In 1969, at the height of the communist era, Belgrade saw the rise of the Hotel Jugoslavijaa monumental work of brutalist architecture destined to be one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. Its construction was not only an architectural milestone, but also a symbol of the power and influence of the former Yugoslavia on the international scene.
This imposing building witnessed the country’s most glorious moments and hosted world-renowned figures, from Queen Isabel II to Fidel Castro, passing through Che Guevara and Hollywood actors. The parties organised by Marshal Tito in his salons are legendary today.
However, times changed. With the advent of the Balkan Wars in the 1990s, the hotel went from being a refuge for the global elite to becoming an improvised barracks for paramilitary forcesIn 1999, NATO firefighters directly hit the building, severely damaging it and accelerating a process of deterioration that has not stopped since.
Today, the majestic hotel survives just as a budget accommodationwith many of its floors abandoned and far from the splendour that characterised it in its golden age. Walking through the empty corridors of the Hotel Jugoslavija is like travelling to a fading past, a vestige of a country that no longer exists. But this chapter is about to close definitively: the current owner of the building has announced that 31 August will be its last day of operation.
Starting in September, the structure will be demolished to make way for a new hotel complex which will reportedly reflect Serbia’s modernity and future, leaving behind the weight of history and the legacy of the building that for more than 50 years was a symbol of an era that will never return.
Source: Lasexta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
