The Eternal Flame
The Eternal Flame ("Vječna vatra") is a memorial to those who liberated Sarajevo
during World War II and was first unveiled during a commemorative event held on
April 6, 1946 for the first anniversary of the liberation of Sarajevo.
The monument is comprised of tiles that are inscribed with
text in the colors of the flag of former Yugoslavia – blue, white and red – and
there is a copper receptacle in the shape of a wreath of bay leaves which
contains an open flame that is always burning. The flame symbolizes that
Sarajevo’s liberators and the coat of arms of former Yugoslavia will be forever
remembered.
This simple yet beautiful monument is the work of architect,
Juraj Neidhardt. It was installed at the front of one building in the heart of
Sarajevo’s walking zone, at the junction of Mula Mustafa Bašeskije, Titova and
Ferhadija Streets.
The building itself was designed by Josip Vancaš and Karl Paržik. First the home of Grand Hotel, it later became the seat of the National Bank and then the Social Accounting Services and is currently the home of the Payment Bureau.