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Assassination of Franz Ferdinand & World War I – Half Day Tour in Sarajevo

(4 Reviews)
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  • Morning DepartureStart Time: 09:00
  • Afternoon DepartureStart Time: 14:00

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29411
4 Hours
Availability : Every Day
Min Age : 0+
Max People : 8 persons
Tour Overview

The “1914 Assassination Tour” will start from our office, situated at the heart of Sarajevo’s Old Town. It will comprise the historic period of the 40 years long Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina and provide the answers on how and why the assassination act has happened and subsequently led to the outbreak of World War I. 

The 4-hour experience covers the spots and places directly connected to the historic events that occurred in 1914. We will see Sarajevo City Hall, former Appel Quay, Latin Bridge, “Assassination Corner”, Sarajevo Museum 1878-1918 (Former Museum of Young Bosnia revolutionary movement), Sarajevo’s First Gymnasium, Chapel of the “St. Archangels” (resting place of Gavrilo Princip and most of his fellows), Complex of the former Filipović’s barracks.

Highlights

What's Included

INCLUDED
  • English speaking local-expert guide and driver.
  • Free of charge pickup.
  • All tour transfers are provided by Funky Tours.
  • Sarajevo Museum 1878-1918 (Former Museum of Young Bosnia revolutionary movement) (4 KM/2 EUR per person) included. No hidden costs.
  • All government taxes & entrance fees.
  • Cancellation Flexibility – cancel 24hrs before departure for full refund or change dates.
  • Tour is available throughout the year.
  • Pay safely online with a credit card. We accept payments for all types of credit cards.
NOT INCLUDED
  • Personal travel insurance is not included. Please buy it at home country.
  • Tips are not included in the tour costs. If you receive excellent service, please consider tipping.
  • All tours are shared, unless specifically booked as private.
  • This tour does not include food or drinks.

Departure Times & Starting Points

Departure Times Twice a day: March – October 9 AM / 2 PM, November – February 9 AM / 1 PM.er to start from elsewhere, please let us know about it in advance.

Pickup Locations If you are staying in the old town of Sarajevo meet us at our office. If you are bit away from us, please let us know and we can organise advance pickup.

Itinerary

Activity Note: The tour is adapted to all ages and is not physically demanding. Due to the distance some of the locations, we use vehicles during the tour, but most of the tour is done on foot.

Meet & Greet

Meet our team at the office or your preferred pickup location. Your guide is a professional who will make sure no questions remain unanswered, even of personal nature, so don’t refrain from sharing your thoughts and opinions at any moment of time.

Sarajevo Old Town

Baščaršija, Sarajevo’s main market in the Old Town dating late 15th century is a conducive place to start the comprehensive talk about the historic event that made Sarajevo globally known in 1914. Baščaršija (The Main Market) served as a primary place for commerce and all other social activities for centuries.

After a brief insight into the city’s past and a blend of historic events that shaped the nature of Sarajevo which is locally known as the “European Jerusalem”, we will pass through the most important streets and lanes consisting of the old Sarajevo Bazaar.

On the way towards the architecturally fascinating Sarajevo City Hall building, we will pass through Oprkanj street where the subsequent assassinator Gavrilo Princip lived before he pulled the trigger that sparked the Great War.

reasons to visit sarajevo

Sarajevo Sebilj at Bascarsija square, or famously known as Pigeon Square

Sarajevo City Hall

Facts and myths related to the City Hall are diverse, which is what adds up to the significance of this probably the most marvellous building in the entire city. Unveiled in 1896, the City Hall built in the specific Pseudo-Moorish style in the architecture, served initially as the home for the city administration and district court. Following the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908, a newly-formed state assembly held the sessions in the City Hall.

Once here, we will discuss the relations in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy itself during the turbulent “long nineteenth century”. We will hear how the national identity and the nation-states in the Balkans were formed, as well as imperialistic tendencies a Monarchy had in the Balkan Peninsula. We’ll try to unfold the role of the Black Hand.

A City Hall holds the (in)famous reputation as the last building where Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were before they were shot dead at the street corner 400m far from there.

Sarajevo War Tunnel was dug in July 1993 and used to be main supply route to Sarajevo during the Siege

Sarajevo Vijećnica, City Hall, the last place Franz Ferdinand visited with his wife Sophie

The Latin Bridge and the Assassination Street Corner

After the City Hall, we will proceed through the former Appel Quay, following the exact route a car carrying Ferdinand and Sophie’s had taken after the protocol reception. Many theories that occurred in the aftermath of the assassination of how and why the driver took a wrong turn will be the subject of our discussion and analysis. What was the reason for insufficient security precautions for the imperial visit?

At this historically important spot, we will try to explain the wider story of Yugoslavism and the idea of unification of the South Slavs that guided members of the “Young Bosnia revolutionary movement”.

Learn about the twist of fate and history that turned Gavrilo Princip from a despicable assassinator and the enemy of the state into a national hero in just a couple of years. Conceive the narrative under which the neighbouring bridge, dating the 16th century, was named after the Princip himself during the existence of Yugoslavia.

Entrance included: Sarajevo Museum 1878-1918 (Former Museum of Young Bosnia revolutionary movement)

Sarajevo Cable Car

Latin Bridge and museum of Sarajevo dedicated to the events of Franz Ferdinand Assassination in 1914 and period of the Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The corner which triggered the WWI

The First Gymnasium

Following the unrealized route of the royals, we will make a short stop at the site of the first, less-known, attempt of assassination. That will provide a clue to a wider story of the plot and lead us towards the events that preceded the fateful June 28th, 1914.

We will turn into a former Franz Joseph street, passing the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, which will lead us to the oldest public state High School institution, the Sarajevo First Gymnasium. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the revolutionary generation from the beginning of the 20th century.

Learn what was the connection between Gavrilo Princip and Ivo Andrić, the future Nobel Laureate. What sort of ideologies and tools of political struggle they adhered to and who represented a true inspiration to them.

Complex of Filipović barracks (Present Sarajevo University Campus)

From this point, we will take a short ride to the site which was the largest military complex built by the Dual Monarchy. Former Ottoman military facilities couldn’t meet the requirements of the new regime, hence the construction of modern barracks started immediately in the aftermath of the occupation. The building was finished in 1897, outside of the Sarajevo downtown at that time.

It accommodated 25 indictees charged with different levels of participation in the assassination plot. In October 1914, the local Garrison Court was a seat of historic trial.

Learn about the role of the trial chamber, both efforts and non-commitment of the defense attorneys, and how Gavrilo Princip and the other 24 indictees justified their actions.

Chapel of the “St. Archangels”

The largest Orthodox cemetery in Sarajevo of Holy Archangels George and Gabriel became a resting place for numerous distinguished Serbs over the 19th and 20th century. The Chapel erected in 1939 within this cemetery, in relative vicinity to the city’s downtown, became the resting place for the 11 people related to the act of Assassination. 

Get insight into the final days of Princip’s life in prison, his thoughts, feelings, place of detention, and the fate of his fellows too.

What was the relation to the Princip and the “Shot That Shook the World” of a newly-formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in the aftermath of World War I? Was Princip’s act justified in a political and national context? What is the relation towards the Sarajevo 1914 Assassination nowadays amongst the people in the former Yugoslavia? Should we leave Assassination in 1914, or it affects us even today to a certain extent?

Sarajevo 1914 Assassination Timeline

The timeline of events sparked the WWI?

  • April 19, 1914
    Danilo Ilić, aided by Serbian secret military society Black Hand, recruits Gavrilo Princip and two of his fellows in Belgrade to assassinate Franz Ferdinand
  • June 1, 1914
    Princip and his fellows crossed the Drina river and entered Austria-Hungary
  • June 27, 1914
    Weapons handed to the 6 members of the plot in Sarajevo
  • June 28, 1914
    A failed attempt of an assassination at 10:10 a.m.
    June 28, 1914 – Gavrilo Princip shot Franz Ferdinand and Sophie at 10:50 a.m.
  • July 23, 1914
    Austria-Hungary issues an Ultimatum to Serbia
  • July 28, 1914
    Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
  • October 28, 1914
    The verdict for 25 indictees was reached in the Garrison Court within the Complex of Filipović barracks
  • February 3, 1915
    3 members of an Assassination plot executed by hanging in the Complex of Filipović barracks
  • April 28, 1918
    Gavrilo Princip dies in the hospital of Terezin prison
  • December 1, 1918
    Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was declared in Belgrade

What to Bring

What Do I Need to Bring?

  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Water bottle

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does this tour itinerary includes visit to Sarajevo Assassination museum?
Yes, our 1914 Assassination tour does include a visit to Sarajevo Museum 1878-1918 (Former Museum of Young Bosnia revolutionary movement).

2. Does this tour include Sarajevo Assassination museum entrance fee?
Yes it does.

3. How can I pay this tour?
You can pay this tour either in cash (EUR, BAM, USD, GBP) or by credit card (VISA and MasterCard).

4. Can this tour be combined with Sarajevo airport pickup or drop off?
This tour is the best way to combine Sarajevo airport pickup or drop off, and save the costs. Our tour departs at 9 AM and 2 PM every day. If your arrival flight is around 12 or 1 PM, it is ideal that we pick you up at 2 PM at the airport and go straight for the tour. If your flight is leaving Sarajevo at 3 PM or later 7 PM or so, you can join our tour with you luggage and at the end of tour we drop you off at the airport.
In this way you only pay the costs of the tour and get transfer for free.

4 Reviews
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Dawn B

Solo Traveller

4 Tours: Srebrenica, Jewish Sarajevo, Seige Tunnel and Bunker, Franz Ferdinand

Funky Tours made our Bosnia experience absolutely outstanding. We took 4 tours in all, with the company. All perfectly done and memorable.

Srebrenica genocide tour, with Almir, was beyond excellent. Almir deftly balanced conveying the gravity of the tragic events in an understandable way, with lighter moments when we were able to connect as people. He has a great personality and is very charismatic, as well as kind and compassionate.

His willingness to be vulnerable in sharing his personal experiences left a memorable impression on us. We spent the entire day together and were sad to say goodbye.

On the Jewish Sarajevo tour, we had the pleasure of Lejla’s company. Her deep knowledge of not only Jewish Sarajevo history but broader history made for a rich experience. Lejla’s warm personality and frequent check-in’s about our needs and preferences made for an excellent tour.

For the seige tour we had the lovely Mustafa as our guide. Mustafa is a top notch communicator, a keen observer of meaningful details, and possesses a wonderful sense of humor. His willingness to share his personal experiences of living in Sarajevo both before and after the war was invaluable in enriching our understanding of what daily life is & was like. As a tourist looking in from the outside, this is what I always hope.
Funky Tours was is super professional and prompt in all aspects of the business.

Can’t say enough good things about this company.

December 13, 2023

annmariehood

Solo Traveller

Funky Tours made our time in Sarajevo special and memorable

Since my son and I had never visited Sarajevo before and knew only a little about it, we booked tours with Funky Tours. Best idea ever!

From my email correspondence setting up the tours to the time spent with Enis on the Arch Duke Ferdinand WWI tour and Mustafa on the Siege and War Tunnel tour, our visit was unforgettable. Both shared their stories of growing up during the siege, as well as their seemingly infinite knowledge of the history and culture of the city. They gave terrific recommendations for dinners and other activities too.

Our day with Enis was very rainy and although we got to peek in, the City Hall was closed. But he went above and beyond to make us comfortable and to be sure we were happy. In fact, he brought us to an amazing local restaurant for lunch that we never would have found on our own and even took the time to order Bosnian specialties for us.

If you are going to Sarajevo, definitely book tours with Funky Tours!

October 6, 2023

joekunin

Solo Traveller

fantastic tour by Ema, I really enjoyed it and would not have gotten the same appreciation for the complex and fascinating history of the city without his historical knowledge. It was a great way to spend a few hours and I would recommend it without hesitation to anyone visiting this beautiful city.

July 5, 2022

Austin M

Solo Traveller

Funky tours was just what I was looking for. I did several tours-Srebrenica, Siege of Sarajevo, Franz Ferdinand and a transfer tour from Sarajevo to Kotor, Montenegro.

I really enjoyed all of the tours, with my favorite being a toss up between the Srebrenica and Siege of Sarajevo tours. The transfer tour to Montenegro, which was essentially the day trip to Mostar and Herzegovina tour was amazingly beautiful.

The staff and tour guides were very helpful and accommodating, not mention very knowledge about the region.

May 1, 2022

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