ft)
Width	3 m (10 ft)
Height	5 m (16 ft)
Longest span	5 m (16 ft)
No. of spans	3
Piers in water	2
History
Architect	Mimar Hayruddin, apprentice of Mimar Sinan
Constructed by	Ottoman Empire
Construction end	16th century
Rebuilt	1883 repaired arch
Location

Ovčiji Brod (transl. Sheep Crossing) is a bridge spanning Zalomka river, which is located in Bratač village, Nevesinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is another masterpiece of Ottoman bridge building in Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[1][2][3]

History[]

The bridge was probably erected in the sixteenth century or even later, but most likely after the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge was built in Višegrad. It's suspected that this bridge was built by no other than the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Hayruddin, who also built the Stari Most in Mostar. The name of the bridge (Sheep Crossing) probably comes from shepherds who used to get their sheep herds across the river by using this bridge.

Construction[]

It is built entirely of stone, it is about three meters wide and its slender appearance, with three arches, irresistibly reminds of the diminished version of the Ćuprija na Drini in Višegrad. Despite its age, and very little restoration, the bridge is well preserved and still used today. The bridge, along with the Kalufi stećak necropolis, was nominated as potential candidates for UNESCO's listing of the World Cultural Heritage.

References[]

See also[]

• List of bridges in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• List of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina