Sarajevo
The 2010 workshop in Sarajevo included an exploration of memory sites in the city of Sarajevo. Some indications were given to three parallel groups about possible places to visit and explore, but it was left to the groups to which place they would finally go. The idea was to gather impressions, questions and information, and to discuss about the findings the next day in plenary.
It turned out that mainly the following places were visited:
- The exhibition on the siege of Sarajevo in the Historical Museum, which is focusing on the daily life of the citizens in Sarajevo between 1992 and 1995. The Historical Museum (which was formerly the “Museum of Revolution of Bosnia and Herzegovina”) has itself been damaged during the war and for example the roof has still not been repaired due to lack of funds, the building itself therefore bearing witness to the siege and the post-war-situation.
- The monument to the killed children of the besieged Sarajevo: Consisting of a glass monument surrounded by a water fountain and several small columns with the names of 521 killed children, it was erected in 2009, on one of the central places of Sarajevo, on the initiative of the “Association of the Parents of the Murdered Children in the Besieged Sarajevo 1992–1995”.
- The “roses” of Sarajevo, a private initiative after the war which filled with red resin grenade impacts in the streets where at least three persons had been killed by these grenades. Since their creation many of these “roses” have disappeared as the asphalt was replaced, but in 2012 the Canton of Sarajevo has decided to conserve and protect the remaining ones.
- The commemoration plaques at Markale, related to the massacres of February 5, 1994, and August 28, 1995, when shells killed 67 respectively 43 persons. The names of the victims have been inscribed on commemorative plaques, nearby another plaque which main inscription says: “On this place, Serb criminals killed the 5.2.1994 (28.8.95) 67 (43) citizens of Sarajevo”.
- The Memorial Park in Vraca dedicated to the killed Partisans and Civilian Victims of World War II in Sarajevo, was opened in 1981 and covers a total of approx. 6 hectares, including a former fortress from Austrian-Hungarian times. Many parts have been devastated during the siege of Sarajevo; the Memorial Park was designated as a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2005, but only minor reconstruction has been realized until now.
Pictures of the visit:
Historical Museum of BiH
One Sarajevo Rose
Memorial Park Vraca
Memorial Park Vraca
In the Historical Museum
The monument to the killed children
Markale Monument
Markale with the monument in the background
More info:
About the Historical Museum:
http://www.muzej.ba/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294450-d447590-Reviews-Sarajevo_History_Museum-Sarajevo_Sarajevo_Canton.html
About the Children’s Monument:
http://www.visitsarajevo.biz/sightseeing/attractions/pieces-of-sarajevo/sarajevo-children-memorial/
About the Sarajevo roses:
http://www.balkantravellers.com/en/read/article/2183
About commemorations at Markale:
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/sarajevo-vows-to-remember-markale-victims
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/rss/221071--market-massacre-commemorated-in-sarajevo
About Vraca Memorial Park:
http://www.visitsarajevo.biz/sightseeing/attractions/pieces-of-sarajevo/vraca
http://kons.gov.ba/main.php?id_struct=50&lang=4&action=view&id=2559
In general:
http://psitsglobal.blogspot.com/2013/02/wounded-sarajevo-war-scars-in-bosnian.html
