Museums and Galleries in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Explore a Rich Tapestry of History, Culture, and Art

Bosnia and Herzegovina offers a captivating museum and gallery experience, showcasing its complex history, diverse culture, and artistic expression. From archaeological treasures and war chronicles to world-class contemporary art, these institutions reveal the soul of the nation.

Top Museums to Visit

• National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Zemaljski Muzej) – Established in 1888, this is the country’s oldest Western-style museum. It features archaeology, ethnology, natural history, and a botanical garden. Its highlight is the priceless Jewish manuscript, the Sarajevo Haggadah, kept in the Blue Room.

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• Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Founded in 1945, this museum explores 20th-century conflicts including an impactful exhibit of photographs from the 1992–1995 siege of Sarajevo.

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• Tunnel of Salvation (Tunnel D-B) – This war-time escape route built in 1993 is now a poignant museum with preserved tunnel sections, artifacts, and video exhibits that portray Sarajevo’s resilience during its siege.

• Sarajevo 1878–1914 Museum – Located at the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, this museum explores Austro-Hungarian rule and the events that sparked World War I.

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• Ars Aevi – Museum of Contemporary Art – Home to one of Southeast Europe’s most important international contemporary art collections, featuring works by Marina Abramović, Jeff Koons, Robert Rauschenberg, and other global names.

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• Humac Museum, Ljubuški – Housed in a 19th-century Franciscan Monastery, this is the oldest museum in the country (est. 1884) and holds artifacts and manuscripts dating back to the early medieval period.

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Other Notable Museums Across the Country

• Museum of Herzegovina – Mostar

• Museum of Eastern Herzegovina – Trebinje

• Museum of the City of Zenica

• Regional Museums – Travnik, Doboj, Bijeljina, Livno, Prijedor, Foča, Banja Luka, and Konjic

• Franciscan Monastery Museums – Kraljeva Sutjeska, Fojnica, Bugojno

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s museums and galleries provide a deep dive into its layered past and vibrant creative present, offering visitors both education and inspiration.