When you enter the lobby of the Hotel Majestic in the center of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, you find yourself in a shrine to the victims of the 1958 Munich air disaster.
This is where the late Sir Bobby Charlton and the rest of Manchester United’s young ‘Busby Babes’, along with their manager Sir Matt Busby, were treated to a fuel stop en route to the UK the night before the tragic accident. A total of 23 people died, including eight players.
At the reception there is a moving black and white photo of players Sir Matt is talking to in the hotel restaurant. Sir Bobby, aged 20, sits in the foreground, neatly dressed in a jacket and tie, one arm resting comfortably on a chair.
Around him are his teammates Geoff Bent, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones and Tommy Taylor – all of whom are dead.
A copy of the evening ticket signed by the players lies nearby. There is also a framed ticket for the match against Red Star Belgrade, where a 3-3 draw was enough to take Manchester United to the semi-finals of the European Cup. Sir Bobby scored two goals.
Tom Chesshyre checks into the Hotel Majestic (left) in Belgrade, where the late Sir Bobby Charlton and the rest of Manchester United’s teenage ‘Busby Babes’ were entertained the night before the 1958 Munich air disaster.
At the reception there is a poignant black and white photo of players who manager Sir Matt Busby spoke to in the hotel restaurant.
A plaque donated by the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation to mark the 60th anniversary of the crash commemorates the deceased players, including team captain Roger Byrne, David Pegg and Billy Whelan.
“A lot of Manchester United fans come over, especially for the anniversary in February,” says Nenad, the receptionist. “It’s an important part of sports history, albeit a sad one.”
The hotel offers every visitor a free souvenir map of Belgrade with information about Manchester United’s visit in 1958, including a reproduction of the match ticket and the photo of the players in the restaurant.
Built in 1936 in the Art Deco style, Hotel Majestic has long been one of the best places to stay in Belgrade.
Over the years, the elegant rooms with parquet floors, antique furniture and tall windows have attracted the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, as well as French actor Alain Delon and the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.
“Hotel Majestic, built in 1936 in the Art Deco style, has long been one of the best places to stay in Belgrade,” writes Tom
Elizabeth Taylor and French actor Alain Delon were attracted to Hotel Majestic in the past
Hotel Majestic offers anyone passing by a free souvenir map of Belgrade information about Manchester United’s visit in 1958. Above is the city’s harbor
Sir Bobby, pictured above in the 1950s, once said of the accident: “It still affects me every day.”
It is just a short walk from the main shopping street, Knez Mihailova, and the Belgrade Fortress, a medieval fortress at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. The National Museum (home to local works and paintings by Picasso and Van Gogh) is nearby, as is the Temple of Saint Sava, a large Orthodox church, and the Nikola Tesla Museum, dedicated to the pioneering engineer whose name is behind the electric cars hide. of Elon Musk stands.
The restaurant at Hotel Majestic appears to have changed little since the Busby Babes’ visit, retaining its elegant Art Deco curves, marble columns and art collection
Our waiter recalls his delight at meeting the late Harry Gregg, the 1958 Manchester United goalkeeper who revisited the hotel and helped Sir Bobby out of the burning wreckage of the Munich plane. “A great honor,” he says.
Sir Bobby once said of the accident: “It still affects me every day.” And it must have meant a lot to him that the Hotel Majestic continued to honor him and his teammates.
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
