World War One Sites - The NETWORLD Database

Ground zero - 1914 Assassination location in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Part of the “Sarajevo assassination” heritage, it is assassination ground zero: corner of Appelquai (Obala Kulina bana) and Franzjosef gasse (Zelenih beretki), including the building where “Schiller’s delicatessen” were situated at the time of the attack, which today hosts the Museum “Sarajevo 1878-1918”, and “Gavrilo Princip’s footrpints” memorial plaque that was previously placed on the exact location from where the shots were fired.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo

Type of WWI-heritage

  • Non-Military Site of World War One Relevance

Dimensions

No information available

State of repair/preservation

Partially preserved, repaired, pending further heritological and touristic development.

Historical WWI Context

After the reception at the City Hall, archduke Franz Ferdinand and countess Sophie decided to visit those wounded in the bomb attack, who were now at the military hospital near Marienhof , instead of driving to the Landesmuseum as called for by the official itinerary. By mistake, the vehicles turned right from Appel Quai into Franz Josef’s Gasse. Immediately after making the turn, Potiorek ordered a halt; the driver stopped the car and began to back up. At that moment, Gavrilo Princip stepped out from the crowd in front of Moritz Schiller’s delicatessen on the corner, pulled out a pistol and shot Franz Ferdinand and Sophie from close range. He was subsequently arrested at the same spot. After WWII, the building on the corner hosted Museum of “Mlada Bosna” movement, and today, there is Museum “Sarajevo 1878-1978”. In the pavement in front of the building, once stood memorial plaque with Gavrilo Princip’s footprints, that was removed during the war of 1992-1995.

State of legal protection

Location of the assassination is recognized partially by official spatial plans and cantonal heritage institutions, such as Museum “Sarajevo 1878-1918” which is located on site. “Princip’s Footprints” plaque is courtesy of the Museum.

Kind of cultural use of WWI

Assassination location is important part of the “Sarajevo assassination” guided tour. Museum is present at site.

Opening

Summertime:

friday - 10–18h
saturday - 10–15h
sunday - Closed
monday - 10–18h
tuesday - 10–18h
wednesday - 10–18h
thursday - 10–18h

Wintertime

friday - 10–16h
saturday - 10–15h
sunday - Closed
monday - 10–16h
tuesday - 10–16h
wednesday - 10–16h
thursday - 10–16h

Entrance Fee

2 €

Information regarding cities, villages, other touristic attractions (non-WWI) nearby

Accomodation

Public Transport

Bike, Car, Taxi, Bus, Tramway.

Further information sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria

http://h.etf.unsa.ba/vmuzej-atentata/index.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/articles/First-World-War-centenary-Franz-Ferdinands-final-journey/

Lyon, James, “The Shots That Started World War One:The Street Corner that Changed the World: A Sunny Sunday In Sarajevo (Part 3)”, https://m.warhistoryonline.com/articles/street-corner.html

Muzej Sarajeva, Muzej “Sarajevo 1878-1918”, http://www.muzejsarajeva.ba/bs/dani-kantona-dan-noc-muzejadepandansi/muzej-sarajevo

BOGIĆEVIĆ, Vojislav, Sarajevski atentat – Stenogram Glavne rasprave protiv Gavrila Principa i drugova, Izdanje Državnog arhiva BiH, Sarajevo, 1954.ž

BOGIČEVIĆ, Vojislav, Mlada Bosna – Pisma i prilozi, Svjetlost, Sarajevo, 1954.

DEDIJER, Vladimir, Sarajevo 1914., Prosveta, Beograd, 1966.

Museums Private Collections

Location

Back to list