‘Neglected’ European seaside resort left to rot now a shadow of its former self
A seaside resort which was once the jewel of the Yugoslavian coast with several giant hotels and regular visits from the region’s elite has now fallen into disrepair.
Kupari, which neighbours Dubrovnik in Croatia, once featured one of the largest hotels on the Adriatic coast, the 419-bed Hotel Pelegrin, but when the Croatian War of Independence broke out in 1991 the resort was shelled and showered with bullets.
Just a decade prior to that the military-operated resort hosted the great and good of Yugoslavian society on a regular basis.
First opening in 1961, the site quickly became popular and was expanded by the Yugoslav National Army (JNA).
The resort was mainly used by military officers and their families during its early days, but those with connections were also welcomed.
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By the late 1970s, the resort had opened to the world.
But when war hit, the holiday hotspot was forced to become a temporary shelter and base for Croatian Army soldiers during the 1991 siege of Dubrovnik.
The building’s once stunning facade was slammed with shells and battered with bullets leaving it close to ruin.
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In 2000 the hotel was abandoned and locals began to strip it of anything of value.
Visitors today can still see the scars of war, with the complex’s seven hotels, the Hotel Grand, Goričina I, Goričina II, Kupari, Pelegrin, Mladost and Galeb all covered in weeds.
Following its tragic story, the area is now dubbed the “bay of abandoned hotels”.
But there is hope the resort could return to its former glory with a group called Kupari Luxury Hotels set to renovate the site.
Plans would see its Grand Hotel kept as its crown jewel but other buildings may have to be bulldozed as part of plans.
Minister of State Property, Branko Bacic, told Poslovni: “According to the plan of the District of Dubrovnik, a period of 12 months is prescribed during which the investor is obliged to obtain a valid building permit, and within a further period of four years to realise the project.”
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