Abandoned Hotel Šumadija

The pretty, flaxen Hotel Šumadija was built as part of a string of spa constructions in the period of 1936-1939. Named after the heavily forested Serbian central region of Šumadija (a name that stems from "šuma" meaning "forest"), the designer of the hotel, baths and many other buildings built at the time was Gojko Todić while the Hotel Šumadija's contractor was Đura Borošić from Belgrade. Featuring Art Deco Cyrillic letters, the building's overall architectural style depicts a lack of ornamentation that featured in Germany, Italy, the USSR and other European nations at the time. The pillars followed a subtle pseudo-Antique approach that did not intend to completely copy Ancient Greek or Roman pillars.

When it was completed in 1939 through the help of French funding, the hotel was one of the most modernly equipped hotels in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia at the time. It had two floors, an attic, a basement and a spacious terrace on the west side. Its once-monumental main entrance was composed of granite steps and decorated with tall marble columns. Guests would be greeted with an elegant hall, carpeted stairs, nickel-plated handrails and a lavish dining room. They would have a range of access to hairdressers and other beauty services, as well as a lot of modern spa equipment. The hotel had over 80 rooms and suites with access to hot or cold water and steam heating all while being adorned in luxurious furniture and exquisite elements. To navigate the floors, guests also had access to an elevator. Outside of well-equipped rooms, the hotel offered a billiard room and a stunning reading room with over 400 books.

The hotel would be frequented by guests who had come to the region for its spas, in other words, for healing purposes. Serbia has a rich spa history due to its many thermal springs and mineral-rich water; this is also why there are cities all over the country that end in "banja" meaning "bath". In order to accommodate guests who could not or did not want to leave the hotel, the ground floor of the hotel had open-air hypothermic water baths for guests to use as per doctor's advice. Doctors would be available on the first floor of the hotel to guide guests based on their needs.

With the many turmoils faced by Serbia since the 1930s, the hotel has been abandoned and out of use for a long time. Its haunting facade is a symbol of the spa culture that popped up in many Serbian cities and is still appreciated to this day. It is best to visit the venue before it is renovated, and admire such an amazing spa complex that was considered the most modern in all of the country.