About
Like the majority of hotels built during the 60s and 70s in prosperous Yugoslavia, a lot of these structures now stand abandoned and out of use in their six independent states. Hotel Jagodina is one of those many hotels. Located in the city centre of Jagodina, its derelict glass windows in cubic formation used to be a pride of this central city, where travellers once stayed and many locals frequented.
Hotel Jagodina was built in 1979 by architect Miloš Konstantinović who had won an award for its design. It featured 156 rooms, 3 apartments and 1 residence with a total of 320 beds. Rooms were equipped with a mini bar and each floor had a distinct colour that would match the walls, carpets, furniture and ceramics - they were brown, green, purple and blue. Guests could enjoy lavish facilities at the Jagodina: TV lounges, a pastry shop turned cafe, a congress hall frequented by Tito, two summer gardens, a swimming pool, a sauna, a solarium, a hair salon and a disco club. A shop in the hotel sold souvenirs, drinks, cigarettes and magazines. Above all, restaurants were a notable element of the hotel. Šarena Kafana was often visited by legendary Serbian poet and painter Đura Jakšić during his stay in Jagodina. A bohemian at heart, his legacy is not forgotten. The other two restaurants, Restaurant Kafana and Ćuran Sala, served local and international food and were managed by personnel who had trained in Switzerland and Belgrade's famous Hotel Jugoslavia (another Atlas Obscura location). There was an international and vivid air to life at the Hotel Jagodina, symbolic of the country's glorious past and openness towards global tastes.
Hotel Jagodina is also remembered for its celebration of some of the greatest artists in Yugoslavia. The works of art that adorned the hotel were the work of Vladimir Todorović, Borislav Rakić, Milorad Bata Mihajlović and Zagorka Stojanović. The iconic fountain in the hotel lobby was the work of Ljubiša and Radiša Petrović and the creator of the many wall paintings and circular wooden medallions was Slobodan Selenić. He had designed the Cable Factory in Jagodina and was responsible for the hotel's graphic design and logo. Hotel Jagodina's logo represents the stylised head of a turkey - a symbol of Jagodina. "Ćuran" (male turkey) is an ever-present word all around the city.
Know Before You Go
The hotel is currently abandoned but you can still visit some of it. For example, the Kristalna sala ("Crystal Hall") is used for weddings and events. Some of the hotel's former facilities have also been slightly altered.
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