Along the Miljacka there are bridges that connect banks—and bridges that connect stories. The Suada and Olga Bridge (formerly Vrbanja Bridge) does both. Here, on 5 April 1992, Suada Dilberović and Olga Sučić were killed during a mass anti-war protest; they are often cited as the first civilian victims of the siege. Because of them, the bridge carries a name spoken more softly but more firmly—a vow that what followed in Sarajevo must never happen again.
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Where the Suada and Olga Bridge is-and what it connects
The bridge stands at Vrbanja, in the heart of the city: on the right bank it links Marijin Dvor (Parliament, UNITIC towers, the Holiday/once Holiday Inn), and on the left the neighborhoods of Kovačići and Grbavica. Today it’s a concrete bridge carrying traffic and pedestrians, the quickest line between the business center and residential quarters across the Miljacka. If you’re walking along the embankment from Skenderija or Marijin Dvor, you’ll recognize it by its modest outline and by the memorial plaque with words that stay with you: “A drop of my blood flowed and Bosnia did not run dry.”
Getting there: the closest tram hub is Marijin Dvor (a few minutes’ walk along the river). In a taxi, say “Most Suade i Olge (Vrbanja)”—drivers know it well. From the Vilsonovo riverside promenade, follow the Miljacka upstream toward the center; the bridge sits just above where pedestrian routes from Kovačići meet the embankment.
How the name came to be: from the Glue-Factory Bridge to the Suada and Olga Bridge
The oldest name was Ćirišhana (Glue-Factory) Bridge, after an adhesive works on the right bank in Ottoman times. After World War II the present concrete span was built and, in the socialist period, named Vrbanja Bridge. After the siege, on 6 April 1996 it became The Suada Dilberović Bridge, and on 3 December 1999 it was renamed its current form—The Suada and Olga Bridge. City records reflect that sequence of renamings.
5 April 1992: the day the Suada and Olga Bridge entered history
On 5–6 April 1992, Sarajevo saw its largest anti-war rally: tens of thousands demanded peace, the removal of armed formations, and the end of barricades. Around Marijin Dvor and this bridge, sniper fire erupted; multiple reports noted shots from the area of the Holiday Inn hotel. Suada Dilberović (23) and Olga Sučić (34), in the front lines of the protest march, were hit on Vrbanja Bridge and died—an event many consider the start of the terror against civilians during the siege. Every 5 April, Sarajevo pays tribute here with flowers and quiet gatherings.
Sarajevo’s “Romeo and Juliet”: the story of Admira and Boško (May 1993)
On 19 May 1993, Admira Ismić and Boško Brkić were killed on the same bridge while trying to cross the front line toward Grbavica. The photograph of their embrace circled the globe; their story became the documentary “Romeo and Juliet in Sarajevo”, a symbol of love stronger than division. Stand mid-span and look downstream and it’s easy to picture the silent no-man’s-land that once sliced the city.
The Battle of Vrbanja Bridge (May 1995): when the UN retook its posts
On 27 May 1995, VRS troops in UNPROFOR disguise seized observation posts at both ends of the bridge and took French peacekeepers hostage. A swift assault by French marines under François Lecointre followed; two French soldiers and four VRS fighters were killed. Afterward, the southern end of the bridge was abandoned, and the action marked a turning point in the UN’s posture around Sarajevo. The bridge is remembered for that episode too—as a line where policy shifted.
What the Suada and Olga Bridge means to Sarajevo today
At first glance—an ordinary city crossing. At second—a moving memorial: people cross daily, pause for a moment, and look toward the Parliament, toward Grbavica, toward the water. The memorial and dedication plaque recall Suada and Olga; flowers and ribbons often appear on anniversaries. The bridge is also a vantage point for understanding the “Sniper Alley” along Zmaja od Bosne—the axis around which everyday bravery moved during the war.
Visiting the Suada and Olga Bridge with respect
Come on foot or by tram to Marijin Dvor and walk down to the river. The bridge carries vehicle traffic, so take photos from the sidewalks and refuge islands, never from the roadway. If you encounter a commemoration or fresh flowers, keep it quiet and avoid staging selfies above the plaque. This is a civic site of remembrance: behave as you would in a gallery—softly, measuredly.
For photographers: frames that keep the meaning
The strongest images come at golden hour when the sun warms the concrete edges and nearby glass facades. From the right bank (Marijin Dvor side), frame the bridge with the Government/Parliament complex behind; from the left, open the shot toward the roofs of Kovačići and Grbavica. On overcast days move close to the railing and focus on the inscription—let the picture say why you came. (And remember: this is a traffic bridge—be alert.)
A brief toponym primer: Marijin Dvor, the Holiday, and “Sniper Alley”
Marijin Dvor is the city’s broadest urban plateau, where glass business towers meet monumental public buildings. In the war, the Zmaja od Bosne axis was the infamous “Sniper Alley.” The Holiday Inn nearby often appears in reports of 5 April 1992. To understand the Suada and Olga Bridge you need the scene in which it all unfolded: a long straight avenue, the river as a line, buildings as cover, and open plazas exposed to high ground.
A 60–90-minute walk around the Suada and Olga Bridge
Start at the Parliament/Institutions of BiH complex, drop to the bridge, and pause a few minutes by the plaque. Cross to Kovačići and stroll the river toward Grbavica—a calmer neighborhood that gives the story’s “other half.” Return over the bridge upstream to Skenderija, then continue to Latin Bridge if you’d like to connect the 20th century to the 19th and Sarajevo’s Ottoman layer. In under an hour and a half you’ll “read” Sarajevo across several eras.
Why the Suada and Olga Bridge matters to travelers (not only locals)
Because it speaks a universal language: the dignity of protest (Suada and Olga), love despite war (Admira and Boško), and the resolve to act (the 1995 Vrbanja action). Few places compress three powerful narratives into the span of one city crossing. Add it to your itinerary and Sarajevo stops being a list of sights; it becomes a city remembered for its people.
Before and after: a short Suada and Olga Bridge timeline
- Ottoman era: a wooden Ćirišhana Bridge stood slightly upstream, named for a nearby glue works.
- Post-1945: the present concrete bridge built, named Vrbanja.
- 5 April 1992: Suada Dilberović and Olga Sučić killed during an anti-war protest.
- 19 May 1993: Admira Ismić and Boško Brkić—Sarajevo’s “Romeo and Juliet”—are killed trying to cross.
- 27 May 1995: the Battle of Vrbanja Bridge—French UN troops retake seized posts.
- 6 April 1996 / 3 December 1999: renamed first Suada Dilberović Bridge, then Suada and Olga Bridge.
FAQ: common questions about the Suada and Olga Bridge in Sarajevo
Why is it called the Suada and Olga Bridge?
It honors Suada Dilberović and Olga Sučić, killed on 5 April 1992 during an anti-war protest here; the bridge was renamed in their memory (1996/1999).
What was the old name?
Vrbanja Bridge—and earlier, nearby stood the Ottoman Ćirišhana Bridge.
Is this the same bridge from Sarajevo’s “Romeo & Juliet” story?
Yes. Admira Ismić and Boško Brkić were killed here on 19 May 1993 while trying to cross toward Grbavica.
What happened here in 1995?
The Battle of Vrbanja Bridge: French UNPROFOR forces retook observation posts seized by VRS troops; two French soldiers were killed.
Where is it, and what’s nearby?
At Vrbanja, between Marijin Dvor and Kovačići/Grbavica; close to the Institutions of BiH building, UNITIC, the Holiday hotel, and the Vilsonovo promenade.
Our Most Popular Tours To Sarajevo
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