Vijećnica (The City Hall) is one of the symbols of Sarajevo, and one of its most beautiful buildings.
After the occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878, or more precisely on August 20th of the same year, the Sarajevo City Council was formed under the orders of the Austro-Hungarian government, which until 1881 was located in a building on the left bank of Miljacka, in the old Zildziluk, and from 1886 in Dzenetic House on Bistrik. The need for the construction of a representative building as the headquarters of the city administration was expressed in 1880, but construction of the Sarajevo City Hall starts in 1892.
Construction of the building started in 1892, and it was completed in 1894, during the time of designing of this project. The building was officially opened on April 20, 1896, when the Baron Ivan Apel officially handed over to the City Hall.
The City administration function of the City Hall is gradually shifting towards the cultural heritage and scientific endeavors of Bosnia and Herzegovina, so in 1947, administration is replaced with culture, science and art, so the City Hall puts into the function of the Academy of Sciences and Arts, and as the main library, aswell. The National Library is located in the City Hall building in 1951.
The City Hall is the largest and most representative building in the Austro-Hungarian period in Sarajevo.
Sadly, in just one night 25/26. August 1992 from aggressor grenades 80% of the total library fund was destroyed.
About two million books, articles, and magazines have been irretrievably destroyed.
After 22 years of reconstruction, Vijećnica was reopened on 8th May 2014. Today, it serves as a museum.
Vijećnica is a symbol of Sarajevo because from its appearance you can see the merging of the western and eastern architecture.
It does an incredible job in representing how diverse and multicultural Sarajevo actually is.