The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the oldest museums in Bosnia. It contains information and artifacts about the country.
Location
The museum can be found in Sarajevo. The address is Zmaja od Bosne 3.
What to See
The museum covers numerous subjects and topics. The history of the country is covered as well. There are also archaeological artifacts, ethnology and natural history relics. The museum is also home to the Sarajevo Haggadah, the most ancient Sephardic Jewish document known so far.
The museum was designed so that it has four symmetric pavilions. The facade of the structure was built in the Italian Renaissance style. The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina pavilions have several departments. These consist of a library, natural history ethnology and archeology.
There are now institutions for protecting the country’s cultural heritage and monuments and oriental studies. There are also institutions for Balkan studies, phytopathology, folklore studies, Bosnia and Herzegovina art galleries and many more.
The museum now has numerous activities. It is involved in publishing, educational activities and scientific research.
There are little known facts about Bosnia during the Middle Ages. What seems certain is that it was around this time that the inhabitants were converted to Christianity.
History
The museum was constructed in 1888. However, planning for the building actually started in 1850. The museum was expanded in 1913. Since that time, the museum has evolved.
Many historians believe that it was one of the last to go through the process. The borders of the area often fluctuated during this period. What is certain is that Croatia had been annexed by the Hungarian Kingdom in the High Middle Ages.
As the years went by, the control of the area was contested by the Byzantine Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary. From 1254 until the 14th century, the kingdom of Bosnia was being fought for by the Kotromanic and Subic families.
Cost
The museum entrance fee is 5 KM.
Other Info
The museum is not just a repository of history. It also serves as a scientific and natural institution. There are also sections devoted to art history, geography and other facts about the country.
The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina is open from Tuesday to Friday, 10.00 to 17.00 from 15 Apr – 15 Oct. On Saturdays and Sundays it is open 10.00 to 14.00. From 15 Oct – 15 Apr the museum is open 10.00 to 15.00 from Tuesdays to Fridays. On Sundays it is open 10.00 to 14.00.