Despića kuća

This descendant of a prominent Serbian family in Sarajevo wished to establish an exhibition on the topic of traditional Serbian family housing in the Despić House, now a dependency of the Sarajevo Museum. Through this exhibition, the memory of the Despić family is preserved, as they left a significant mark on the history of Sarajevo.

 

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Despić family, who amassed great wealth as craftsmen and traders, represented the elite of Sarajevo. The reception room of the Despić House was even used for the first theater performances, making it a precursor to the modern theater in Sarajevo.

 

Inside the house, numerous intriguing artifacts belonging to family members are displayed. These include the last will and testament of the most famous and influential Despić member, Hadži Maks, as well as the piano belonging to his Austrian daughter-in-law, Vilhemina-Mina Despić, which was manufactured in the family-owned Neubauer factory in Vienna.

 

As part of the permanent exhibition, the Despić House features the “Hero Valter” exhibition dedicated to Vladimir Perić-Valter, the leader of the resistance movement against the Nazi occupation of Sarajevo. The exhibition showcases his personal belongings, as well as Sarajevo and its surroundings during World War II. The exhibition was curated by Igor Radovanović.

 

The Despić House, with its oldest section dating back to the 17th century, was donated to the city of Sarajevo in the late 1960s by Pero Despić.

 

In addition to the Despić House, the Despić family also donated a house to the city of Sarajevo, which now houses the Museum of Literature and Performing Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.