Dark Tourist Destinations in the Balkans and Why they are Important

Dark Tourism is something we find absolutely fascinating yet it is of great importance. It can be a controversial topic, however, we believe that these places must be seen and experienced so that the atrocities that occurred there can be remembered and understood. We have put together a few of the most interesting Dark Tourist destinations in the Balkans.

Dark Tourism can be defined as travel to places that are historically associated with death, tragedy or destruction. The draw for tourists to these locations is often their historical importance, rather than the death and suffering associated with them. The term “Dark Tourism” was coined in 1996 by professors John Lennon and Malcolm Foley of Glasgow Caledonian University.

Dark Tourist destinations in the Balkans

There are several Dark Tourist destinations in the Balkans. To better understand the modern day Balkans, here is an incredibly brief summary of the latter part of the 20th century. During this time the countries of the Balkans were plighted by war and conflict.

The former Yugoslavia was a federation that evolved after the Second World War. Consisting of six republics, Serbs, Croats, Bosnian Muslims, Albanians, Slovenes and others were brought together under a relatively relaxed communist regime. After the death of Yugoslavia’s leader, General Tito, tensions began to emerge.

Conflict broke out in 1991 as nationalists began to declare independence. A UN ceasefire was put in place in 1992 and there was a shaky peace temporarily. The war finally ended in 1995 after the NATO bombing of the Bosnian Serbs.

In 1999, ethnic Albanians in Kosovo fought Serbs in another vicious war to gain independence. After international intervention the war ended in 1999 and Kosovo became independent. Although it’s independent status is not recognized by Serbia.

Albania was also under Communist rule for much of the 20^th century. However, its dictator, Enver Hoxha, kept a much tighter grip on the country and was paranoid about invasion from the west. He died in 1985 and the regime finally collapsed in 1990.

So here is a closer look at some of the remarkable Dark Tourist destinations in the Balkans.

The city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visiting the beautiful Ottoman city of Mostar in the present day, it doesn’t seem like an obvious dark tourism destination in the Balkans. With quaint cobbles streets and bustling bazaar it feels like a peaceful place. However, one of the most brutal battles of the Balkan War was fought here.

The Siege of Mostar was fought first in 1992 and then again later in 1993 to 1994. During the siege, the 500 year old bridge (Stari Most) was heavily bombed by the Croats and severely damaged. It eventually collapsed completely. Around 2,000 people were killed during the siege and Mostar was the most heavily damaged city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2004 the Stari Most was beautifully rebuilt and is still used today.

This beautiful city draws many tourists every year. However, not everyone is aware of the very recent history that remains in living memory of many of its residents.

Mostar is easily reachable from either Sarajevo in Bosnia or Dubrovnik in Croatia.

Abandoned villages in Kosovo

After the Kosovo war in 1999 many Serbs fled their rural homes in Kosovo. This has left many of the small villages deserted. Villagers moved to Serbia and have never returned due to the poor economic conditions and concerns for their safety. Not technically a Dark Tourism destination in the Balkans, it is still a consequence of the atrocities of the Kosovo War.

There are many of these ‘Ghost villages’ throughout Kosovo. However, not all of them are completely empty. The village of Vladica Dicic has one resident, a 92 year old lady and ethnic Serb. She is visited by an ethnic Albanian who brings her food and supplies a couple of times a week. To us, this gesture symbolizes the hope that these ethnic tensions are slowly easing. To read more about this story click HERE.

The Skull Tower – Nis, Serbia

While there are many places connected to the most recent Balkan war across Serbia, this site is something a bit older. The historic town of Nis sits in the centre of the country. In 1809 the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire (1804-1813) took place. The rebel army was annihilated by the Ottomans. As a lesson to the Serbian nation, the Turkish leader had the skulls of the dead used as building blocks to construct a tower near the entrance to the city.  In total, 952 skulls were used and 58 remain to this day.

Since its construction, the tower has come to symbolize the Serbian struggle for independence. It has also become a place of pilgrimage for Serbs across the world. The Skull Tower of Nis is an interesting place to visit with a truly barbaric but fascinating history behind it.

The Enver Hoxha Bunker – Tirana, Albania

In Tirana, Albania’s capital, there is a museum with a difference. Bunk’Art is an exhibition set inside the atomic bunker of Dictator Enver Hoxha. This is not your regular, stuffy museum. The exhibition displays relics of a not so distant past when Albania was one of Europe’s most secretive countries. Its paranoid dictator created a Bunkerization Project during the Cold War. This resulted in tens of thousands of bunkers being built across Albania. This particular bunker was designed to shelter up to 300 military personnel, including some of the country’s most important men, and was opened to the public in 2014 as a museum.

Inside the bunker

On arrival at the bunker you pass through an eerie, long, dark tunnel leading to the entrance of the exhibition. This is set just beside an active Albanian Military base. Entering the bunker itself requires passing through several thick, concrete doors. Then there is the decontamination shower, which fortunately is no longer in use! Once inside, you can explore the furnished rooms, walk through long, echoing corridors and peruse Albania’s history from 1939 to the fall of Communism. Air raid sirens sound and original news reels play on the old television sets giving an authentic experience.

The bunker is set out over several floors. Continuing on the steps downwards really shows the size of the bunker and the scale of the bunkarization project. When we visited in the spring, we saw very few other tourists adding to the already creepy atmosphere.

The exhibition gives a terrifying insight into the paranoia of Enver Hoxha and the propaganda and violence used during his rule. Visiting Bunk’Art was a chilling and fascinating look into the history of a country that most people in the west know very little about.

There is also a Bunk’Art 2 located in the very centre of Tirana, just off Skanderbeg Square. The focus of this exhibition is the history of the Albanian Ministry of Internal Affairs from 1912 to 1991. It reveals the dark secrets of “Sigurimi”, the political police. Around 173,000 bunkers were built across Albania. You are almost certain to see a few on your travels. Some have even been made into holiday accommodation.

Revolution square – Bucharest, Romania

One of Romania’s defining moments in recent years – the Romanian Revolution – took place in 1989. The heart of the uprising occurred in what is now called Revolution Square, in Bucharest. The revolution spread across the country and similar protests happened in most towns and cities. The movement would eventually overthrow communism and leader Nicolae Ceausescu.

Ceausescu was tried on charges of genocide, damage to the national economy and abuse of power to execute military actions against the Romanian people. He and his wife were executed on Christmas day 1989.

Over one thousand people who marched for freedom were killed by police. There are still bullet holes in the walls of the buildings in Revolution Square. These act as a reminder of how far Bucharest has come in recent years.

Dark Tourist destinations in the Balkans

There are many more dark tourist destinations in the Balkans. Visiting these locations provides an insight into the history of the area and helps to build an understanding of the modern culture in the Balkans. It is important to remain respectful of these sites and refrain from taking mindless selfies in areas where human beings have experienced great tragedy in recent years.

On a lighter note, the Balkan countries are full of spectacular mountains and quirky little cities. There are plenty of great spots to relax with a coffee or meal. There are so many beautiful locations to explore and learn of the amazing culture. And make sure you find the perfect setting to take that Insta worthy selfie!

For some great Balkan Destination ideas try the following posts

THE BALKANS – THE MOST STUNNING OFF THE BEATEN TRACK PLACES IN EUROPE
or
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF 8 DAYS IN THE BALKANS

Have you visited any Balkan countries or any of the locations mentioned in the post? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!