The Stone Bridge () or Vojinović Bridge (, sr-Cyrl, Војиновића мост)
[Folić, Radomir. "Bridge Engineering in Serbia." i]
''Handbook of International Bridge Engineering''
Wai-Fah Chen and Lian Duan, eds. Boca Raton, London and New York: CRC Press, 694. is a medieval bridge located in
Vushtrri
Vushtrri ( sq-definite, Vushtrria; sr-Cyrl, Вучитрн, ''Vučitrn'') is a List of cities in Kosovo, city and Municipalities of Kosovo, municipality located in the District of Mitrovica, Mitrovica District in Kosovo. According to the 2024 c ...
(),
Kosovo
Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...
. It dates from the end of the 14th or early 15th century, and according to legend, was built by two brothers from the
Vojinović noble family
The Vojinović family (Serbian Cyrillic: Војиновић, Vojinovići / Војиновићи) was a medieval Serbian noble family that played an important role in the Serbian Empire during the 14th century. Following the death of Emperor Du ...
. The brothers are mentioned in
Serbian epic poetry
Serbian epic poetry () is a form of epic poetry created by Serbs originating in today's Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia. The main cycles were composed by unknown Serb authors between the 14th and 19th centu ...
as nephews of
Tsar Dušan
Tsar (; also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar''; ; ; sr-Cyrl-Latn, цар, car) is a title historically used by Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word ''caesar'', which was intended to mean ''emperor'' in the Europ ...
, who ruled as King of Serbia from 1331–1346 and as Serbian Emperor from 1346–1355. It was built over the
Sitnica
The Sitnica (; sr-Cyrl, Ситница) is a river in Kosovo. It flows into the Ibar at Mitrovica, and it is the longest river that flows completely within Kosovo.
History
In the 14th century, during the reign of king Milutin, a canal con ...
river, which lay on the trade route between
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, historically known as Ragusa, is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean, a Port, seaport and the centre of the Dubrovni ...
and
Skopje
Skopje ( , ; ; , sq-definite, Shkupi) is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. It lies in the northern part of the country, in the Skopje Basin, Skopje Valley along the Vardar River, and is the political, economic, and cultura ...
and neighbouring parts of the
Balkan
The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...
peninsula.
Despite the need, no
conservation works have been undertaken on the bridge.
In 1990, it was declared as a
Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance by the
Republic of Serbia
, image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg
, national_motto =
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg
, national_anthem = ()
, image_map =
, map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
.
[Serbian Ministry of Culture](_blank)
/ref>
History
The construction of the bridge is traditionally attributed to the Vojinović brothers, to whom is also attributed the nearby Vushtrri Castle
The Vushtrri Castle (; ) or Old Tower (; ) are city fortifications in Vushtrri, Kosovo. It was the seat of despot Đurađ Branković (1427–1456). Later chroniclers ( Ami Boué, Aleksandar Giljferding) are noted that the fort itself is derived f ...
. Its style suggests it was built in the late 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, Vushtrri itself was outside their area of control, which was expanding to the nearby Zvečan
Zvečan ( sr-Cyrl, Звечан) or Zveçan ( sq-definite, Zveçani) is a town and municipality located in the Mitrovica District in Kosovo. As of 2015, it has a population of 16,650 inhabitants. It covers an area of , and consists of a town and ...
, even at the time of their greatest power under the Vojislav Vojinović
Vojislav Vojinović (, d. 1363) was a 14th-century Serbian nobleman, and one of the leading members of Serbian noble House of Vojinović. He held prominent offices during the reigns of Serbian Emperors Stefan Dušan and Stefan Uroš. His fath ...
(around 1355–1363) and Nikola Altomanović
Nikola Altomanović ( sr-Cyrl, Никола Алтомановић; died after 1395) was a 14th-century Serbian župan of the House of Vojinović. He ruled the areas from Rudnik, over Polimlje, Podrinje, east Herzegovina with Trebinje, reach ...
(1366–1373). However, in Vushtrri in the early 15th century, the court of the House of Branković
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
is mentioned, who were related to the Vojinović family. Ratoslava, the sister of Branko Mladenović
Branko ( sr-cyr, Бранко; 1331–65) was a Serbian magnate who served to king and Serbian Empire, emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55), and emperor Stefan Uroš V (r. 1355–71), with the titles of ''sluga'' and later ''sevastokrator''. A m ...
(father of Vuk Branković
Vuk Branković ( sr-Cyrl, Вук Бранковић, , 1345 – 6 October 1397) was a Serbian medieval nobleman who, during the Fall of the Serbian Empire, inherited a province that extended over present-day southern and southwestern Serbia, enti ...
), was married to Altoman Vojinović
Altoman Vojinović (; 1335–59) was a Serbian magnate ('' velikaš'') who served Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55) as ''župan'' ("count") and Emperor Uroš V (r. 1355–71) as '' veliki župan'' ("grand count"). His father Vojin was a gen ...
(the father of Nikola Altomanović).
Architecture
The bridge carried the caravan route between Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, historically known as Ragusa, is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean, a Port, seaport and the centre of the Dubrovni ...
and Skopje
Skopje ( , ; ; , sq-definite, Shkupi) is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. It lies in the northern part of the country, in the Skopje Basin, Skopje Valley along the Vardar River, and is the political, economic, and cultura ...
across the river Sitnica
The Sitnica (; sr-Cyrl, Ситница) is a river in Kosovo. It flows into the Ibar at Mitrovica, and it is the longest river that flows completely within Kosovo.
History
In the 14th century, during the reign of king Milutin, a canal con ...
. It is constructed of alternate red and grey trimmed stones. It is over long with nine arches, and almost wide. The arches are asymmetric, and most of them have a width of almost . The course of the Sitnica changed over time; the bridge originally had five arches with sharp peaks, but four semicircular arches were subsequently added. The river continued to change its course over the centuries, and deposited sediment around the bridge, so that today the flowing river is no longer under it, and as a result of river sediment, its total length has been reduced.
See also
* Cultural heritage of Kosovo
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vojinovica Bridge
Architecture in Kosovo
Cultural heritage monuments in Vushtrri
Cultural heritage of Kosovo
Monuments and memorials in Kosovo
Stone bridges in Kosovo
Vojinović noble family