Goat bridge
The Goat Bridge ( Kozija or Kozja ćuprija / Козја ћуприја) is an Ottoman stone arch bridge over the Miljacka about two kilometers east of the old town of Sarajevo . The bridge is located upstream of the Baščaršija in the narrow valley of the river.
history
The bridge, which consists of an arch, is located at the junction of the old trade route that connected Central Europe with Constantinople . The road later known as Bosanska džada used the valleys of Miljacka, Prača and Drina as natural traffic corridors. After the conquest of Bosnia by the Ottoman Empire and in the course of Sarajevo's rise to the political and economic center, the old trade route was also expanded. In Sarajevo alone, 13 new bridges were built, five of them made of stone. The Goat Bridge is one of four Ottoman bridges that have been preserved in the urban area of Sarajevo to this day.
It is believed that the goat bridge - as well as the more famous bridge over the Drina in Višegrad further east and the bridge over the Žepa - was built during the reign of Sokollu Mehmed Pascha , probably in the second half of the 1570s. An inscription near the bridge suggests this. The oldest known documentary mention of the goat bridge, however, only dates from 1771 .
In the Ottoman period, the bridge marked the eastern entrance to Sarajevo. Departing or returning viziers and pilgrims were welcomed or adopted here.
Today a cycling and hiking trail leads from Vijećnica in the city center along Miljacka to the goat bridge. The people of Sarajevo like to use the path for excursions. The goat bridge no longer plays a role as a road link.
Dimensions
The bridge has a length of 42 meters and a width of 4.75 meters. The span of the arch is 17.5 meters.
Surname
According to legend, the name "Goat Bridge" was derived from the nearby large cattle market where goats were also sold.
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 43 ° 51 ′ 13 ″ N , 18 ° 27 ′ 26 ″ E