Kosovo's Great Hammam to Become Museum

Pristina’s 15th-century baths are to become a museum, once a much-delayed restoration programme is completed, city hall says

Mustafe Halili, head of the cultural department from the Municipality of Pristina, told Balkan Insight that the historic building would not return to being a traditional steam bath.

It is now planned that it will house cultural artefacts once renovation, which has been long delayed and much criticised, is completed.

Pristina’s Hammam was built in the second half of the 15th century.

According to the little information and documentation available, it was built in 1461 as a facility for the Fatih Mosque and its local community.

As a public baths, the public used it for generations until its original function was abandoned in the 1960s.

From then on, the building suffered much damage and since 1989 it has undergone no maintenance, despite the building’s status as one of the oldest Ottoman structures in Pristina.

The building was then used as a place to store construction materials, while the main entrance halls were turned into shops.

In 1995, the shops in the eastern part of the building burned down, causing extensive damage.

Other parts of the building continued to be used for shops until the first conservation activities started in 2007, while the other part of the building was left in ruins.

Attempts to restore the site have been attacked by heritage experts, who complain that builders have ignored a carefully design plan to protect the structure’s Ottoman features. Modern bricks have been used and the building’s dog tooth cornices have been destroyed.

Halili said the building will hold exhibits from the Neolithic period and 18th Century.

“We cannot make it into a hammam, a traditional bath, but the building will be preserved and its cultural heritage will be saved and renewed,” said Halili.

“The Special Committee, established by the Ministry of Culture, aiming to protect, promote and preserve cultural heritage, knows best that the usage of the Great Hammam as a museum will best promote our cultural heritage, and will be a great place where we will have the opportunity to learn more about our culture and see it from close.”

It is not yet clear when renovation work will be completed or when the site will be opened as a museum .

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