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Karlobag 1960 – 1970

The Construction of the New Adriatic: The Years of Hotels and the Coastal Road

Coat of arms of Karlobag
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Click a postcard or photograph for a detailed view, or start the presentation.

Presentation

The sixties brought a true renaissance and an era of radical modernization to Karlobag. After years of reconstruction, the town was ready to embrace the wave of tourism. The focus shifted from the port and local trade to visitors arriving from the sea and the mainland, and the entire town underwent reorganization.

The construction of modern tourist complexes symbolized this change. Along the coast, the elegant Motel Karlobag emerged, as well as monumental structures like Hotel Jadran and its Annex (Depandansa), featuring terraces and all the luxuries of the time. Karlobag acquired a new identity—that of a Mediterranean seaside resort.

However, modernization demanded sacrifices. During this period, major infrastructural works were carried out, including the construction of a new road through Karlobag, which permanently altered the urban structure. For the purpose of expansion and modernization, the decision was made to demolish the remains of the old church, removing an important historical element in favour of the new, tourist-oriented Karlobag.

The summer months were no longer quiet; the waterfront (riva) resonated with the laughter of tourists from all over Europe, colourful swimwear was in vogue, and people danced on hotel terraces. Traffic on the Adriatic Highway (Jadranska magistrala) boomed, bringing an increasing number of cars and campers.

Photographs and postcards from this era no longer just show the permanence of stone, but also dynamism and carefree days, along with visible cuts in the historical fabric of the town. They testify to a significant investment in the future, a time when Karlobag, supported by Velebit, firmly secured its place on the tourist map of the Adriatic as a glamorous summer stage.

Postcard 1

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: D. Randulić.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1301

Postcard 72

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photograph by D. Randulić.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1372

Postcard 2

Postcard sent in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: D. Randulić.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1302

Postcard 3

Postcard sent in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: D. Randulić.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1303

Postcard 4

Postcard sent in 1960.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: D. Randulić.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1304

Postcard 5

Postcard sent in 1966.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Generalturist, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1305

Postcard 6

Postcard sent in 1970.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Publisher: NIP "Vjesnik", Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1306

Postcard 7

Period around the 1960s.

Edition: "Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

Photo by: Đ. Griesbach.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1307

Postcard 8

Postcard sent in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Jugoturist, Belgrade.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1308

Postcard 9

Period around the 1960s.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1309

Postcard 10

Postcard sent in 1966.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: J. Kopač.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1310

Postcard 11

Postcard sent in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Generalturist, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1311

Postcard 12

Postcard sent in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1312

Postcard 13

Postcard sent in 1968.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Technical National University, Belgrade.

Photo by: M. Milivojević.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1313

Postcard 14

Period around the 1960s.

Technical National University, Belgrade.

Photo by: M. Milivojević.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1314

Postcard 15

Period around the 1960s.

Publisher: NIP "Vjesnik", Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1315

Postcard 16

Postcard sent in 1968.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Publisher: NIP "Vjesnik", Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1316

Postcard 17

Postcard sent in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Agefoto, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1317

Postcard 18

Postcard sent in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

"Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1318

Postcard 19

Postcard sent in the 1960s.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo by: Photo studio, Belgrade.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1319

Postcard 20

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: J. Kopač.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1320

Postcard 21

Postcard sent in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: M. Pintar.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1321

Postcard 22

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: M. Pintar.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1322

Postcard 23

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: M. Pintar.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1323

Postcard 24

Period around the 1960s.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1324

Main altar of the Church of St. Joseph in Karlobag

Period 1960.

Main altar of the Church of St. Joseph in Karlobag, with the statue of St. Joseph and the Child Jesus.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1374

Postcard 25

Postcard sent in 1968.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1325

Postcard 26

Postcard sent in 1965.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: J. Kopač.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1326

Postcard 27

Period around the 1960s.

Fotolik, Celje.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1327

Postcard 28

Postcard sent in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1328

Postcard 29

Postcard sent in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo by: A. Milivojević.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1329

Postcard 30

Period around the 1960s.

Fotolik, Celje.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1330

Postcard 31

Period around the 1960s.

Edition: "Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

Photo by: Đ. Griesbach.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1331

Postcard 32

Postcard sent in 1961.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Edition: "Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

Photo by: Đ. Griesbach.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1332

Postcard 33

Period around the 1960s.

Fotolik, Celje.

Photo: F. Mauer.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1333

Postcard 34

Postcard sent in 1962.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Edition: "Foto Tehnika", Zagreb, Ilica 35.

Photo by: D. Frković.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1334

Market in Karlobag

Period 1960.

Scene at the market in Karlobag, with vendors, shoppers and children gathered beneath the trees.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1375

Postcard 35

Postcard sent in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1335

Postcard 36

Period around the 1960s.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1336

Postcard 37

Postcard sent in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: M. Pintar.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1337

Postcard 38

Postcard sent in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo by: Photo studio "Belgrade", Belgrade, M. Tita 7.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1338

Postcard 39

Postcard sent in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Agefoto, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1339

Postcard 40

Postcard sent in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1340

Postcard 41

Postcard sent in 1961.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

"Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1341

Postcard 42

Postcard sent in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

"Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1342

Postcard 43

Postcard sent in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1343

Postcard 44

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: M. Pintar.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1344

Postcard 45

Postcard sent in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Generalturist, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1345

Postcard 46

Postcard sent in 1962.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Produced by: "Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

Photo by: Đ. Griesbach.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1346

Postcard 47

Postcard sent in 1962.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Jugoturist, Belgrade.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1347

Postcard 48

Postcard sent in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Agefoto, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1348

Postcard 73

Period 1960s.

Stamp of SFR Yugoslavia

Agefoto, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1373

Postcard 49

Postcard sent in 1974.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Publisher: Orbis - Prague.

Photo: F. Zahradniček.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1349

Postcard 71

Period 1960s.

Publisher: Orbis - Prague.

Photo: F. Zahradniček.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1371

Postcard 68

Period 1960s.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1368

Postcard 50

Period 1960s.

Agefoto, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1350

Postcard 51

Postcard sent in 1962.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Produced by: "Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1351

Postcard 52

Postcard sent in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Jugoturist, Belgrade.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1352

Postcard 53

Postcard sent in 1960.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Edition: "Foto Tehnika", Zagreb, Ilica 35.

Photo by: D. Frković.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1353

Postcard 54

Postcard sent in 1960.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Edition: "Foto Tehnika", Zagreb, Ilica 35.

Photo by: D. Frković.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1354

Postcard 55

Postcard sent in 1966.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Technical National University, Belgrade.

Photo by: M. Milivojević.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1355

Postcard 56

Postcard sent in the 1960s.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Technical National University, Belgrade.

Photo by: M. Milivojević.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1356

Postcard 57

Postcard sent in the 1960s.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Studio, Belgrade.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1357

Postcard 58

Postcard sent in the 1960s.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Tourist Press, Belgrade.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1358

Postcard 59

Postcard sent in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1359

Postcard 60

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1360

Postcard 61

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1361

Postcard 62

Period around the 1960s.

Agefoto, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1362

Postcard 63

Postcard sent in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Generalturist, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1363

Postcard 64

Postcard sent in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Generalturist, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1364

Postcard 65

Postcard sent in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1365

Postcard 66

Postcard sent in 1966.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1366

Postcard 67

Period around the 1960s.

Agefoto, Zagreb.

The picture on this postcard was drawn by Habsburg officer and cartographer Martin Stier in 1660. The image shows Karlobag after the attack of Venetian general Tiepolo. The town remained in ruins for a long time and was rebuilt in 1672, but at that time it served only as a military post.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1367

Postcard 70

Postcard sent in 1964.

Stamp of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1370

Postcard 69

Postcard sent in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

T. Potočnjak Collection
Inv. no. ZTP-KB-1369

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