Goat's Bridge

The Goat Bridge ( Kozija or Kozja ćuprija ) is an Ottoman stone arch bridge over the Miljacka river about two kilometers east of the old town of Sarajevo. The bridge is located upstream of the Bescarsija in the narrow valley of the river.

History

The one- arch bridge is located at the junction of ancient trade route that linked Central Europe with Konstantin Opel. The later as Bosanska džada designated road used here the valleys of Miljacka, Praca and Drina as natural corridors. After the conquest of Bosnia by the Ottoman Empire and in the wake of the rise of Sarajevo to the political and economic center and the old trade route was expanded. In Sarajevo alone created 13 new bridges, five of them from stone. The Goat Bridge is one of four Ottoman bridges, which have been preserved to this day in the city of Sarajevo.

It is assumed that the goat bridge - as well as the more famous bridge on the Drina in Visegrad further east - was built in the reign of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, probably in the second half of the 1570s. An inscription near the bridge suggests that. However, the earliest known mention of the goat bridge dates from the year 1771st

In the Ottoman period the bridge marked the eastern entrance to Sarajevo. Departing and returning viziers and pilgrims have been adopted here and ready to collect.

Today, a hiking and biking trail leads from the Vijecnica in the city center on the Miljacka river to the goat bridge. The path is used by the inhabitants of Sarajevo like Desk. As a road connecting the goats Bridge no longer plays a role.

The bridge has a length of 42 meters and a width of 4.75 meters. The span of the arch is 17.5 meters.

Name

The name "Goat Bridge " was, according to legend by all taking place in the vicinity of large cattle market where goats have been sold, is derived.