The ‘Loris’ building, in Grbavica, suffered severe damage but was rebuilt (Picture: Jim Marshall/Barcroft Media)

In 1994 Sarajevo was in the middle of suffering the longest siege of a city in the history of modern warfare.

For a staggering 1,425 days between 1992 and 1996, the city was pummelled during the Bosnian War.

The four-year war claimed 31,000 soldiers and a further 33,000 civilians.

But Sarajevo has been rebuilt, with many of the buildings going through a remarkable transformation from near collapse to complete restoration.


It is the fastest growing city in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and is this year the European capital of culture – 100 years after the assassination of the Archduke of Austria in its streets sparked the First World War.

Aid worker Jim Marshall was in the city during the siege, and took photos of the destruction in 1997 after the conflict had ended.



The 42-year-old, from East Kilbride in Scotland, returned almost two decades later to the same point where he took his 1997 photographs – capturing how the city had healed from the civil war.

The destroyed and now partially restored interior of the National and University Library. Unfortunately, much of the library’s contents are gone. (Picture: Jim Marshall/Barcroft Media)

The Unis towers, now named the Unitic Business Centre, in Marijin dvor, Sarajevo. The city’s ability to preserve many of the damaged buildings is incredible. (Picture: Jim Marshall/Barcroft Media)

Then-and-now photographs showing the main post office in Obala, Sajajevo, Bosnia. The building retains much of its original charm. (Picture: Jim Marshall/Barcroft Media)

View of the Socijalno area with the Elektroprivreda (state electricity company) headquarters on the right. (Picture: Jim Marshall/Barcroft Media)

The Bosnia and Herzegovina parliament building. The Bosnian War raged between 1992 and 1996. (Picture: Jim Marshall/Barcroft Media)

The old Military Hospital stands then and now in the centre of the pictures, in a view of Vrazova. (Picture: Jim Marshall/Barcroft Media)

A view of the Grbavica area, and the residential towers that have been restored. (Picture: Jim Marshall/Barcroft Media)

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