The Latin Bridge (Latinska ćuprija) is an Ottoman-era stone bridge over the Miljacka River in the old centre of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 28 June 1914, at the street corner by its northern end, the 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip shot Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie. The assassination set off the crisis that led to the First World War a month later.
Today the corner is home to the Museum Sarajevo 1878–1918, and the bridge is one of the city's most visited landmarks. It is also a stop on our Balkan tours, and these are photos of one of our groups standing right there.
The Latin Bridge at a glance
| Name | Latin Bridge (Latinska ćuprija); called Princip Bridge in Yugoslav times |
|---|---|
| Where | Over the Miljacka River in central Sarajevo, a short walk from Baščaršija, the old bazaar |
| Built | Ottoman period; the first stone bridge on this site dates from the 16th century |
| Famous for | The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914, the spark of World War I |
| On the corner | Museum Sarajevo 1878–1918, about the Austro-Hungarian era and the assassination |
| Visiting | A pedestrian bridge, open to walk across at any time |
| On our tours | Full Balkan Experience (day 10), Tour of Yugoslavia (day 4), All the Balkan Countries (day 12) |
A few steps from a small stone bridge, two shots changed the twentieth century.
What happened at the Latin Bridge on 28 June 1914
Bosnia and Herzegovina had been under Austro-Hungarian rule since 1878 and was formally annexed in 1908, a move bitterly opposed by many South Slavs. In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand came to Sarajevo to watch army manoeuvres, and on the morning of 28 June he and his wife Sophie drove through the city in an open car.
The day nearly ended differently. A member of a small group of young conspirators threw a bomb at the motorcade along the riverside; it bounced off and wounded people in the car behind. The Archduke continued to the reception at the City Hall. Afterwards, on the way to visit the wounded, his driver took a wrong turn and stopped to reverse at the corner by the Latin Bridge. Gavrilo Princip, a 19-year-old member of the Young Bosnia movement, was standing there. He fired twice, killing both the Archduke and Sophie.
Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia, and exactly one month later, on 28 July 1914, it declared war. Within days the alliances of Europe had pulled the great powers into the First World War.
The bridge itself
Long before 1914, the Latin Bridge was simply one of the old crossings of the Miljacka: a low Ottoman stone bridge with graceful arches and round openings in its piers that let floodwater through. It takes its name from the Latin quarter on the river's right bank, where Catholic merchants once lived. In Yugoslav times it was renamed Princip Bridge after the assassin; it went back to its old name in the 1990s.
What you see there today
The corner building at the northern end of the bridge houses the Museum Sarajevo 1878–1918, a small museum about Austro-Hungarian Sarajevo and the assassination, with photographs and objects from the period. Standing on the pavement outside, you are a few steps from where Princip fired. Read more on our page about the Latin Bridge.
Our Sarajevo walk
On our tours the Latin Bridge is part of a full walk through the old city, where mosques, churches, a cathedral and a synagogue stand within a few streets of each other. The walk usually includes:
- Baščaršija, the old Ottoman bazaar, and the wooden Sebilj fountain
- The Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and its covered market, the Bezistan
- Morića Han, an old caravanserai, and Kazandžiluk, the coppersmiths' street
- Sarajevo City Hall, where Franz Ferdinand was received on the morning of 28 June 1914
- The Emperor's Mosque, Sarajevo Cathedral and the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
- The Latin Bridge and the museum corner
How our groups travel
A Balkan tour means long, scenic drives between countries. Your tour leader travels with the group, checks everyone onto the coach, keeps the timings and handles the border crossings, so the only thing you need to think about is the view.
Tours that stop at the Latin Bridge
- Full Balkan Experience: A 10 Day Tour: Sarajevo is the final day, after Dubrovnik and Mostar.
- Tour of Yugoslavia in 12 Days: Sarajevo on day 4, between Mostar and Serbia.
- All the Balkan Countries: A 16 Day Tour: Sarajevo on day 12.
New to our Balkan tours? Read who Balkan Inbound is, or see our two-week Balkans itinerary.
Tips for visiting
- Go early or late for photos without crowds; the bridge is busiest at midday.
- Combine it with Baščaršija, a few minutes' walk away.
- Bring cash in convertible marks (KM), Bosnia and Herzegovina's currency, for coffee, museum tickets and the bazaar.
- Dress modestly if you plan to go inside the mosques and churches on the walk.
- Watch for trams on the riverside road next to the bridge.
Frequently asked questions
Where did World War I start?
The event that triggered the First World War happened in Sarajevo, at the street corner by the northern end of the Latin Bridge. There, on 28 June 1914, Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife Sophie.
Who was assassinated at the Latin Bridge?
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg. They were shot by Gavrilo Princip, a 19-year-old member of the Young Bosnia movement.
Why is it called the Latin Bridge?
It is named after the Latin quarter on the right bank of the Miljacka, where Catholic merchants once lived. In Yugoslav times it was called Princip Bridge, and it returned to its old name in the 1990s.
Is there a museum at the Latin Bridge?
Yes. The Museum Sarajevo 1878–1918 stands on the corner at the northern end of the bridge and tells the story of Austro-Hungarian Sarajevo and the assassination.
How long do you need at the Latin Bridge?
Fifteen to thirty minutes for the bridge and the corner, or around an hour with the museum. Most visitors combine it with a walk through Baščaršija and the old town.
Which of your tours visit Sarajevo and the Latin Bridge?
Full Balkan Experience in 10 Days, Tour of Yugoslavia in 12 Days and All the Balkan Countries in 16 Days. Each includes a guided walk through Sarajevo's old town with a stop at the Latin Bridge.
What else is near the Latin Bridge?
Baščaršija and the Sebilj fountain, the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and Bezistan, Morića Han, the coppersmiths' street and Sarajevo City Hall are all a short walk away.
