Svečana sala / Ceremonial Hall

CEREMONIAL HALL

The Ceremonial hall is most representative space in the Sarajevo City Hall. Throughout its history this beautiful salon has always been the most important place in the building, where the Mayors of Sarajevo organized festive receptions for high officials and delegations who came to visit Sarajevo.

During its history, Ceremonial hall was also used for the meetings of the National Parliament in the period from 1910 to 1914. Interestingly, on June 28, 1914, only hours before the Sarajevo Assassination, a reception was held for Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sofia right at this room.

After the Second World War, the government gave the City Hall building to the National and University Library, and until 1992, this room was used as the main reading room for students. Numerous generations of students studying in Sarajevo spent many hours in this room reading, learning and successfully completing theirs studies. After the restoration of the building the Ceremonial Hall was returned its original function. Many years later it is again used for organizing reception and other ceremonial occasions.

When it comes to decorative elements, including painted decoration and architectural details, the Ceremonial Hall is the most representative part of the City Hall interior. Walls in this room are gilded, where a gentle gold dust was applied to the gypsum decoration. Almost every surfaces in this entire room is wonderfully decorated, ornamented or colored by hand.