Franciscan Church Bell Tower
Enjoy a panoramic view of Mostar from 107 meters tall Franciscan church bell tower!
Symbolically called Mostar Peace Bell Tower, this Franciscan church bell tower is the largest building in the city. The elevator will take you almost to the top, where you can see the Mostar from a height of 80 meters, through four 3×3 meters windows.
History
Church of St. Peter and St. Paul was built in 1866. At that time, Bosnia and Herzegovina (thus Mostar too) was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. In 1859, Sultan Abdulmejid I published an acclamation which guaranteed Christians their religious freedom. Consequently, the Franciscan monks in Mostar invited Italian architect Matteo Lorenzoni, who designed a project for the church. The workers built the walls on the foundation of oak trunks. The locals finished construction in 1875 and they completely built it. Also, significant financial help came from Austro-Hungarian consulate and French vice-consulate in Mostar. Next to the church, they built a monastery with a well-stocked library.
Why you should visit
The church has undergone a few big reconstructions. First one was after heavy bombing in World War II. After that, the second reconstruction started in 1983 and was finished in 1988. The war completely destroyed the church only four years after. Yugoslavian National Army hit the church with grenades during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They built a completely new church in the same place in 2000. Today’s church and it’s bell tower are giving locals and tourists magnificent bird’s-eye view over Mostar.
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