Homeland War Museum Dubrovnik

History

After the death of Tito in 1980, the union of 6 countries under the name of Yugoslavia started to crumble. Serbia wanted to centralise all power and increase its influence over the other nations: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia and Macedonia.

Following the declaration of independence of Croatia in 1991, war broke out between the nations, one that would mark Dubrovnik's history forever. The city's status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was originally thought to provide protection against ongoing attacks. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The people of Ragusa weren't ready for an attack: they didn't have an army or any type of international support.

Serbian troops attacked the walled city and the area around by land, sea and air, taking advantage of its proximity to the border with Montenegro. The memory of these incessant attacks, which lasted 8 months, is still very present in the minds of those who survived. Today, you can tell the difference between the old and more recent parts along the Walls of Dubrovnik that were rebuilt after the war.

In total, over 160 civilians died, and many historic monuments were heavily damaged by bombs.

The Museum

The Homeland War Museum comprises various rooms that exhibit audiovisual material about the attacks and witness statements from people who experienced it first-hand. It's very emotional seeing the weapons used in the war, soldier's uniforms and even missiles and grenades.

In one of the museum's rooms, you can watch a documentary with images of the attacks on the walled city, which includes interviews with families who lost everything. The museum accounts chronologically all the stages of the war in Dubrovnik, from 1991 to 1995.

A Fascinating Cultural Visit

The Homeland War Museum is the best institution for discovering the storied past of Dubrovnik's recent history. It should be noted that the museum focuses on the bombing of Dubrovnik and depicts the war from the Croatian point of view. Nonetheless, it's very striking to see the contrast between the burning city that the museum displays and Dubrovnik as we know it today.

How to Get There

The Homeland War Museum is found at the top of Srđ Hill. The best way of arriving is by taking the cable car, which, in just a few minutes, will take you to the top of the hill. Along the way, you can enjoy stunning panoramas of Dubrovnik, making for an all-around pleasant experience.