HR EN

Karlobag 1960 – 1970

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

Grb Karlobaga

Click on a postcard for a detailed view, or start the Slideshow for an automatic gallery.

← Gallery Slideshow

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.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1301)

Postcard 72

Period around the 1960s

Agency for Photo Documentation, Zagreb.

Photo by: D. Randulić.

(T. Potočnjak Collection / Inv. No. ZTP-KB-1372)

Postcard 2

Postcard traveled in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: D. Randulić.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1302)

Postcard 3

Postcard traveled in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: D. Randulić.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1303)

Postcard 4

Postcard traveled in 1960.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: D. Randulić.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1304)

Postcard 5

Postcard traveled in 1966.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Generalturist, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1305)

Postcard 6

Postcard traveled in 1970.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Publisher: NIP "Vjesnik", Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1306)

Postcard 7

Period around the 1960s.

Edition: "Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

Photo by: Đ. Griesbach.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1307)

Postcard 8

Postcard traveled in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Jugoturist, Belgrade.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1308)

Postcard 9

Period around the 1960s.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1309)

Postcard 10

Postcard traveled in 1966.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: J. Kopač.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1310)

Postcard 11

Postcard traveled in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Generalturist, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1311)

Postcard 12

Postcard traveled in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1312)

Postcard 13

Postcard traveled in 1968.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Technical National University, Belgrade.

Photo by: M. Milivojević.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1313)

Postcard 14

Period around the 1960s.

Technical National University, Belgrade.

Photo by: M. Milivojević.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1314)

Postcard 15

Period around the 1960s.

Publisher: NIP "Vjesnik", Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1315)

Postcard 16

Postcard traveled in 1968.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Publisher: NIP "Vjesnik", Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1316)

Postcard 17

Postcard traveled in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Agefoto, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1317)

Postcard 18

Postcard traveled in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

"Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1318)

Postcard 19

Postcard traveled in the 1960s.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo by: Photo studio, Belgrade.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1319)

Postcard 20

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: J. Kopač.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1320)

Postcard 21

Postcard traveled in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: M. Pintar.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1321)

Postcard 22

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: M. Pintar.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1322)

Postcard 23

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: M. Pintar.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1323)

Postcard 24

Period around the 1960s.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1324)

Postcard 25

Postcard traveled in 1968.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1325)

Postcard 26

Postcard traveled in 1965.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: J. Kopač.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1326)

Postcard 27

Period around the 1960s.

Fotolik, Celje.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1327)

Postcard 28

Postcard traveled in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1328)

Postcard 29

Postcard traveled in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo by: A. Milivojević.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1329)

Postcard 30

Period around the 1960s.

Fotolik, Celje.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1330)

Postcard 31

Period around the 1960s.

Edition: "Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

Photo by: Đ. Griesbach.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1331)

Postcard 32

Postcard traveled in 1961.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Edition: "Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

Photo by: Đ. Griesbach.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1332)

Postcard 33

Period around the 1960s.

Fotolik, Celje.

Photo: F. Mauer.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1333)

Postcard 34

Postcard traveled in 1962.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

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

Photo by: D. Frković.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1334)

Postcard 35

Postcard traveled in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1335)

Postcard 36

Period around the 1960s.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1336)

Postcard 37

Postcard traveled in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: M. Pintar.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1337)

Postcard 38

Postcard traveled in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

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

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1338)

Postcard 39

Postcard traveled in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Agefoto, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1339)

Postcard 40

Postcard traveled in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1340)

Postcard 41

Postcard traveled in 1961.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

"Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1341)

Postcard 42

Postcard traveled in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

"Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1342)

Postcard 43

Postcard traveled in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1343)

Postcard 44

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

Photo by: M. Pintar.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1344)

Postcard 45

Postcard traveled in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Generalturist, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1345)

Postcard 46

Postcard traveled in 1962.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Produced by: "Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

Photo by: Đ. Griesbach.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1346)

Postcard 47

Postcard traveled in 1962.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Jugoturist, Belgrade.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1347)

Postcard 48

Postcard traveled in 1963.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Agefoto, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1348)

Postcard 73

1960s period.

Stamp of SFR Yugoslavia

Agefoto, Zagreb.

(T. Potočnjak Collection / Inv. No. ZTP-KB-1373)

Postcard 49

Postcard traveled in 1974.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Publisher: Orbis - Prague.

Photo: F. Zahradniček.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1349)

Postcard 71

Period 1960s.

Publisher: Orbis - Prague.

Photo: F. Zahradniček.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1371)

Postcard 68

Period 1960s.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1368)

Postcard 50

Period 1960s.

Agefoto, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1350)

Postcard 51

Postcard traveled in 1962.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Produced by: "Putnik Zagreb" - Photo service.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1351)

Postcard 52

Postcard traveled in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Jugoturist, Belgrade.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1352)

Postcard 53

Postcard traveled in 1960.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

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

Photo by: D. Frković.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1353)

Postcard 54

Postcard traveled in 1960.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

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

Photo by: D. Frković.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1354)

Postcard 55

Postcard traveled in 1966.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Technical National University, Belgrade.

Photo by: M. Milivojević.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1355)

Postcard 56

Postcard traveled in the 1960s.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Technical National University, Belgrade.

Photo by: M. Milivojević.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1356)

Postcard 57

Postcard traveled in the 1960s.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Studio, Belgrade.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1357)

Postcard 58

Postcard traveled in the 1960s.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Tourist Press, Belgrade.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1358)

Postcard 59

Postcard traveled in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1359)

Postcard 60

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1360)

Postcard 61

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1361)

Postcard 62

Period around the 1960s.

Agefoto, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1362)

Postcard 63

Postcard traveled in 1967.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Generalturist, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1363)

Postcard 64

Postcard traveled in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Generalturist, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1364)

Postcard 65

Postcard traveled in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1365)

Postcard 66

Postcard traveled in 1966.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Fotolik, Celje.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. 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.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1367)

Image not available

Coming soon

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1372)

Postcard 70

Period around the 1960s.

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1370)

Postcard 69

Postcard traveled in 1964.

Stamp: SFR Yugoslavia

Photo Documentation Agency, Zagreb.

(Collection T. Potočnjak / Inv. nr. ZTP-KB-1369)

Back