On August 25, 1992, the 100th anniversary of the building of the City Hall (now the National Library), this building was hit by over 50 shells which sent the numerous books, rare volumes, and priceless artifacts up in flames. On that day, ashes of burnt books fell like snow in the surrounding area of the city.
Today, it has been rebuilt and given a new copper roof by Austria, though it is still closed to the public.
