The Šabac Home of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and the ancient port in the Albanian city of Durrës were shortlisted for this year's list of endangered European heritage.
The building of the home of the former army of the SFR Yugoslavia is in the center of Šabac, and since its construction in 1962, it has been the meeting place of many cultural events and an important meeting place for the people of Šabac for decades.
However, the building has been abandoned for years and "stands as if haunted", as the media wrote.
"When it was built, it was written in the press at the time that it would become 'the most representative cultural institution in the city', and according to the testimony of contemporaries, it was.
"Our famous punk Ivan Glišić used to say that, when they couldn't play in other places for political reasons, they had an open door in the House of the JNA," says Marko Gavrilović, an architect from Šabac who initiated the initiative to protect this cultural monument, for BBC in Serbian.
The list of 11 endangered sites in Europe was published by the non-governmental organization Evropa Nostra, which deals with the protection of cultural and natural heritage, as well as the Institute of the European Investment Bank.
In April, they will select the seven most vulnerable.
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Abandoned building from Sabac postcards
During the past half century. In the Šabač House of the JNA, great Yugoslav pop and rock bands such as Index, Ekaterina Velika's White Button performed, there was also a cinema, a hall for public discussions, and later a restaurant for birthday celebrations and weddings.
"The Goblins (a well-known punk group from Šabac) held literary evenings there, there were many events," says Gavrilović, adding that numerous generations of Šač residents have fond memories of the House of the JNA.
As a young man, he went there for army recruitment, but also for his friend's coming-of-age celebration.
The building is a combination of Western European influences and Yugoslav architecture and has been on postcards from Šabac for decades.
Inside there was also a bowling alley, pool tables, table tennis, as well as a library with a reading room.
In the early 2000s, the JNA Home was closed, and in 2008 this military facility was sold to the local authorities, who do not have a clear decision on what to do with it, suggests a statement from the Europa Nostra organization.
The main threat now is the potential destruction of the JNA House, in case the city leaders sell it to a private investor, Europa Nostra said.
"In the case of private ownership, there is a danger that conservation efforts will be neglected and the site will be used to build another facility, commercial or residential, which would lead to an irreparable loss for the cultural history of Šabac," the statement said.
It is necessary to convince the city authorities to restore the building and thus preserve its cultural and historical importance, it added.
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The building fell into disrepair year after year - the windows were broken, the floors were damaged, and everything that was valuable was taken from the inside, from furniture to installations, says Gavrilović.
The building is in the process of protection as a cultural monument, and in 2019, the city gave up on the sale and money was allocated for renovation, adds Gavrilović, who also wrote a scientific paper about the House of the JNA.
He is convinced that the facility is not so devastated that it requires huge investments and that it would be worthwhile for the City to reopen it, if there is political will.
"It is a very high-quality construction and it would be a shame if it continues to deteriorate," says Gavrilović.
Endangered archaeological heritage in the port of Durrës
Of the 11 endangered sites, the Albanian port of Durrës on the Adriatic is also in the Balkans, an important junction at the crossroads since the time of the ancient Greeks, Romans and Illyrians.
The Greeks called it Epidamnos, and the Romans called it Dyrachium, and Durres preserves centuries-old archaeological heritage.
At the Muret e Portes site, there is still a 62-meter-long wall and a tower from the Roman era, leading to the ancient port of Porto Romano, which served as one of the most important trade routes for more than 2000 years.
Today, a modern port is being built in the immediate vicinity, and cranes and construction work threaten to threaten the archaeological heritage of European importance, because one part of the defensive wall has already been demolished.
"Erosion and deterioration due to both natural events and human actions. this monument is currently badly damaged.
"Residents of these areas have protested the expansion of the hydrocarbon port - which has been operating since 2015 - and threatens their communities," the website said. Europe of Nostra.
What other places are on the shortlist?
- Amberd cultural-historical reserve - fortress from the 7th century (Armenia)
- Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George, Hatay Province (Turkey)
- Iron Gate of Antioch, Antakya/Hataya Province (Turkey)
- Cycladic islands, especially Sifnos, Serifos and Folegandros (Greece)
- Synagogue in Siena (Italy)
- Midi Palace from 1880, Brussels (Belgium)
- Workers' housing estates in Rube-Turkoan (France)
- Church of St. Peter in Gesate, Milan (Italy)
- 17th-century Steinort Castle, Northern Masuria (Poland)
Yesterday we announced the #7MostEndangered 2024 shortlist, in partnership with the @EIBINSTITUTE & with the support of @europe_creative 🏛️🌿 🛤️ Take a journey through the 11 preselected endangered #legacy sites in this video 📽️ 👇https://t.co/uDoxJi29BK
— Europa Nostra (@europanostra) January 31, 2024
Selected heritage sites are threatened by devastation, inappropriate interventions, the devastating impact of natural disasters, neglect or lack of funding, Europa Nostra said.
"By publishing the list, we want to convey a strong message of solidarity and support to activists and local communities who are deeply committed to preserving these places.
"The European heritage must be preserved not only as a testimony of our common past, but also as a catalyst for a sustainable and peaceful future," said Herman Parzinger, executive president of this organization.
Many localities from the Balkans have been on their lists in recent years and have had practical benefits from it.
Among them were the synagogue in Subotica, Kalemegdan in Belgrade, the Mirogoj cemetery in Zagreb, the Visoki Dečani monastery in Kosovo, the building of the Main Post Office in Skopje, Sveti Stefan Island in Montenegro, the partisan cemetery in Mostar and many others.
Europa Nostra is the largest heritage network in Europe, which maintains close relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, UNESCO and other international bodies.
When the seven most endangered places are selected from the 11 proposed, protection solutions will be proposed for them, as well as grants of 10.000 euros to implement the agreed activities and help save the locality.
Watch the video about the island of Sveti Stefan:
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Bonus video:
