Sarajevo City Hall (known as Vijećnica) was designed in 1891 by the Czech architect Karel Pařík, but criticisms by the minister, Baron Béni Kállay, caused him to stop working on the project. It was initially the largest and most representative building of the Austro-Hungarian period in Sarajevo and served as the city hall. Building works began in 1892 and were completed in 1894. 

On 25 August 1992, Serbian shelling during the Siege of Sarajevo caused the complete destruction of the library; among the losses were about 700 manuscripts and incunabula and a unique collection of Bosnian serial publications, some from the middle of the 19th century Bosnian cultural revival. Before the attack, the library held 1.5 million volumes and over 155,000 rare books and manuscripts. Some citizens and librarians tried to save some books while they were under sniper fire, at least one person died.

After it was repaired, the building, now a national monument, has been used for variety of events. Its space has been be used for various protocol events for all levels of government, concerts and exhibitions.

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User Reviews

İbrahim Güngör (5 months ago)
You can enter the town hall by paying a fee. It has a wonderful view at night. There is a Sarajevo sign right in front of it. You can take photos in front of it.
Jay (6 months ago)
This is a remarkable place with respect to educating visitors about its absolutely awful, tragic past. The brightly, elegant architecture on the walls, windows and pillars, deeply contrasts with the horrific factual records in the Law section of the ground floor; this displays the atrocities that happened to the victims of Bosnia: mass beatings, detention, mass rape, murder, and genocide, and gradually leads to the work of the International Criminal Tribunal who have brought most of the heinous perpetrators to account. Please be prepared to have goose bumps and feel nauseous, as you read through the materials on display. It is a great effort by the organisers of City Hall, to remind the public of its very dark past, in the hope that history does not repeat itself.
Casper Kole (7 months ago)
Beatiful building, the art exhibit on the top 2 floors is pretty bad art imo. But the exhibit about the genocide and the court hearings in the cellar was very good!
Koen (9 months ago)
In the east of Sarajevo's historic center stands one of the city's most striking buildings: the Sarajevo City Hall, also known as Vijećnica. The Neo-Moorish design from 1891 is by the Czech architect Karel Pařík, and although the building was completed in 1894, it was not formally opened until April 20, 1896. Here Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie enjoyed their last meal on June 28 1914. In 1949 the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina (NUL) was established here. During the Siege of Sarajevo (1992-1996), the building was severely damaged, and its restoration was not completed until 2014. Nowadays, in addition to the NUL, the Vijećnica also houses the mayor and the City Council of Sarajevo. Fortunately, you cannot (and should not) miss this characteristic and beautiful building!
Fion C (12 months ago)
A very informative city hall - story of the city and the most impressive is the exhibition in the basement level. It walks you through what the city has experienced. You can tell the whole city is trying their very best to reserve their culture. All the documentations and imagery are very well preserved and informative.
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