White Bridge (Vranje)
The White Bridge ( Serbian Бели мост Beli most ) or Bridge of Love ( Serbian Мост љубави Most ljubavi ) is a historic stone bridge in Vranje ( Serbia ). It was built around 1844 to cross the Vranje river of the same name . Today the bridge is a protected cultural asset .
Legend
Legend has it that the White Bridge was built by a Turkish woman in memory of her daughter's unhappy love for a local shepherd boy. At that time Vranje still belonged to the Ottoman Empire. With the birth of his daughter Ayşe, the rich and powerful Selim-Bey (also Selim-Beg or Selim-Pascha) is said to have been predicted that she would fall in love with a Gavur . By keeping his daughter locked up, he wanted to prevent this prophecy. He had a tall tower built on his house and let Ayşe live there. From this tower Ayşe could see the Serbian shepherd boy Stojan walking past the river with his sheep every day, and they fell in love. They met secretly and dreamed of fleeing to the mountains together. Their meetings did not go unnoticed, however, and Selim-Bey soon heard that his daughter was secretly meeting with a fellow. One day Selim-Bey noticed Ayşe once again sneaking out of the house, and he followed her. When he found his daughter Ayşe in the arms of the shepherd boy on the banks of the Vranje, Selim-Bey tried to kill the boy. However, he is said to have killed or shot his own daughter, who wanted to protect the boy she loved with her body. Stojan is said to have taken his own life with a dagger or, according to another version, was fatally hit by a second bullet from Selim-Bey.
At the point of this real or supposed tragedy, the mother Ayşe ', who is said to have been unable to cope with the death of her daughter and who is said to have condemned her husband, built the White Bridge. Another tradition says that the dying Ayşe asked her father in a last wish to build this bridge from her dowry in memory of her and her love. A stone plaque is attached to the bridge, on which is written in Turkish and Arabic script:
“This bridge is called the white bridge, and it is meant to serve to help people. The water that flows under her should serve the health of the people. You who go over it, go over it once and then return, and you will see that it was built for the good of every human being. Mohammed, you chosen one, help the servant Ayşe, the owner. Oh protector, the owner of this goodness and beauty, the servant Ayşe, built this bridge so that God might forgive her sins and the sins of her parents. "
According to a widespread opinion, it should be written at the end: "Cursed be the one who shares what love has united." However, this may be part of the legend about the "bridge of love", which is traditionally repeatedly used by couples in love Recently, especially on Valentine's Day or on the day of St. Tryphon (among Orthodox Christians, St. Tryphon is the protector of lovers).
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.tixik.com/en/white-bridge-2363550.htm (en)
- ↑ http://www.vesti.rs/Vesti/Ljubavno-obelezje-Ajse-i-Stojana.html (sr)
- ↑ Archived copy ( Memento of the original from September 27, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (en)
Coordinates: 42 ° 33 ′ 43.7 " N , 21 ° 53 ′ 53" E