Zagreb is a big Croatian tourist centre, not only in terms of transit from West and Central Europe to the Adriatic Sea but also as a tourist destination. The city with a tradition of almost one thousand years celebrated in 1994 its 900th birthday. Zagreb is not only rich in cultural and historical monuments, museums and galleries, it also has a variety of modern shops, and offers good quality of diversified restaurants as well as sports and recreation facilities. It is a big centre of congress tourism, economic and business events and trade fairs not only in Croatia but also in this part of Europe. Being an important junction point, it has road, air, railway and bus connections with European metropolises and all bigger cities and tourist resorts in Croatia.
Zagreb has rich civil and cultural heritage, dating from the pre-historic period (Veternica Cave, Palaeolithic) and archaeological finds of the Roman culture (scitarjevo) up to the present. The historical part of the town, the Upper Town and Kaptol are a unique urban core even in European terms, and thus represent the target of sightseeing tours. The old town, its streets and squares can be reached on foot, starting from Ban Josip Jelacic Square, the central part and the heart of Zagreb, or by a funicular in the nearby Tomiceva Street. The old core of the town includes many famous buildings, churches, museums and institutions as well as pleasant restaurants and coffee bars.
The history, art and culture not only of Zagreb and Croatia but also of Europe and the world, can be seen by walking through the large number of Zagreb museums. Around thirty collections in museums and galleries comprise more than 3.6 million various exhibits, excluding church and private collections. Only the Archaeological Museum (Nikola Subic Zrinski Square 19) disposes of 400,000 objects, not all of them being exhibited. The holdings include evidence of Croatian presence in this area as well as rare samples which made the museum known in the whole world. The most famous are the Egyptian collection, the mummy and bandages with the oldest Etruscan inscription in the world as well as the numismatic collection. A part of the museum is set aside for the collection of stone monuments dating back predominantly to the Roman period.
The Croatian Museum of Natural Sciences (Demetrova Street 1) holds the world's most extensive collection of the remains of Neanderthal man found on one site - the remains of the pre-historic man of Krapina and stone weapon and tools. The Technical Museum (Savska Street 18) keeps the oldest preserved machine in this area, dating from 1830 which still operates. Valuable historical collections are found in the Croatian Historical Museum, the Museum of the City of Zagreb, the Museum of Arts and Crafts, the Ethnographic Museum, the Croatian School Museum, the Croatian Hunting Museum, the Croatian Sports Museum, the Croatian Post and Telecommunications Museum, the HAZU (Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences) Glyptotheque (collection of monuments), the HAZU Graphics Cabinet.
Many visitors find the Mimara Museum (Roosevelt Square 5), housing the donation by Wiltrud and Ante Topic Mimara, very attractive. Of the total of 3,700 most various works of art, more than 1,500 exhibits constitute permanent holdings, dating from the pre-historic period up to the 20th century. The HAZU Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters (Zrinski Square 11) offers permanent holdings presenting European paintings from the 14th to the 19th centuries, and the Mestrovic Studio, (Mletacka Street 8) with sculptures, drawings, lithography portfolios and other items, is a donation of this great artist to his homeland.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (Catherine's Square 2) follows and presents contemporary trends in fine arts. The Museum and Gallery Centre (Jezuitski Square 4) introduces on various occasions the Croatian and foreign cultural and artistic heritage. The Art Pavilion (King Tomislav Square 22) is the oldest exhibition complex in the Slavic south with regularly organized exhibitions. The exhibitions are also held in the impressive Mestrovic's building on Hrvatskih Velikana Square - the Home of the Croatian Fine Artists. The Museum of Naive Art (Cirilometodska Street 3) disposes of more than one thousand works by a hundred and odd authors of the Croatian naive art. The World Centre "Wonder of Croatian Naive Art" (Ban Jelacic Square 12) exhibits masterpieces of the Croatian naive art as well as works of new generation of artists. The Modern Gallery (Hebrangova Street 1) comprises all relevant fine artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The city offers rich cultural and artistic enjoyment. There are about 20 permanent or seasonal theatres and stages. The Croatian National Theatre is the most impressive building among them; the most famous of concert halls is the Concert Hall "Vatroslav Lisinski", named after the composer of the first Croatian opera.
Zagreb hosts many domestic and international events. The World Festival of Animated Films takes place each even year, and the Music Bien-nial, the international festival of avant-garde music, every odd year. The Festival of the Zagreb Philharmonic and the famous flowers exhibition Floraart (end of May or beginning of June), the Old-timer Rally, the Week of the Contemporary Dance, as well as Eurokaz, the international festival of contemporary theatre (in June) represent annual events. In the summer, theatre performances and concerts, mostly in the Upper Town, are organized, either indoors or outdoors. The stage on Opatovina hosts the Zagreb Histrionic Summer.
Zagreb is also the host of Zagrebfest, the oldest Croatian pop-music festival, as well as of several traditional international sports events and tournaments. On the Statehood Day (30th of May), a national holiday sometimes accompanied by a military parade at Jarun Lake, and the Day of the City of Zagreb (16th of November) special festivities are organized. Entertainment can be found in many discotheques, night clubs, casinos, etc.
Numerous shops, boutiques, store houses and shopping centres offer a variety of good quality clothes. World famous Zagreb souvenirs include: the ball-point pen, invented by Slavoljub Penkala from Zagreb more than 80 years ago, or the tie, an accessory named after Croatian horsemen who fought on the European fronts from the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century up to the French Revolution, wearing characteristic scarves around their necks. The offer of Zagreb includes good-quality crystal, china and ceramics, nice wicker or straw baskets, top-quality Croatian wines and gastronomic products.
Many of the Zagreb restaurants offer various specialities of the national and international cuisine. Domestic products which deserve to be tasted include the turkey, duck or goose with "mlinci" (a kind of pasta), "strukli" (cottage-cheese strudel), cottage cheese with cream, traditional nut-cake. As Zagreb is close to the sea, fish restaurants offer fresh seafood. There are many fast-food restaurants and stands in Zagreb, so that those who prefer this type of food would not be disappointed.
There are several sports and recreational centres in Zagreb. Recreational Sports Centre Jarun, situated on Lake Jarun to the southwest of the city, has fine shingle beaches. The sports and recreation opportunities include swimming, sunbathing, water-skiing, angling and other water sports, but also beach volleyball, football, basketball, handball, table tennis, miniature golf. A jogging lane runs around the lake. The lake has a regatta course of the world class. There are several restaurants and a discotheque. Sports Park Mladost, situated along the embankment of the Sava river, has an Olympic-size swimming pool, smaller indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sunbathing terrace, 16 tennis courts as well as basketball, volleyball, handball, football and field hockey courts. A volleyball sports hall is within the park.
Sports and Recreational Centre Salata in the northern part of the town, only about a hundred and odd metres from the heart of the town, is most attractive for tennis players. It comprises a big tennis court and eight smaller ones, two of which are roofed over with the so-called "balloon", and another two equipped with lights. The Centre also has swimming pools, basketball and football playgrounds, a gym and fitness centre, a four-line bowling alley. Outdoor ice-skating is a popular winter recreation on Salata. There are several fine restaurants within and near the Centre.
Tennis Centre Maksimir, in the part of the city called Ravnice to the east of Zagreb, consists of two sports blocks. The first comprises a tennis centre situated in a large tennis hall with four courts. There are 22 outdoor tennis courts with lights. The other block offers multipurpose sports facilities: apart from tennis courts, there are handball, basketball, indoor football grounds, as well as track and field facilities, a boccia alley and table tennis opportunities.
Recreational swimmers can enjoy in a smaller-size indoor swimming pool in Daniciceva Street, and skaters can skate in the skating rink on Trg Sportova (Sports Square). Hippodrome Zagreb offers recreational horseback riding opportunities. Skiers visit Sljeme which has four ski-runs, three ski-lifts and a chairlift. There are several smaller sports centres and playgrounds as well as gyms and fitness centres in the city.
Picturesque villages in the close vicinity, Sestine, Gracani and Remete, arranged around the city like beads of a necklace, maintain their rich tradition even today: folk costumes, Sestine umbrellas, gingerbread products, etc. Medvednica Mountain - Zagrebacka Gora, with its highest peak Sljeme (1,033 m), occupies a special place in the lives of the Zagreb population and visitors. A wonderful view spreads on Zagreb, the Sava and the Kupa valleys, the region of Hrvatsko Zagorje from the top of the mountain, and during fair weather, the vista reaches as far as Velebit Mountain and snow-capped peaks of the Slovenian Alps. There are several mountain huts offering accommodation.
The old Medvedgrad, a mediaeval burg built in the 13th century and recently restored, represents Medvednica's special attraction. Now there is the Shrine of the Homeland, a memorial place with eternal flame, where Croatia pays reverence to all its heroes fallen for homeland in its history.
|
ZAGREB CATHEDRAL
|
|
 The Cathedral is the most famous building in Zagreb. It is dedicated to the Holy Virgin's Ascension and to St. Stephen and St. Ladislaus. Today's cathedral stands on the remains of a cathedral built in the 12th century before the Tartar attack and which was badly razed in 1242. Also erected in the 13th century was St. Stephen's Chapel, which is now part of the Archbishop's Palace. In the second half of the 13th century Bishop Timothy (1263-1287) started building a new cathedral on the remains of the old one. He was also known as the architect of Medvedgrad.
The cathedral is typically Gothic, as is its sacristy, which is of great architectonic value. Also worth seeing are the paintings lining the walls of the cathedral. They are similar to the Roman circle and were painted in the second half of the 13th century. In the 14th and 15th centuries the side naves were enlarged to the same height as the central nave and this resulted in a higher façade, which was fashioned by masons from Prague in the early 15th century. In the second half of the 15th century the cathedral was given Gothic floral ornaments and was also filled with art pieces, which deteriorated with time. Some of them can be found in museums and churches, others are part of the Cathedral's treasury. At the end of the 15th century Zagreb Cathedral became the most eastern cathedral of the West. It was a period of fortification. Cylindrical Renaissance towers were erected. Unfortunately, the most beautiful Bakac Tower was razed at the beginning of the 20th century. Today five round towers and one square tower still exist as part of the Archbishop's Palace.
 In the mid-17th century a massive five-side bell tower with renaissance elements, a watchtower and a defence edifice were erected next to the cathedral and replaced earlier small bell towers. The bell tower represented the symbol of the city until the 1880 earthquake and can be found on all drawings and first photographs taken of Zagreb. At that time the portal of the cathedral had been changed for the third time. A very serious non-Gothic restoration of the cathedral's facade was carried out by Herman Bolle (1845-1926). After the quake the ceiling over the altar had collapsed, while the bell tower had to be pulled down as it was damaged beyond repair. Two Neogothic bell towers (105 meters high) had been erected on the western wing of the cathedral, while between them a Neogothic facade with a relief of the Holy Trinity by Robert Franges-Mihanovic (1872-1940) was also built.
Despite the fact that the centuries old inventory of the cathedral had been removed from it, it still harbours a number of valuable works of art, like the relief of St. Paul dating from the 13th and the 14th century, late Gothic statues of Peter and Paul made of wood, an altar with a triptych by Albretch Durer dating from 1945, renaissance tombstones, carved pews, baroque marble altars and statutes, a baroque marble pulpit with a Venetian angel-carrier made at the end of the 17th century and also old and modern works of art like the mausoleum of cardinal Alojzije Stepinac by Ivan Mestrovic ( 1883-1962).
|
CATHEDRAL TREASURY
|
|
 The cathedral treasury that is positioned above the vestry is abundant in artefacts of the so called artistic craft and thus very valuable. Among the fabrics' valuables there is the 11th century cloth with figural stitched patterns called Ladislavov plast or Ladislav's Cloak, an artefact belonging to bishop Augustin Kazotic (around the year 1300), church clothing dating from the Gothic age to the start of our century, Baroque flags etc. A red embroidered clothing item should be especially mentioned here made by a workshop founded by bishop Petar Petretic ( 1648-1667), which had men from the village of Vugrovec working in it under the monitorship of the well known embroidery artist W.J. Stoll. The work God's Grave is the best known piece made by this workshop in the 15th century in the shape of a cross with tiny email tiles deriving from the 12th century.
|
|
The Metropolitan library belongs to the cathedral treasury and is being kept at the National and University Library. Apart from liturgical books dating from the start of the cathedral's construction there also exist other manuscripts from the liturgical, biblical, theological and other fields. There also exist two breviaries written in the Glagolitic script from the 15th century and a missal of Jurij from Topusko with Gothic illuminations made by Zagreb painter Ioannes Alemanus around 1495, while the renaissance ones were made by one of the greatest masters of European miniature Julije Klovic (Giulio Clovio Croata 1498-1578), representing one of the greatest incunabulum collection in Croatia. The Metropolitan Library also includes the Valvasorov's graphics' collection kept at the HAZU graphics' cabinet. The collection is made up of more than 7,300 graphics and drawings gathered by Slovene polyhistorian Johann Weikhardt baron Valvastor (1641-1693).
 |
Cemetery Mirogoj (Groblje Mirogoj) - A unique composition of impressive arcade architecture, artistically shaped graves and park-like greenery, is among the most beautiful last resting places in Europe. Cemetery Mirogoj was founded in 1876 on the property of Ljudevit Gaj, leader of the Croatian national revival, and substituted eight local active cemeteries at that time. It was projected by architect Herman Bollé (1845-1926), a descended from a family of German architects who lived in Croatia for half a century and had a big impact in Zagreb with his works, especially with the reconstruction of the Cathedral and the construction of the magnificent Mirogoj Arcades (1917). |
|
|
Park Maksimir is the biggest and most beautiful park of South East Europe and Zagreb's largest and most beautiful park. It is also a cultural and historic monument covering 316 hectares commissioned by Bishop Maksimilijan Vrhovec. This beautiful park was laid out in 1784 and is graced by an old oak forest, sunny open spaces, and romantic lakes. Originally intended to be a park in the French tradition, it was completed in 1843 under Bishop Juraj Haulik as a typical English landscape park. The park has several artificial lakes and one houses the Zagreb Zoo, which has the largest number of animals in Croatia. A long avenue leads to the central area of the park and a hillock where one finds a belvedere built in 1843. The Park Maksimir is also rich in other garden architecture dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Click on the image to see bigger picture. |
 |
|
Zagreb is a popular choice for conventions, congresses and gala events. Its proximity to the major European cities, high quality hotels (22 hotels of all categories), many motels and pensions, wide choice of modern, well equiped ancillary facilities, variety of cultural life and entertainment, a pleasant climate, gourmet dinning and excellent wine have put Zagreb among the very top convention destinations.
Dating back to 1925, The Regent Esplanade Zagreb is one of the most famous and gracious buildings in Zagreb. The hotel has a long and distinguished history and is famed for its impeccably high standards of service. The Regent Esplanade Zagreb has been at the heart of Zagreb's social life since the day it opened and can count presidents, politicians, film and music stars among its many distinguished guests. |
 |
 |
|
As in all great cities, the squares and streets of Zagreb are an outdoor theater. Some of the most attractive events are the traditional Folklore Review, the Zagreb Summer Festival and the Flora Art flower show. Street entertainers are putting on their own festival, there are also the Hot Air Balloon Festival, the Portugizac Wine Festival and New Year's Eve on Ban Jelacic Square. |
|
|
|
 Zagreb Fair (Zagrebacki Velesajam) - 505.000 m2, from witch 180.000 m2 closed exhibition space. The first large international exhibition was held in 1864 in Zagreb. It is no accident that Zagreb Fair has developed over many years to become the leading fair in this part of Europe and the eleventh largest fair in the world. Zagreb Fair is one of the founder-member of the Union of International Fairs (UFI) in 1925.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| THE RICH HISTORY OF ZAGREB |
|
Today's Zagreb has grown out of two medieval settlements Kaptol and Gradec that developed on neighboring hills. Ecclesiastical Kaptol and burgher Gradec often found themselves in conflict. Both settlements were surrounded by high walls and towers, remains of which are still preserved. The first written mention of the city dates from 1094, when a diocese was found on Kaptol. During the Turkish onslaughts on Europe between the 14th and 18th centuries, Zagreb become an important border fortress. The Baroque reconstruction of the city in the 17th and 18th centuries changed the appearance of both Gradec and Kaptol. |
 |
The Funicular built in 1888 is an attractive way of getting from the Lower City to the Upper City (Gornji Grad). The old city Tower Lotrscak, derives from the 12th century. From the top, a canon is fired every day precisely at noon. |
 |
The Stone Gate - one of the city's preserved medieval gates, dates from the 13th century. It has often been rebuilt. Today it houses the Chapel of Our Lady of the Stone Gate, patron saint of the city. | |
CROATIAN MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
|
Historical destiny of all beautiful countries has always been a destiny of repeated wars. Through the ages countries and their peoples have been victims of enemy raids and plunders; their goods taken away and their culture ruined. Even so, it seems that the culture of any nation survives with its people. Croatian culture survived and is offered today to visitors for pleasure and delight. |
|
THE WORLD's LARGEST NEANDERTHAL FINDING SITE
The collection of the remains of the Krapina proto-human is a part of the world's scientific heritage, and it represents one of the largest collections of remains of the fossil man found ever in one spot.
The Krapina proto-human, scientifically known as Homo sapiens neanderthalensis was discovered in 1899, at the time of geological and panteological explorations at the Husnjak hill in Krapina.
|
|
Neanderthal from Krapina |
|
| MUSEUMS |
|
 Museum Documentation Centre - The first Croatian public museum was established in 1750 in Split. Operating in Croatia today are 194 museums, galleries, museum collections, about seventy church collections as well as a large number of private collections which hold more than five million objects in 1351 different museum collections. There are over 650 professional workers, curators, conservators and restorers who keep, scientifically process and present museum objects.
|
| Croatian Natural History Museum |
| Croatian History Museum |
| Museum of Arts and Crafts Croatia, Zagreb |
| The Archeological Museum in Zagreb |
| The Croatian Museum of Naive Art |
|
The Croatian School Museum - The Museum holds collections of teaching aids, teaching materials and school equipment, students' and teachers' writings, textbooks and handbooks, school regulations, an archival collection of documents, a collection of photographs and a record file on schools. |
|
Zagreb City Museum - The permanent exhibition gives a portrait of the city in all of its aspects, showing it in the light of politics, the church, history, economics and business, town-planning and architecture, the history of art and literature, entertainment, and everyday life. The building the Museum occupies was once the Convent of the Poor Clares (1650), and is itself a historical monument of great importance. |
|
|
Museum "Staro Selo" Kumrovec - The Staro Selo (Old Village) Museum is the only open-air museum in Croatia with birth-place of Josip Broz Tito as its most significant sight. The experts of the Zagreb Museum of Arts and Crafts restored the house to its original condition. |
|
|
Regional Museums of Hrvatsko Zagorje - Veliki Tabor Castle |
|
Museum Sisak - Tradition of antique collection in Sisak has existed for more than 150 years, but the museum as an institution was established only in 1951. |
|
Museum Vinkovci |
|
Other Museums on the Net - Index from Museum Documentation Centre |
|
Jasenovac Memorial Area - The Jasenovac Memorial Area, with the Memorial Museum, was founded in 1968 on the initiative of the War Veterans’ Federation of the Socialist Republic of Croatia, and covered the area of the former Concentration Camp III – Ciglana (Brickworks) in Jasenovac (1941-1945), with the aim “of preserving the memory of the victims of Fascist terror and of those who fought in the War of National Liberation and who lost their lives in the concentration camps of Jasenovac and Stara Gradiška |
|
|
| GALLERIES |
|
THE MIMARA MUSEUM - ZAGREB
The museum received its name from the art collector Ante Topic Mimara (1898-1987), who donated his collection to his homeland and the Croatian people.
The collection consists of more than 3,750 pieces from various periods and regions. The archaeological section consists of almost 200 pieces dating from prehistoric times, Crete, Greece, Egypt, Etruria, Mesopotamia, Persia, Pre-Columbian America, Rome and early medieval Europe. |
|
|
|
Strossmayer Gallery - HAZU |
|
Ivan Mestrovic Foundation & Atelijer - Famous Croatian and international sculptor (1883-1962). Some of his monuments were built outside Croatia, for example his monument to Indians (two equestrian sculptures), erected in the Central Grant Park in Chicago in 1928. |
|
Gallery of Fine Arts Split - The Gallery of Fine Arts has specific holdings that provide an exceptionally interesting cross-section of art in this region from the 14th century to the present day. |
|
Art Gallery Dubrovnik |
| | |