Sarajevo City Hall marks 34 years since devastating library fire

The 34th anniversary of the destruction of the Sarajevo City Hall marks a significant moment in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s cultural heritage. On the night of August 25–26, 1992, during the Siege of Sarajevo, the building—which housed the National and University Library—was targeted by artillery shells fired from positions held by the Army of Republika Srpska.

The resulting fire caused catastrophic damage, destroying approximately 80 percent of the library’s collection. This loss included an estimated two million items, such as books, journals, manuscripts, and archival documents that recorded the country’s multicultural and multiethnic history. UNESCO has noted that the destruction of the library was a deliberate act.

During the blaze, library staff, firefighters, and local residents risked their lives under sniper fire to attempt to save as much material as possible. While much was lost, these efforts helped preserve parts of the collection and the building’s exterior structure. Following an 18-year restoration process, the City Hall reopened in May 2014, serving today as a cultural and multimedia center.