Sveti Marko
Location: Yugoslavia/Montenegro (Kotor Bay)
Village type: Cabins
Opening date: 1962
Year closed: July 6, 1991
A little history: Before we get into the historical background, let's take a closer look at the geography. Sveti Marko is a small Yugoslav island (present-day Montenegro) located in the middle of the Bay of Kotor. It is completely forested and has a steep terrain.
It all began in 1960, when the mayor of Tivat, Daro Petkovic, was contacted by Gilbert Trigano after the Club's request to establish a village on Lokrum Island (an island located opposite Dubrovnik) was rejected by the government and political leaders. The island of Sveti Marko, in the municipality of Tivat, was therefore found as a replacement. Daro Petkovic, having political support, facilitated the negotiations.
Sveti Marko was privately owned at the time. The state nationalized it before selling it to the Putnik agency, the largest travel agency in Yugoslavia. The agency rented it to Club Méditerranée, and that was it!
When it opened in 1962, the village had 300 huts. A few years later, 200 huts were added, bringing the village's capacity to 1,000 beds. The huts are arranged on terraces amidst trees and vegetation.
The center of the village houses the offices, the commissary, the restaurant-bar, and the dance floor.
Due to the island's steep terrain, there are numerous stairs running through the village. Getting supplies to the island can be very difficult. It is done by private boat. The electricity, water, and telephone networks come from Ostrvo Cvijeca (Flower Island), located between Sveti Marko and the town of Tivat.
The village caters to all water sports enthusiasts. Water skiing and sailing are the two signature sports of Sveti Marko. Spearfishing/snorkeling and picnic bivouacs are also very popular. Numerous excursions are offered by the Putnik agency, which has an office in the village. Putnik takes care of organizing transfers and excursions.
The 1991 season was very short. The club closed on July 6th for everyone's safety. A war that would put an end to the Yugoslav state was about to begin.
In the club's water ski room, a message can be read on the whiteboard written by Aldo Lovatin.
“Saturday, July 6, 1991, 11:45 a.m. Hello, new manager. I wish you and your team a very successful 1992 season at this beautiful site in Sveti.
PS: Good luck! May your season be longer than ours!
Did you know?
In 1979, the village became Club Nature, in other words everyone naked!! . A naturism experiment attempted at the end of the 70s/beginning of the 80s by Club Méditerranée in 2 test villages (Svetit Marko and the brand new Maldives, better known later under the name of Faru)
The experiment only lasted 3 years. Everyone got dressed again in 1981.
The journey:
In the early years, Club Méditerranée offered a choice of train + boat or plane + boat. The first choice, GMs, had a 28-hour train ride to Bari in southern Italy before boarding a ferry to Dubrovnik.
The plane was faster. It allowed you to reach Tivat or Dubrovnik before taking the boat to Sveti Marko.
Village Chiefs:
Jean BALANDJIAN opened the village in 1962
René PERNEL closed the village in 1991.
Jean Pierre BATARD spent several seasons there, including one during the naturist period.
And today.
In 2007, the island of Sveti Marco was bought by the Russian company Metropole, which had the ambition to build a luxury hotel there. . .. And then nothing.
At the time of writing, the Russian project has still not been launched. The old Club village is still there. Its buildings and huts are becoming more and more derelict by the day, discreetly hidden by an ever more invasive nature.
Urbex (urban exploration) enthusiasts are publishing chilling photos.
Videos
Club Med Sveti Marko
The DinausauresClub – Gérard Pigeon DECOSTERD
Go further
GM in Sveti Marko – 1966 A story by Didier Jung of the FB Club Med Stories group
GM in Sveti Marko – 1967 A story by Didier Jung of the FB Club Med Stories group
GO to Sveti Marko – 1985 A story by Vincent Michel from the FB group Club Med Stories
Sveti Marko, what remains of it today. (Site prohibited for sensitive souls)
Oh sveti, I did a season of water skiing with Aldo in the team in 1985, it was so cool to ski, ski manager Rene, village chief Thierry
I had Jean Pierre Batard (RIP) in 1991 as village chief in Al Hoceima and we recovered quite a few GOs who came from clubs in Yugoslavia which had closed due to the war.
I spent a stay there in 1965, after hours on a night train with 8 people per compartment with amazing music, the boat was waiting for us in Bari, and the GOs gave us a big party when we arrived in Sveti Marco! I learned to water ski there, I passed my kilometer swimming certificate, made an excursion to Dubrovnik...
no water or electricity in the huts, the toilets and the large tables of the restaurant at the top of the hill, a mini earthquake almost every day... an unforgettable vacation 50 years later!
And still a loyal customer of Club Med over time with my husband and sometimes my daughter (skiing, Tathiti tours, Bora Bora, Moorea, Huaine, Tanzania, Namibia, Australia, Dubai, Scotland, etc. China and Japan canceled because of the Covid pandemic, South Africa, Mauritius and Seychelles to come... Canada if God grants us life... Only happiness and good memories!!!
cruises on ClubMed2, openings of Les Arcs Panorama, Samoens and La Rosiere
My parents worked on Sveti Marko… When I was I child, a few times I went there with them. I would cry now, I am so sad, because they are dead both, and this place is ruined. Miss those years, miss my parents…miss my Yugoslavia
Sveti Marco in a naturist club with Jean Pierre Batard, the best unforgettable vacation
1986 was just amazing. The GMs were welcomed with a parade of flags on water skis. Three skiers were pulled by each boat. They even allowed the children to parade with a flag. Inconceivable today. It was crazy! I found the bar necklace in my father's nightstand drawer.
Hello WAKI,
I was also at Sweti Marko for 15 days at the end of August and beginning of September 1986. Do you remember who the CDV was that year?
Thanks in advance,
Patrice.
I was on skis!!! 😜
I worked at Sveti Marko I arrived in July as GM I stayed on as GO – help in the restaurant shop shows only happiness Xxx
Wonderful memories far away 40 years later
Carefree youth
I often think of the young and so kind Yugoslav staff who must have lived through hell with the war that came so quickly…
May they rest in peace.
Nostalgia for the 1980s
1964. First season as GO, picnic, bivouac, spearfishing at Sveti Marco
Jean Pierre Batard our hunting leader
Gilbert Héron, village chief…
My Club nickname was HURP
Last season in 1975 at Cap Skirring, with Ali Imane village chief, known in Agadir as a baggage handler at the planning.
11 years as GO, that keeps you going. I will be 83 years old on August 13th…