Vojinovića Bridge
Encyclopedia
Vojinovića Bridge is located in Vučitrn
, Kosovo. It dates from the end of the 14th or early 15th century, and, according to popular legend, was built by the brothers Vojinović
, mentioned in Serbian epic poetry
as nephews of Tsar Dušan (King 1331 - 1346, tsar 1346 - 1355). It carried over the Sitnica
river the trade route between Dubrovnik
and Skopje
and neighbouring parts of the Balkan Peninsula.
Despite the need, no conservation
works were undertaken on the bridge, and in 1990 it was declared as a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance
by the Republic of Serbia. It is regarded as the oldest surviving stone bridge in Serbia. Since the end of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
in June 1999, and the arrival of KFOR
and UNMIK in Kosovo
, the bridge has been used to park all kinds of vehicles (cars, buses, tractors etc), and also as a rubbish tip.
, while its style places it at the end of the 14th or early 15th century. The Vojinovići
existed as nobility in the first half of 14th century, and according to epic poetry were nephews of Emperor Dušan. However Vučitrn itself was outside their area of control, which was expanding to the nearby Zvečan
, even at the time of their greatest power under the Vojislav Vojinović
(around 1355 - 1363) and Nikola Altomanović
(1366–1373). However in Vučitrn in the early 15th century, the court of the house of Branković is mentioned, who were related to the Vojinović family: Ratoslava, the sister of Branko Mladenović
(father of Vuk Branković) was married to Altoman Vojinović
(father of Nikola Altomanović).
and Skopje
across the river Sitnica
. It is constructed of alternate red and grey trimmed stones. It is over 135 metres long with nine arches, and almost 5 metres wide. The arches are asymmetric
, and most of them have a width of almost 13 metres. The course of the Sitnica changed over time: the bridge originally had 5 arches with sharp peaks, but 4 semicircular arches were subsequently added. The river continued to change its course over the centuries, and deposited sediment around the bridge, so that today it is no longer under the flowing river, and as a result of river sediment its total length has reduced.
Vucitrn
Vučitrn or Vushtrri is a city and municipality in north-eastern Kosovo. It is the seat of the Kosovska Mitrovica District. The name of the city means "wolf's thorn", the name of the spiny restharrow plant in Serbian....
, Kosovo. It dates from the end of the 14th or early 15th century, and, according to popular legend, was built by the brothers Vojinović
House of Vojinović
Vojinović was a medieval Serbian noble family which during the 14th century played an important role in the Serbian Empire, especially after the death of Emperor Dušan , when during collapse of Serbian Empire its representative Grand Dukes Vojislav Vojinović , and later his cousin Nikola...
, mentioned in Serbian epic poetry
Serbian epic poetry
Serb epic poetry is a form of epic poetry written by Serbs originating in today's Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro. The main cycles were composed by unknown Serb authors between the 14th and 19th centuries...
as nephews of Tsar Dušan (King 1331 - 1346, tsar 1346 - 1355). It carried over the Sitnica
Sitnica
The Sitnica , is a long river in Kosovo. It flows into the Ibar River at Kosovska Mitrovica, and it's the longest river that flows completely within Kosovo's borders.- History :...
river the trade route between Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
and Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
and neighbouring parts of the Balkan Peninsula.
Despite the need, no conservation
Architectural conservation
Architectural conservation describes the process through which the material, historical, and design integrity of mankind's built heritage are prolonged through carefully planned interventions. The individual engaged in this pursuit is known as an architectural conservator...
works were undertaken on the bridge, and in 1990 it was declared as a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance
Monuments of Culture of Exceptional Importance (Serbia)
Cultural Monuments of Exceptional Importance are the monuments in the Republic of Serbia that have the highest level of the State protection, and some of them are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites....
by the Republic of Serbia. It is regarded as the oldest surviving stone bridge in Serbia. Since the end of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...
in June 1999, and the arrival of KFOR
KFOR
The Kosovo Force is a NATO-led international peacekeeping force responsible for establishing a secure environment in Kosovo.KFOR entered Kosovo on 12 June 1999 under a United Nations mandate, two days after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244...
and UNMIK in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, the bridge has been used to park all kinds of vehicles (cars, buses, tractors etc), and also as a rubbish tip.
History
The building of the bridge is traditionally attributed to the Vojinović brothers, to whom is also attributed the nearby Vučitrn FortressVojinovića Tower
Vojinovića Tower or Vučitrn is a city fortifications in Vučitrn. It was the seat of Đurađ Branković in the time while he was district lord of Kosovo...
, while its style places it at the end of the 14th or early 15th century. The Vojinovići
House of Vojinović
Vojinović was a medieval Serbian noble family which during the 14th century played an important role in the Serbian Empire, especially after the death of Emperor Dušan , when during collapse of Serbian Empire its representative Grand Dukes Vojislav Vojinović , and later his cousin Nikola...
existed as nobility in the first half of 14th century, and according to epic poetry were nephews of Emperor Dušan. However Vučitrn itself was outside their area of control, which was expanding to the nearby Zvečan
Zvecan
Zvečan is a town and municipality in the Kosovska Mitrovica district of Kosovo. It is a part of North Kosovo, a region with an ethnic Serb majority that functions largely autonomously from the remainder of the ethnic-Albanian-majority Kosovo and Metohija. The municipality covers an area of , and...
, even at the time of their greatest power under the Vojislav Vojinović
Vojislav Vojinović
Vojislav Vojinović was a 14th-century Serbian nobleman that held the title "Duke of Gacko" from 1349 to 1363. He was a members of the Serbian noble House of Vojinović. Emperor Dušan the Mighty installed him as a "Duke of Hum" in 1358....
(around 1355 - 1363) and Nikola Altomanović
Nikola Altomanovic
Nikola Altomanović was Serbian župan from 14th century. He ruled vast areas from Rudnik, over Polimlje, Podrinje, east Herzegovina with Trebinje, till Konavle and Dračevica, neighboring the Republic of Dubrovnik...
(1366–1373). However in Vučitrn in the early 15th century, the court of the house of Branković is mentioned, who were related to the Vojinović family: Ratoslava, the sister of Branko Mladenović
Branko Mladenović
Branko Mladenović was a 14th-century Serb feudal lord in the Lake Ohrid border region in 1346 between the Serb lands ruled by Stefan Dušan and Albanian lands ruled by Matarango...
(father of Vuk Branković) was married to Altoman Vojinović
Altoman Vojinović
Altoman Vojinović of Zeta in the 14th century.He was born the eldest son of Vojvoda Vojin, who had fought under Stefan Dečanski and Stefan Dušan.He is believed to have died in 1363, but the last mention of him is in 1359....
(father of Nikola Altomanović).
Architecture
The bridge carried the caravan route between DubrovnikDubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
and Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
across the river Sitnica
Sitnica
The Sitnica , is a long river in Kosovo. It flows into the Ibar River at Kosovska Mitrovica, and it's the longest river that flows completely within Kosovo's borders.- History :...
. It is constructed of alternate red and grey trimmed stones. It is over 135 metres long with nine arches, and almost 5 metres wide. The arches are asymmetric
Asymmetry
Asymmetry is the absence of, or a violation of, symmetry.-In organisms:Due to how cells divide in organisms, asymmetry in organisms is fairly usual in at least one dimension, with biological symmetry also being common in at least one dimension....
, and most of them have a width of almost 13 metres. The course of the Sitnica changed over time: the bridge originally had 5 arches with sharp peaks, but 4 semicircular arches were subsequently added. The river continued to change its course over the centuries, and deposited sediment around the bridge, so that today it is no longer under the flowing river, and as a result of river sediment its total length has reduced.
See also
- Monument of Culture of Exceptional ImportanceMonuments of Culture of Exceptional Importance (Serbia)Cultural Monuments of Exceptional Importance are the monuments in the Republic of Serbia that have the highest level of the State protection, and some of them are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites....
- Vojinovića TowerVojinovića TowerVojinovića Tower or Vučitrn is a city fortifications in Vučitrn. It was the seat of Đurađ Branković in the time while he was district lord of Kosovo...
- House of VojinovićHouse of VojinovićVojinović was a medieval Serbian noble family which during the 14th century played an important role in the Serbian Empire, especially after the death of Emperor Dušan , when during collapse of Serbian Empire its representative Grand Dukes Vojislav Vojinović , and later his cousin Nikola...
- VučitrnVucitrnVučitrn or Vushtrri is a city and municipality in north-eastern Kosovo. It is the seat of the Kosovska Mitrovica District. The name of the city means "wolf's thorn", the name of the spiny restharrow plant in Serbian....