Landmärket Mostar Clock Tower (Sahat Kula) härrör från den ottomanska perioden i Bosnien och Hercegovinas historia och är en av många turkiskt påverkade byggnader i Mostars fotogena gamla stad (Stari Grad). Det byggdes runt 1630 och är ett fyrkantigt, krämigt torn med toppar med en klocka och ett grått skiffertak, det når 15 meter (49 fot) i höjd och står uppför en brant flygning av slitna stensteg bredvid Hercegovina-museet. Ursprungligen hade tornet en klocka, som tydligen kunde höras upp till tre timmars promenad bort, men den smälts ner under den österrikisk-ungerska ockupationen av landet och har aldrig ersatts. Liksom många av Mostars framstående historiska byggnader drabbades Sahat Kula av allvarliga skador under Balkankrigen på 1990-talet men återställdes helt 1999.
Walking tours of Mostar often pass by the Mostar Clock Tower, and it's worth visiting with a guide to understand the landmark's historical context. Many tours focus on the town's troubled history, from the breakup of Yugoslavia through the Bosnian War and the Croat-Bosniak War. In contrast, others center more on the town's melting pot of architectural influences. Either way, you'll learn about the UNESCO-led restorations of the Old Bridge area, which symbolized peace and reconciliation for the people of Mostar.
Many travelers visit Mostar on a day trip from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital, or Dubrovnik, Croatia.
The clock tower is no longer in use and is closed to visitors. Instead, you can admire it from the outside and read the information board (available in English).
The tower is located along a roughly paved street with many steps, making access tricky for wheelchairs, strollers, and those with limited mobility. However, you may still be able to enjoy the views from afar.
The Clock Tower sits on the eastern outskirts of Mostar's Old Town, next to the Herzegovina Museum. The Old Town is largely pedestrianized, so it's easiest to get around on foot; the Clock Tower is about a 5-minute walk from the Old Bridge.
As you can only admire the tower from the outside, you can visit anytime. However, you should coordinate your visit with the neighboring Herzegovina Museum, so it's worth consulting the museum's opening hours.
Mostar's restored Old Town, which centers on its famous 16th-century Old Bridge (Stari Most), is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it's also renowned for its unique mix of historical architecture. As you stroll around the cobbled lanes, you can admire the old Turkish-style houses restored from Mostar's days as an Ottoman frontier town and pre-Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian styles from the 19th and 20th centuries. Look out for the Cejvan Cehaj Mosque, Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, Kujundziluk Bazaar, and the Old Bridge.