Sarajevo’s City Hall officially opened in 1896 when the city was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It’s constructed in a neo-Moorish style, and has lovely flower-motif stained glass windows inside, as well as brilliant stone work and woodwork.
The building suffered a tragedy in 1992, when Serbs shelled the building and set it on fire. At the time, the building was being used as the National and University Library of Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH). Over two million priceless books and manuscripts detailing BiH’s history were lost, and over 80% of the building was destroyed. Sarajevo residents tried to save the collection but had to do so under heavy sniper fire from the nearby hills. Reconstruction of the building took 18 years, finally reopening in 2014.
It’s currently being used as City Hall chambers, as well as special events. There are exhibits on Sarajevo’s history from its medieval origins to present day, some gruesome photos of mass murders during the Bosnian civil war of the 1990s, and a recreation of the courtroom at the Hague that conducted the war crimes tribunals. There’s also a nice official reception room and balcony with a view of the river and surrounding hillsides, but those were closed today due to a mayoral reception being held there.
Sarajevo City Hall as it looks today, as seen from across the Miljacka River.
The city hall as it was being consumed by fire in 1992.
The ground floor reception area and rotunda.
Stained glass as you go up the stairway.
Lovely ceiling work
This section features cedars.
I believe this was the ballroom and reception room for formal events.
Re-creation of the courtroom at the Hague where the war crimes trials were held after the Serbian war.
This room in Sarajevo’s City Hall honors Arrchduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sofia. Franz Ferdinand was the heir apparent of the then-crumbling Austro-Hungarian Empire. He and Sofia were assassinated by operatives of the secret Serbian Black Hand organization, who wanted independence for the Serbian Empire. Their assassination, just a few hundred meters from City Hall, ignited World War I.
Sarajevo City Hall, known as Vijećnica, is located at Obala Kulina bana 1 in Sarajevo and is on the north side of the Miljacka River. Admission is 10 Bosnian convertible marks (KM), or less than $6 USD for adults and 5KM for seniors. It is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily. Guided tours are available.