The NBS Head Office Building was built from 1888 – 1890, on the basis of blueprints designed by Konstantin Jovanovic (Vienna 1849 – Zurich 1923), son to distinguished artist Anastas Jovanovic...
22/03/2012
In early April, the NBS will be marking 125 years from laying the foundations of its edifice in Kralja Petra Street. To honour the occasion, journalists were invited to visit and walk the old hallways of a building which represents a national monument of culture. They were welcomed by Governor Šoškić and informed of the decision to open the Bank’s doors to professionals and the public at large on every first Saturday in April in order to make the cultural and artistic treasure housed in the building more accessible. The guests were also given a guided tour by art and history experts.
“This building is the seat of Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, but also one of the most important historical monuments” said Vesna Kovač, Head of the Exhibitions and Education Unit, adding that “the Bank was founded in 1884 under the name of the Privileged National Bank of the Kingdom of Serbia and was organised after the model of the National Bank of Belgium at a time when as many as 43 different currencies were in use in the territory of Serbia“.
During the tour, the journalists were given information about the history and significance of the building, as well as about the history of the institution and activities of the Bank’s Visitor Centre and Archives.
The blueprints for this exquisite building in the neo-renaissance academic style and most of its intricate interior decoration were designed by renowned architect Konstantin Jovanović, whereas wall and ceiling ornaments were entrusted to sculptor and painter Paško Vučetić. The completed building became fully operational back in 1890. Until World War II its Main Conference Room boasted the portraits of Bank governors painted by Uroš Predić and is nowadays embellished with the portraits of Governor Georg Weifert and his wife Marija.
The building houses an exhibition hall, showing a standing exhibition “Money in the Territory of Serbia” and theme exhibitions “Coin Minting” and “Dinar – Our Money”, as well as a number of interesting interactive contents.
Governor's Office
