The Old Sava Bridge is not the only significant relic of the past that Belgrade will soon say goodbye to. Once the largest and most luxurious hotel in Yugoslavia, the iconic “Jugoslavija” is set to share the fate of the country whose name it bears. This legendary building, situated on the banks of the Danube River in Belgrade, is slated for demolition to make way for an upscale multi-purpose complex, which will include a Ritz-Carlton hotel.
Table of Contents
The Glorious Past of Hotel Yugoslavia
Open in 1969, Hotel Yugoslavia was the largest and most prestigious hotel in the SFR Yugoslavia. Boasting seven floors and auxiliary buildings, the hotel featured 200 single rooms, 400 double rooms, 23 apartments, a restaurant with 600 seats, a smaller restaurant with 200 seats, and all accompanying facilities.
It hosted numerous distinguished guests, including Queen Elizabeth II, American presidents Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter, the first astronauts to walk on the Moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and the famous singer Tina Turner.
The hotel lobby is adorned with a 14-ton chandelier, measuring thirty meters in length and five meters in width, featuring 5,000 bulbs and 40,000 Swarovski crystals. Once a Guinness World Record holder, this chandelier is now a protected cultural asset. The stunning chandelier is a rare feature that will survive the demolition, as it will be carefully dismantled and later reinstalled in the lobby of the new Ritz-Carlton in Belgrade. Carrying on the legacy of the hotel’s prestigious past, the crystals of the chandelier have also inspired the design of the future hotel’s facade.
The End of Hotel Yugoslavia
Despite its grandeur, Hotel Yugoslavia began losing its competitive edge with the advent of international hotel chains like Intercontinental and Hyatt in Belgrade. The hotel was severely damaged during the NATO bombing in 1999 and subsequently closed its doors. In 2006, it was sold for 31.3 million euros to Alpe Adria Hotels, which promised a revival under the international Kempinski brand. However, the promised renovation never materialized, and plans for its reconstruction remained mere visualizations in the media.
The hotel’s fate was sealed on March 22, 2024, when it was sold to Millennium Team. The new owner confirmed the speculation that the existing structure would be demolished to make way for a luxurious multi-purpose complex featuring a Ritz-Carlton hotel.
The Arrival of Ritz-Carlton Complex
The new Ritz-Carlton complex is planned to be a grand addition to Belgrade’s skyline on the Danube River, across Great War Island. In addition to the luxurious hotel, the project designed by the Dutch architectural firm UNStudio features two towers: a 42-story residential tower facing Friendship Park and a 33-story office tower on the Zemun side, where part of the hotel was damaged in the NATO bombing.
Millennium Team has set ambitious deadlines, aiming to complete the entire complex before the start of Specialized EXPO 2027, which is expected to draw over 2.7 million visitors to the city. Alongside this, the Belgrade Waterfront project, featuring the striking Belgrade Tower, and extensive developments in the Surčin area, including the construction of a state-of-the-art National Stadium, are setting the stage for the Serbian capital to become the Miami or Dubai of the Balkans.
Controversy — Citizens Want to Preserve the Old Gem
The announcement of the hotel’s demolition has sparked controversy among Belgrade’s citizens. The civic initiative “Save Gardoš and Zemun” has vowed to oppose the demolition, stating they will physically block any attempts to tear down Hotel Yugoslavia. They argue that the hotel should be preserved in its original form and that no buildings taller than the existing structure should be constructed on its site.
The planned complex, with its two skyscrapers, is seen by some as a catastrophe that would disrupt the traditional landscape of Zemun and the quay. Critics emphasize that high-rise buildings are traditionally not built along the river, especially opposite Great War Island, home to about 200 species of birds and various other wildlife.
Many locals have a deep emotional connection to Hotel Yugoslavia, having celebrated milestones such as graduations, weddings, and various other events there. They view the hotel as a symbol of the prosperous life in the former Yugoslavia and are determined to preserve this piece of their heritage.
Conclusion
The Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia dissolved in 1991, with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia lingering in a diminished form until 2003. Though Belgrade still has a lot of buildings and institutions that remain as echoes of a bygone era, few embody the grandeur and aspirations of the former federation quite like Hotel Yugoslavia. Despite spending nearly half of its existence in disrepair, the hotel’s monumental presence once reflected the lofty ambitions and political might of its time.
Now, with its outdated structure making modernization to contemporary luxury standards impossible, this emblem of a long-disintegrated federation will soon face the same fate as the country it once represented. It will give way to a new, ultra-modern Belgrade, marking the end of a significant symbol of the socialist era. While locals will cherish the memories of this historic landmark, they will need to adapt to and embrace the evolving capitalist cityscape, welcoming the new face of Belgrade.
Leave a Reply