Memories from the Siege, Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Of all the cities I’ve traveled to over the past couple of years, if I had to pick one that was the most “memorable” or one that I learned the most from, it would hands-down be Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A city full of scars from the war that ended in 1996. The fact that I was alive during this conflict (albeit, I was four and completely unaware such a thing was happening halfway across the world) made it so much more chilling and visceral. Buildings stand still tattered with bullet holes and chunks missing from mortar shells, showing just how painful and recent the siege was.

Our tour was a two-day endeavor led by guide Muhamed Vlajcic of Sarajevo Urban Adventures. It was incredibly informative and deeply emotional. Muhamed is young, but the war was so recent that he remembers living through it vividly, and even has some scars of his own.

The Sarajevo Tunnel is a must visit for anyone spending time in the city. This underground tunnel was constructed during the siege in order to transport food and supplies into Sarajevo despite the blockades imposed by the Serbian forces. Today, most of the tunnel has been closed off, but you can walk through a portion of it and visit the house that has now been turned into a museum. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).