Entrance House

Overview

The Entrance House of the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum, nestled in Butmir, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, stands as a profound testament to human resilience and ingenuity during the harrowing 1992-1995 Siege of Sarajevo. This seemingly ordinary family home once concealed the vital southern entrance to the underground passage known as the Tunnel of Hope, or 'Tunel spasa'. Today, it serves as a powerful museum, preserving not only a segment of the original tunnel but also the tangible memories and untold stories of a city cut off from the world.

Visitors to the museum are guided through exhibits featuring authentic wartime artifacts, poignant photographs, and compelling video footage, all detailing the tunnel's construction and its critical role in the city's survival. The highlight for many is the opportunity to walk through a preserved section of the original tunnel, offering a direct, visceral connection to the past. The house itself, with its visible scars from the conflict, tells a silent story of endurance, making the entire site a crucial pilgrimage for those seeking to understand Sarajevo's modern history.

History & Cultural Background

During the brutal Siege of Sarajevo, the city was completely encircled by Bosnian Serb forces, severing all conventional routes for supplies and communication. In this desperate situation, the Bosnian Army, along with civilian volunteers, embarked on a clandestine project: to dig a tunnel beneath the UN-controlled Sarajevo Airport runway. This secret endeavor, code-named 'Objekt BD' (referring to Butmir and Dobrinja, the two neighborhoods it connected), began in March 1993.

The southern entrance of this life-saving tunnel was ingeniously hidden within the basement of a private residence belonging to the Kolar family in Butmir. For nearly three months, men worked tirelessly in 8-hour shifts, often by hand with shovels, pickaxes, and wheelbarrows, to construct the approximately 800-meter-long, 1.5-meter-high passage. Once completed in June 1993, the tunnel became Sarajevo's sole umbilical cord to the outside world, facilitating the flow of essential food, medicine, fuel, and military supplies into the besieged city, and allowing people to pass in and out.

After the war's conclusion, the Kolar family made the extraordinary decision to preserve their home and a section of the tunnel, transforming it into what is now the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum. This initiative ensured that the story of the tunnel, and the immense human effort behind it, would not be forgotten, establishing the house as a monument to resilience.

What Makes It Special

The Entrance House is exceptional because it's not merely a museum building; it is, in fact, the original, unassuming home that played a pivotal role in one of modern history's longest sieges. The house's scarred facade, left intentionally untouched, bears silent witness to the conflict, providing an immediate, powerful visual impact. This authenticity creates an immersive experience that few other historical sites can match.

Furthermore, the museum's ability to offer visitors a direct physical experience of the tunnel — walking through a segment of the damp, narrow passage — is profoundly impactful. It allows for a momentary, yet deeply personal, glimpse into the challenging conditions faced by thousands who relied on this lifeline. The contrast between the mundane appearance of the house and its extraordinary historical significance deeply resonates with visitors, underscoring the ingenuity and sacrifice that characterized the siege.

Stories, Fun Facts & Local Details

• The Kolar Family's Enduring Legacy: The Kolar family, who owned the house, not only allowed their home to become the tunnel's entrance but also played a crucial role in its upkeep and the subsequent creation of the museum. Their unwavering dedication ensures the tunnel's story lives on.
• A President's Passage: Perhaps the most famous individual to use the tunnel was Bosnia's wartime president, Alija Izetbegović, who was reportedly carried through on a special 'President's Chair' to avoid stepping in the often-muddy conditions.
• Manual Labor and Ingenuity: The tunnel was dug almost entirely by hand, with minimal equipment. Workers battled constant water infiltration, lack of ventilation, and the ever-present threat of shelling. Improvised candles, made from cooking oil and cloth wicks, lit their arduous work.
• The 'Sarajevo Rose': Outside the museum entrance, visitors might notice a 'Sarajevo Rose' – a scar left on the asphalt by a mortar shell explosion, filled with red resin. These markers throughout the city serve as poignant reminders of wartime suffering.
• A Lifeline for Everything: Beyond people and military supplies, the tunnel also facilitated the movement of crucial resources like a pipeline for oil, telephone and electric cables, and even enabled the transport of wounded civilians and provided a means for some to escape the besieged city.

Visitor Perspective

Stepping into the Entrance House is like stepping back in time. The pockmarked exterior and the military camouflage netting on the balcony immediately set a somber tone, preparing you for the profound experience within. Inside, the atmosphere is respectfully preserved, blending educational exhibits with the raw, personal narrative of the Kolar family and the people of Sarajevo.

The documentary film shown at the museum provides essential context, often featuring firsthand accounts that bring the history to life. Walking through the short accessible section of the tunnel is undoubtedly the most impactful part of the visit. The low ceiling, narrow passage, and sense of confinement offer a powerful, albeit brief, understanding of the physical challenges faced by those who depended on this underground artery. It's a humbling experience that fosters deep reflection on resilience, sacrifice, and the unwavering human spirit in the face of adversity. This journey through the Entrance House and tunnel leaves visitors with a lasting impression of the siege's reality and the remarkable strength of Sarajevo's people.