Staro Rudo can be explored through two distinct periods: the history of the old kasaba on the Lim and the annual commemoration. This distinction is useful when planning your trip. The founding, bazaar and bridge offer a glimpse into the town’s history; the commemoration takes place on the fixed date of 24 August.
The Founding, Bazaar and Flood of 1896
Staro Rudo was founded in 1555 as a charitable endowment of Mustafa-paša Sokolović. The historic settlement included a bazaar with craft workshops and shops. Mustafa-paša Sokolović had a magnificent five-arched bridge built to cross the Lim. The founding, market life and river crossing provide a concrete historical perspective: the town’s history can be understood through the settlement’s origins, its workshops and shops, and the bridge that spanned the Lim.
The river also marks a rupture: during the great flood of 9–10 November 1896, the old kasaba of Rudo was swept away from its left bank. The date marks a clear turning point in the settlement’s history. Alongside its founding and former bazaar, the consequences of the flood are therefore among the defining chapters of the town’s history.
A 16th-Century Mausoleum
Another example from this earlier period is the mausoleum of an unknown dervish. It was an enclosed, vaulted mausoleum dating from the 16th century, and was lost in the great flood on the night of 10–11 November 1896. Its design and date take us back to the time of the settlement’s early history; its loss also shows how devastating the flood was for individual buildings.
The Annual Commemoration on 24 August
The Memorial Center Staro Rudo marks a different period. It was built in memory of 101 victims of the past war. The commemoration takes place every year on 24 August and includes a flower-laying ceremony at the Memorial Center. Flowers are laid in front of a plaque bearing the victims’ names. The commemoration also includes a walk from the local mosque to the bridge over the Lim; roses are symbolically released into the river. The event is jointly organised by the “Medžlis Islamske zajednice Rudo” and the victims’ families.
Each form of commemoration has its own significance: the flower-laying ceremony focuses attention on the plaque of names, the walk leads from the local mosque to the bridge, and the roses are symbolically entrusted to the Lim. Together, they make up an annual occasion linked to specific actions and a fixed date.
Which Focus Suits Your Trip?
These are two distinct focuses to consider when planning your trip. If you are primarily interested in local history, you can trace the founding, bazaar, bridge and flood in chronological order. If you would like to take the annual commemoration into account, plan your dates around 24 August. The historical story spans several centuries; the commemoration brings together a recurring annual date. This will help you decide whether you would like your trip to focus more on the history of the old kasaba or on the annual act of remembrance.
Discover more destinations: Karanovac, Jahorina, Srebrenica, Mrkonjić Grad, Doboj, Pale, Jablanica, Kotor Varoš
For the wider travel overview: Republika Srpska.
