Pakostane
Location: Croatia (100 km from Split, near Zadar )
Type of village: Cases
Date of opening: 1960
Year of closing: 2005
A little history: Located in Yugoslavia in the part that is now Croatia, the village opened in 1960 for the Club's 10th anniversary.
Marshal Tito is said to have personally given permission for the Club Méditerranée to be established in Pakostane. (Source to be verified but certainly close to reality). He respected Gerard Blitz as a member of a resistance movement during World War II.
However, in 1960, foreign companies were banned from operating independently in Yugoslavia, so the operating activity in Pakoštane was entrusted to Zadar Turisthotel. Club Méditerranée was considered a tenant.
The setup in Sveti Marko was the same.
Jean BALANDJIAN inaugurates Pakostane as the first village chief.
Calling itself a 'young' village at the time, the village is located in a vast pine forest located on the edge of the Adriatic.
At the beginning of its existence, the village was very oriented towards water skiing and underwater hunting. Sailing appeared in 1962. The village is also a starting point for many excursions and bivouacs.
Until 1991, Pakostane was one of the Club's flagship villages. Closed during the conflict that saw the breakup of Yugoslavia, the village reopened on June 28, 1996, by decision of the Club. The site was "relatively spared" by the war. A few improvements were enough to restore the village to its former splendor.
And for this reopening, it is Jean Pierre BATARD who takes the reins of Pakostane as village chief!!
Attendance is below expectations. The village is no longer full. The Club Med in Pakostane finally closes at the end of the 2005 season. (Lease expires and is not renewed.)
Daniel Radigue will be the last village chief.
Today :
It is very rare to see an old village today having an existence after the Club has left. Look at Ipsos, Caprera, Al Hceima and the list is long… Unfortunately!). In 2006, after the Club left, the village took the label Pine Beach and today, even if this operator has renovated the village somewhat, the good old huts are still there and you can sleep in them.
Deep down Pakostane is still Pakostane.
pinebeach link
Videos
Club Méditerranée 1972 Pakostane Source INA
Pakostane 1982, series of photos of the village
Club Méditerranée 1963 Pakostane Source INA The DinausauresClub – Gérard Pigeon DECOSTERD
Club Méditerranée 1960 Pakostane
The DinausauresClub – Gérard Pigeon DECOSTERD
Thank you Gérard for your great video testimony on Pakostane, my first village in 1985, with Françoise Gravière in CDV and Gino Andretta (still at the Club) resp. Animation or Sport I don't remember.
The best memories of happy and rare moments.
Kisses from an old retired GO (64 seasons at the Bourse and La Villette headquarters).
Hello, with François in 1989, Gino, head of mini club, Lionel Kupper, head of sports, me, head of water skiing. Great memories; Thank you for everything.
Pakostane 1985, I was there GO voile with Jean Luc Chef de voile, an Italian Chef de sport, and Jean Florance Chef de village… anybody was there?
Former Club Med fan. I had a great vacation back in the hut days (I was young), the atmosphere was great...a bit nostalgic!
I've been to many clubs, about 8 in total. FAN OF CLUB MED