Inside Croatia's hotel graveyard: Haunting before-and-after pictures show the once-exclusive holiday resort that now lies in war-torn ruins just six miles from enchanting Dubrovnik

Walls strewn with bullet holes and graffiti, crumbling brickwork and shattered glass. It's hard to believe that these abandoned buildings once stood gleaming - part of the exclusive Dalmatian beach resort of Kupari, where the Yugoslav military elite and their families would holiday. These fascinating before-and-after pictures highlight the transformation of the resort - which lies just six miles along the coast from enchanting Dubrovnik - from dazzling to decaying. Scroll through to see more..
Walls strewn with bullet holes and graffiti, crumbling brickwork and shattered glass. It's hard to believe that these abandoned buildings once stood gleaming - part of the exclusive Dalmatian beach resort of Kupari, where the Yugoslav military elite and their families would holiday. These fascinating before-and-after pictures highlight the transformation of the resort - which lies just six miles along the coast from enchanting Dubrovnik - from dazzling to decaying. Scroll through to see more..
An aerial view of Kupari from 1990 - just a year before the outbreak of the war that would lead to its demise. This image appeared on a postcard and shows the Grand Hotel, the centrepiece of resort.
An aerial view of Kupari from 1990 - just a year before the outbreak of the war that would lead to its demise. This image appeared on a postcard and shows the Grand Hotel, the centrepiece of resort. 
In a modern day photo taken in 2017, beachgoers soak up the sun in front of the abandoned Kupari resort's Grand Hotel, which has lay in ruins since the Croatian War of Independence between 1991 and 1995.
In a modern day photo taken in 2017, beachgoers soak up the sun in front of the abandoned Kupari resort's Grand Hotel, which has lay in ruins since the Croatian War of Independence between 1991 and 1995. 
A closer shot of the now decaying Grand Hotel. The military largely bankrolled the expansion of the resort – and so inevitably it became an enclave for officers.
A closer shot of the now decaying Grand Hotel. The military largely bankrolled the expansion of the resort – and so inevitably it became an enclave for officers. 
A shot that appeared on a postcard from 1972, showing holidaymakers soaking up the sun at the Hotel Goričina.
A shot that appeared on a postcard from 1972, showing holidaymakers soaking up the sun at the Hotel Goričina. 
The exterior of the Hotel Goričina as it looks now, with crumbling walls and daubed with graffiti.
The exterior of the Hotel Goričina as it looks now, with crumbling walls and daubed with graffiti. 
This old postcard image from 1969 shows the distinctive Hotel Pelegrin with the shimmering Adriatic in the background.
This old postcard image from 1969 shows the distinctive Hotel Pelegrin with the shimmering Adriatic in the background. 
The Hotel Pelegrin, pictured as it looks now, was once the largest hotel on the Adriatic coast. Now it is an eerie shell.
The Hotel Pelegrin, pictured as it looks now, was once the largest hotel on the Adriatic coast. Now it is an eerie shell. 
The resort of Kupari is around six miles from enchanting Game of Thrones location Dubrovnik. Now looks like something out of the video game Call of Duty.
The resort of Kupari is around six miles from enchanting Game of Thrones location Dubrovnik. Now looks like something out of the video game Call of Duty. 
This eerie snap of the exterior of the Grand Hotel was captured by Joris van Velzen, who travelled to Kupari in 2018 and posted this image on his Instagram page.
This eerie snap of the exterior of the Grand Hotel was captured by Joris van Velzen, who travelled to Kupari in 2018 and posted this image on his Instagram page. 
The swimming pool inside one of the abandoned hotels is now filled with debris.
The swimming pool inside one of the abandoned hotels is now filled with debris. 
A black-and-white image of the Hotel Goričina in 1964, when the resort of Kupari was beginning to expand. The resort's 'heyday' period was between 1964 and 1990.
A black-and-white image of the Hotel Goričina in 1964, when the resort of Kupari was beginning to expand. The resort's 'heyday' period was between 1964 and 1990.
This is what is left of the ballroom inside the Goričina Hotel after four years of fighting and decades of neglect and looting.
This is what is left of the ballroom inside the Goričina Hotel after four years of fighting and decades of neglect and looting. 
Overgrown trees and plants surround the abandoned Goričina Hotel. Holidaying in Kupari was difficult unless you had military connections.
Overgrown trees and plants surround the abandoned Goričina Hotel. Holidaying in Kupari was difficult unless you had military connections. 
During the war, each hotel floor was looted and gutted with phosphorus bombs. Pictured is the interior of the Grand Hotel.
During the war, each hotel floor was looted and gutted with phosphorus bombs. Pictured is the interior of the Grand Hotel. 
Inside the Grand Hotel, which makes for an extremely spooky place for a child to ride their bike.
Inside the Grand Hotel, which makes for an extremely spooky place for a child to ride their bike.
The Grand Hotel, pictured, was constructed in 1919 and was the centrepiece of the Kupari resort.
The Grand Hotel, pictured, was constructed in 1919 and was the centrepiece of the Kupari resort. 
It was 1991 when war broke out between those loyal to the government of Croatia and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army. Pictured is a damaged hotel stairway.
It was 1991 when war broke out between those loyal to the government of Croatia and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army. Pictured is a damaged hotel stairway. 
Yugoslavian leader Josip Broz Tito had a holiday villa in the resort. Pictured is one of the hotels which now lays abandoned.
Yugoslavian leader Josip Broz Tito had a holiday villa in the resort. Pictured is one of the hotels which now lays abandoned. 
The crumbling courtyard inside the Grand Hotel - which was once one of the most opulent hotels in Kupari.
The crumbling courtyard inside the Grand Hotel - which was once one of the most opulent hotels in Kupari. 
Each of the hotels at Kupari had stunning views across the Adriatic Sea.
Each of the hotels at Kupari had stunning views across the Adriatic Sea. 
Three of the former hotels in the resort - the Grand, Goričina and Pelegrin - were used as a base by the Croatian army.
Three of the former hotels in the resort - the Grand, Goričina and Pelegrin - were used as a base by the Croatian army. 
Locals have stripped anything useful from the shells of the hotels, such as tiles and copper piping.
Locals have stripped anything useful from the shells of the hotels, such as tiles and copper piping. 
Some tourists make the journey to Kupari from Dubrovnik to explore the 'hotel graveyard'.
Some tourists make the journey to Kupari from Dubrovnik to explore the 'hotel graveyard'. 
The Hotel Kupari, pictured in 1977, with the Hotel Pelegrin in the background close to the coastline.
The Hotel Kupari, pictured in 1977, with the Hotel Pelegrin in the background close to the coastline. 
This image is from 1989 and shows a packed beach full of holidaymakers in Kupari.
This image is from 1989 and shows a packed beach full of holidaymakers in Kupari. 
Today, the abandoned hotel buildings can still be seen from the beach, which still attracts sun-seekers.
Today, the abandoned hotel buildings can still be seen from the beach, which still attracts sun-seekers. 
An exterior view of the Hotel Goričina, which is slowly being enveloped by trees and bushes.
An exterior view of the Hotel Goričina, which is slowly being enveloped by trees and bushes. 
The abandoned hotels of Kupari might not be there for much longer as a project to revive the resort is underway.
The abandoned hotels of Kupari might not be there for much longer as a project to revive the resort is underway. 
The ruins of the Hotel Pelegrin in Kupari. Earlier this year, architects had asked for the building to be saved but their appeal was rejected.
The ruins of the Hotel Pelegrin in Kupari. Earlier this year, architects had asked for the building to be saved but their appeal was rejected. 

No comments:

Powered by Blogger.