'Zagreb' () is the
capital and the largest city of
Croatia (It used to be called
Agram and Zágráb when part of the
Austrian-Hungarian Empire). Zagreb is the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental center of the
Republic of Croatia. The city's population in 2001 was 779,145
[ Gradski zavod za prostorno uređenje - Odjel za statistiku ] (1,1 million in the
metropolitan area). It is situated between the southern slopes of the
Medvednica mountain and both northern and southern bank of the
Sava river at an elevation of approximately 122 m above sea level.
Its favourable geographic position in the southwestern part of the
Pannonian Basin, which extends to the
Alpine,
Dinaric,
Adriatic and
Pannonic regions, provides an excellent connection for traffic between
Central Europe and the
Adriatic Sea.
The transport connections, concentration of industry, scientific and research institutions and industrial tradition underlie its leading economic position in
Croatia.
Zagreb is the seat of the central government,
administrative bodies and almost all
government ministries.
Population
Ilica - busiest street in the heart of Zagreb
Zagreb is the largest city in
Croatia, and is the only Croatian city whose metropolitan population exceeds one million people. There are 1,088,841 people in the Zagreb metropolitan area, which includes the smaller cities of
Samobor,
Velika Gorica and
Zaprešić. The official census states that the population of Zagreb itself is 779,145. The majority of its citizens are
Croats making up 91.94% of the city's population (2001 census). The same census records 40,066 residents belonging to
ethnic minorities. Such ethnic minorities comprise: 18,811
Serbs (2.41%), 6,204
Bosniaks (0.80%), 4,030
Muslims by nationality (0.52%), 3,389
Albanians (0.43%), 3,225
Slovenians (0.41%), 1,946
Roma (0.25%), 1,131
Montenegrins (0.17%), 1,315
Macedonians (0.17%), together with other smaller minor ethnic communities.
[ Zagreb ethnic minorities (Census 2001) ]
Climate
The climate of Zagreb is
continental, with four separate
seasons. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cold. The average temperature in winter is 1
°C (34
°F) and the average temperature in summer is 20
°C (68
°F). The end of May, particularly, gets very warm, with temperatures rising above 30
°C (86
°F). Snowfall is common in the winter months, from December to March, and rain and fog are common in autumn (October to December).
[ Zagreb Climate Data ]
'Climate Table'| | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|
| Rainfall (mm) | 52 | 48 | 56 | 68 | 83 | 95 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 93 | 86 | 67 |
|---|
| Rainfall (Inches) | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.6 |
|---|
| Min. Temp (°C) | -3 | -3 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 2 | -1 |
|---|
| Max. Temp (°C) | 3 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 15 | 8 | 3 |
|---|
| Min. Temp (°F) | 25 | 27 | 34 | 41 | 48 | 55 | 58 | 57 | 51 | 43 | 35 | 29 |
|---|
| Max. Temp (°F) | 37 | 41 | 52 | 58 | 68 | 74 | 78 | 77 | 71 | 59 | 47 | 38 |
|---|
Origin of name
The modern name ''Zagreb'' likely comes from the
Croatian word "zagrabiti", which cannot exactly be translated into
English directly; its meaning could best be expressed by saying, "to take from something with a hand or with an object". There are several legends about the origins of the name of Zagreb. According to one legend, a lady was thirsty and she took water from a lake (now the fountain) Manduševac in Zagreb. While she was taking the water, other people shouted, "Zagrebi Mando, zagrebi!" which means, "Take it, Manda, take it!". Another legend says that a
Croatian ban (viceroy) was moving with his army through a deserted region and the soldiers were struck by thirst. In his anger, the ban thrust his sabre into the ground, at which point water began to pour out, and he ordered the soldiers to scrape the soil, or ''zagreb'' in
Croatian, in order to get to the water.
The verb ''zagreb'' in the sense of digging is also believed to have something to do with the name of the city as the city lay behind a water-filled hole (''graba''). This theory is supported by some scientists.
There is also an interesting theory that Zagreb may mean a place behind a hill ("za breg"), i.e. behind the
Sava river's bank, and then the name just changed into Zagreb. This theory is supported by the fact that
Sava had once flowed nearer to the centre of the city. At today's
Ban Jelačić square in the very centre of Zagreb, pieces of what was once a wooden boat have been unearthed.
Some scientists believe that the name Zagreb is not of
Slavic origin, just as the name
Croat is believed not to be of that origin. However, if the name does derive from
Slavic origins, then possibly the most acceptable explanation is the city ''za grebom'', i.e. "behind the tomb". The tomb could be the one in
Držićeva Avenue or one of many other still undiscovered tombs near Grič or
Kaptol.
The name used in Austria is ''Agram'', while Germany sticks to the Croatian name.
History
Burze square in 30s
Early Zagreb
The history of Zagreb dates as far back as 1094 when the Hungarian
King Ladislaus founded a diocese. Alongside the bishop's see the canonical settlement
Kaptol developed north of the
Cathedral, as did the fortified settlement
Gradec on the neighbouring hill. Today the latter is Zagreb's Upper Town (
Gornji Grad) and is one of the best preserved urban nuclei in
Croatia. Both settlements came under
Tatar attack in 1242. As a sign of gratitude for offering him a safe haven from the
Tatar the Croatian and Hungarian
King Bela IV bestowed
Gradec with a
Golden Bull, which offered its citizens exemption from county rule and autonomy, as well as its own judicial system. According to legend, Bela left
Gradec a cannon, under the condition that it be fired every day so that it did not rust. Since 1 January 1877 the cannon is fired from the Lotrščak Tower on Grič to mark midday.
The main square of the
Gornji Grad is dominated by the
Gothic church of St. Mark's. It was built at the end of the
14th and the beginning of the
15th century and a late
Baroque bell tower was added later.
Fighting ensued between the Zagreb diocese and the free sovereign town of
Gradec for land and mills. Sometimes also for political reasons. The term Zagreb was used for these two separate boroughs in the
16th century. Zagreb was then seen as the political centre and the capital of
Croatia and
Slavonia. In 1850 the town was united under its first
mayor - Josip Kaufman.
[ Early Zagreb history ]
17th and 18th century
It was not until the
17th century and Nikola Frankopan that Zagreb was chosen as the seat of the
Croatian viceroys in 1621. At the invitation of the
Croatian Parliament the
Jesuits came to Zagreb and built the first grammar school, the St. Catherine's Church and monastery. In 1669 they founded an
academy where philosophy, theology and law were taught.
During the
17th and
18th centuries Zagreb was badly devastated by fire and the plague. In 1776 the royal council (government) moved from
Varaždin to Zagreb and during the reign of
Joseph II Zagreb became the headquarters of the
Varaždin and
Karlovac general command.
[ Zagreb 17th and 18th century history ]
19th to early 20th century
In the
19th century Zagreb was the centre of the
Croatian National Revival and saw the erection of important cultural and historic institutions.
The first
railway line to connect Zagreb with
Zidani Most and
Sisak was opened in 1862 and in 1863 Zagreb received a
gasworks. The Zagreb
waterworks was opened in 1878 and the first horse-drawn
tramcar was used in 1891. The construction of the
railway lines enabled the old suburbs to merge gradually into
Donji Grad, characterized by a regular block pattern that prevails in
Central European cities. This bustling core hosts many imposing buildings, monuments, and parks as well as a multitude of museums, theatres and cinemas. An
electric power plant was erected in 1907 and development flourished 1880-1914 after the earthquake in Zagreb when the town received the characteristic layout it has today.
Working class quarters emerged between the railway and the
Sava, whereas the construction of residential quarters on the hills of the southern slopes of
Medvednica was completed between the two
World Wars.
From 1921 - 1931 the population of Zagreb went up by 70 percent — the largest demographic boom in the history of Zagreb. In 1926 the first
radio station in the region began broadcasting out of Zagreb, and in 1947 the Zagreb Fair was opened.
[ Zagreb 19th to 20th century history ]
Modern Zagreb
The area between the railway and the
Sava river witnessed a new construction boom after
World War II. After the mid-
1950s, construction of new residential areas south of the
Sava river began, resulting in
Novi Zagreb (New Zagreb). The city also expanded westward and eastward, incorporating
Dubrava, Podsused,
Jarun, Blato, and other settlements.
The cargo railway hub and the international airport
Pleso were built south of the
Sava river. The largest
industrial zone (Žitnjak) in the southeast represents an extension of the industrial zones on the eastern outskirts of the city, between the river
Sava and Prigorje region.
In 1987 Zagreb hosted the
Universiade.
[ Zagreb modern history ]
In 1991, it became the capital of the country following secession from
Second Yugoslavia. During the
1991-
1995 Croatian War of Independence, it was a scene of some sporadic fighting surrounding its
JNA army barracks, but escaped major damage. In May 1995, it was targeted by Serb rocket artillery in the
Zagreb rocket attack that killed seven civilians.
Urbanized lines of settlements connect Zagreb with the centres in its surroundings:
Sesvete,
Zaprešić,
Samobor,
Dugo Selo and
Velika Gorica.
Sesvete is the closest one to become a part of the
conurbation and is in fact already included in the City of Zagreb.
Economy
Zagreb at night
Euro Tower
Quality land, favourable transit location and total municipal infrastructure, qualified
labour force,
scientific,
expert,
educational,
health,
financial,
banking and other institutions, tradition in performing various services, size and quality of economy present essential potentials in Zagreb developing strategy.
Most important branches of industry are: production of electric machines and devices,
chemical,
pharmaceutical,
textile,
food and drink processing,
tobacco production and processing. Zagreb is important international trade and business center, and transports crossroad of
Central and
East Europe.
[ About Zagreb Economy ]
The city of Zagreb has the highest
GDP per capita in Croatia of 15,850 USD in 2006
[ Statistical information in 2004 ] (the
EU average was 28,114 USD)
[ Statistical information in 2006 ]. However, average income and prices are still somewhat lower than in
Western Europe.
In 2005 the average
unemployment rate in Zagreb was around 8%, half of the national average.
[ Statistical information in 2005 ]
Zagreb, being a relatively large city situated on the fastest route that connects
Central with
Southeastern Europe, has great potential for investment and development.
High-rise buildings
There are many future and present
high-rise construction projects in the city of Zagreb. The most important recent constructions are:
★
Almeria Tower (near completion)
★
Center Črnomerec (construction starts in 2007)
★
Neboder (under reconstruction)
★
Sky Office Tower (construction starts in 2007)
★
Tower 123 (construction starts in 2007-2008)
See also
★
Cibona Tower
★
Eurotower
★
HOTO Tower
★
Mamut
★
Zagrepčanka
★
Zagreb TV Tower
★
Zagrebtower
Metropolitan administration
Croatian National Bank (
HNB)
According to the
Constitution, the city of Zagreb, as the capital of
Croatia, has special status. As such, Zagreb performs self-governing public affairs of both city and
county.
City administration bodies: city
assembly as representative body,
mayor and
city government as executive body.
Members of the city assembly are elected at direct elections. Members of the city assembly elect the mayor and members of the city government by majority vote.
City government has 11 members elected on mayor’s proposal by the city assembly by majority vote. The mayor is the head of city government and has two deputies.
Organization of city administrative bodies is composed of 12 city offices, 3 city bureaus and 3 city services. They are responsible to the mayor and the city government.
Local self-government is organized in 17 city
districts represented by City District Councils. Residents of districts elect members of Councils.
[ About Zagreb Administration ]
City districts
The major city
districts ("''gradske četvrti''" in
Croatian):
[ Zagreb population by city districts (Census 2001) ]
Map: Zagreb and its districts
| No. | District | Area (km²) | Population (2001) | Population density |
|---|
| 1. | Donji Grad | 3 | 45,108 | 14956.2 |
| 2. | Gornji Grad - Medveščak | 10 | 36,384 | 3593.5 |
| 3. | Trnje | 7 | 45,267 | 6146.2 |
| 4. | Maksimir | 14 | 49,750 | 3467.1 |
| 5. | Peščenica - Žitnjak | 35 | 58,283 | 1651.3 |
| 6. | Novi Zagreb - istok | 17 | 65,301 | 3947.1 |
| 7. | Novi Zagreb - zapad | 63 | 48,981 | 782.5 |
| 8. | Trešnjevka - sjever | 6 | 55,358 | 9498.6 |
| 9. | Trešnjevka - jug | 10 | 67,162 | 6828.1 |
| 10. | Črnomerec | 24 | 38,762 | 1593.4 |
| 11. | Gornja Dubrava | 40 | 61,388 | 1524.1 |
| 12. | Donja Dubrava | 11 | 35,944 | 3321.1 |
| 13. | Stenjevec | 12 | 41,257 | 3387.3 |
| 14. | Podsused - Vrapče | 36 | 42,360 | 1175.1 |
| 15. | Podsljeme | 60 | 17,744 | 295.2 |
| 16. | Sesvete | 165 | 59,212 | 358.3 |
| 17. | Brezovica | 127 | 10,884 | 85.4 |
| TOTAL | 641 | 779,145 | 1214.9 |
|---|
City government
The current
mayor of Zagreb is
Milan Bandić (
SDP).
The city
assembly is composed of 51 representatives, presided by Tatjana Holjevac (ind. rep.), coming from the following political parties:
★
Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) 19
★
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) 7
★
Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) 6
★
Croatian People's Party-Liberal Democrats (HNS) 4
★
Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU) 3
★
Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) 3
★
Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) 1
★
Democratic Centre (DC) 1
★ Independent 7
Based on the results of elections held in 2005.
[ Zagreb elections in 2005 ]
Transport
"''Glavni Kolodvor''" - Central
railway station on King Tomislav Square.
There are three main transit corridors:
★ The western, towards
Ljubljana,
Slovenia and on to
Western Europe
★ The eastern, towards
Slavonia and on to
Southeastern Europe and the
Near East
★ The southern, towards
Rijeka, Croatia's biggest port in the
Kvarner bay and
Split in
Dalmatia, the second largest Croatian city and also an important port.
A motorway tunnel going through the
Medvednica Mountains is in the planning stages and will become Zagreb's main northern transit connection. This project has generated controversy among locals who oppose it.
The railway running along the
Sutla river and the
Zagorje main road (Zagreb -
Maribor -
Vienna), as well as traffic connections with the Pannonian region and
Hungary (the
Zagorje railroad, the roads and railway to
Varaždin -
Čakovec and
Koprivnica) are linked with truck routes.
The southern railway connection to
Split operates on a line via the
Lika region (renovated in
2004 to allow for a five-hour journey); a faster line along the
Una river valley is currently in use only up to the border between
Croatia and
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The railway and the highway
A3 along the
Sava river that extends to
Slavonia (towards
Slavonski Brod,
Vinkovci,
Osijek and
Vukovar) are some of the busiest traffic corridors in the country.
[ Zagreb Transportation ]
Roads
Zagrebačka Avenue
ZET 100% low floor tram on line 6
The city has a well developed
road network with several main arteries up to six lanes wide and
Zagreb bypass, a full-profile
highway encircling most of the city. There is
congestion in the city centre at
rush hour and parking is also a problem there.
The parking problem is supposed to be somewhat alleviated by the construction of new underground multi-storey parking lots (Importanne Centre, Importanne Gallery, Lang Square, Tuškanac, Kvaternik Square, Klaić Street and many more).
Recently opened Domovinski (Homeland) bridge
Bridges
As of 2007, Zagreb has seven road traffic bridges across the
river Sava. In downstream order, these are:
★ 'Podsused bridge' (''Podsusedski most'') (1982): a not widely known two-lane bridge connecting Zagreb to its close
exurbs by old road to
Samobor, and the fastest route to
Bestovje and
Strmec. It carries Franjo Tuđman street. It is also designed to carry Zagreb-Samobor commuter train (not yet constructed).
★ 'Jankomir bridge' (''Jankomirski most'') (1958, 2006): a modern, recently upgraded four-lane bridge connecting Ljubljanska Avenue to Jankomir interchange and
Zagreb bypass. It carries Ljubljanska avenue
★ 'Adriatic bridge' (''Jadranski most'') (1981): being the most widely known bridge in Zagreb, it's a six-lane bridge connecting parts of Western Zagreb north and south of
Sava. The bridge spans from Savska street in the north to Western traffic circle in the south. It also carries
tram tracks
★ 'Sava bridge' (''Savski most'') (1938): Anecdoticaly, the official name is '''New' Sava bridge'', but it is the oldest existing bridge over
Sava; closed for motor vehicles upon construction of Adriatic bridge. Known between experts due to some construction details
[ Bridges across the Sava River in Zagreb ].
★ 'Freedom bridge' (''Most slobode'') (1959): a four-lane bridge. It carries
Većeslav Holjevac avenue
★ 'Youth bridge' (''Most mladosti'') (1974): a six-lane bridge with
tram tracks, connects east
Novi Zagreb to districts
Peščenica,
Donja Dubrava and
Maksimir. It carries
Marin Držić avenue
★ 'Homeland bridge' (''Domovinski most''): built in
spring 2007, this bridge is the last bridge built on Sava to date; it links
Peščenica to
Pleso and
Velika Gorica. It is four-lane brige with two bicycle and two pedestrian lanes and space for tram tracks. It carries Radnička street and state route D38 spanning from the intersection with Petruševec quay to the Kosnica highway interchange. Implemention of tram tracks is in the planning stage.
Two additional bridges across the river
Sava are planned in 2008: Jarun Bridge and Bundek Bridge (which will most likely be named in honor of
John Paul II).
[ Two new bridges in Zagreb ]
There are also two rail traffic bridges across Sava, near Sava bridge and village Mičevac.
Public transportation
Public transportation in the city is organized in two layers: the inner parts of the city are mostly covered by
trams and the outer suburbs are linked with
buses. The public transportation company,
ZET (''Zagrebački Električni Tramvaj'', Zagreb Electric Tram), operating trams all inner bus lines and the most of the suburban lines, is subsidized by the city council.
Currently there is an ambitious program underway to replace old trams with the new and modern ones built mostly in Zagreb by companies Končar elektroindustrija and, to a lesser extent, by TŽV Gredelj. 70 trams have been purchased, with the final tram expected to be delivered by December 2007,
[ ZET International invitation to bidders ] and a deal securing an additional 70 trams is forthcoming.
The
funicular (''uspinjača'') in the historic part of the city is a tourist attraction.
Taxis are readily available, but are very expensive.
In recent years, the state rail operator HŽ (''Hrvatske željeznice'', Croatian Railways) has been developing a network of suburban trains in metropolitan Zagreb area. Starting in
2004 and continuing on through the next several years, east-west railway connections are being revitalized and enhanced, with the purchase of new trains and renovation of older stations, as well as the construction of new ones.
Tram network
Zagreb has wide
tram network with 15 day and 4 night lines. For tourists, trams are the best way to explore Zagreb. Trams usually travel at speeds of 25-50 km/h (15-30 mph), but they can slow down to even 5-10 km/h (3-6 mph) during
rush hour.
Trams connect almost all parts of the city, but a number of new lines were recently proposed, including lines leading to "
Arena", handball stadium in construction, and
Pleso, the main airport in Zagreb.
Suburban rail network
As of 1992,
urban and suburban trains traveling with 10 - 45 min frequency cover much of
metro functionality, especially in east-west direction. Upgrade of network is in progress.
A second light rail system was proposed in
January 2007. The system was envisioned with five lines; three running west-east, and two running north-south. All lines were planned to go underground in the city center. It is currently unknown whether it will be built or not.
Air traffic
'Zagreb Airport' aka Pleso Airport,
IATA code ZAG, is the main Croatian airport, situated 14 km south-west from Zagreb. The airport is also a main Croatian airbase featuring helicopters, as well as fighter and transport aircraft. As traffic figures rise, the airport is becoming increasingly congested. A new
terminal is planned for 2011, with construction beginning in 2008.
[ Zagreb International Airport terminal ]
Zagreb Airport is main hub for
Croatia Airlines airline company.
Zagreb has a second, smaller airport,
Lučko (LDZL). It is home to sports airplanes and the Croatian special police, as well as a military helicopter airbase. Lučko was once the main airport for Zagreb.
There is also a third, small grass airfield named
Buševec, just outside V. Gorica. It is primarily used for sports purposes.
Education
There are 136
primary schools
[1] and 100
secondary schools including 30
gymnasiums
[2].
There are 5 public higher education institution and 9 private professional higher education schools.
[ Higher education institutions ]
Zagreb Classical Gymnasium
Main articles: Classical Gymnasium in Zagreb
Zagreb is the home of the oldest
secondary school in Croatia and the southeastern part of Europe - the Zagreb Classical Gymnasium (Klasična gimnazija). It was founded by the
Society of Jesus in 1607 and has operated continuously ever since.
The school was hit by cluster bomb on the
May 2,
1995 during the rocket attack on Zagreb in the
Croatian war of independence.
University
Main articles: Zagreb University
Zagreb University.
The University of Zagreb (1669) is the oldest and one of the largest universities in South-Eastern Europe. Ever since its foundation, the University has been continually growing and developing and now consists of 29 faculties, three art academies and the Centre for Croatian Studies. With its comprehensive programmes and over 50,000 full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students the University is the strongest teaching institution in Croatia. It offers a wide range of academic degree courses leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in the following fields: arts, biomedicine, biotechnology, engineering, humanities, natural and social sciences. It is also a strongly research-oriented institution, contributing over 50 percent of the total research output of the country.
[ About Zagreb University ]
Museums
Zagreb's numerous
museums reflect the history, art and culture not only of Zagreb and Croatia, but also of Europe and the world. Around thirty collections in museums and galleries comprise more than 3.6 million various exhibits, excluding church and private collections.
Archeological Museum
The
Archaeological Museum (19
Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square) collections, today consisting of nearly 400,000 varied artifacts and monuments, have been gathered over the years from many different sources. These holdings include evidence of Croatian presence in the area as well as rare samples which have made the museum world renowned.
[ The History and Activities of the Archeological Museum ] The most famous are the Egyptian collection, the
Zagreb mummy and bandages with the oldest
Etruscan inscription in the world (''
Liber Linteus Zagrabiensis''), 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.
Croatian Natural History Museum
The Croatian Natural History Museum (1 Demetrova Street) holds the world's most extensive collection of
Neanderthal remains found at one site.
[ Croatian Natural History Museum ] These are the remains, stone weapons and tools of prehistoric ''
Krapina man''. The holdings of the Croatian History Museum comprise more than 250,000 specimens distributed among various different collections. Also this museum publishes the scientific journal "Natura Croatica".
Technical Museum
The Technical Museum (18
Savska Street) was founded in 1954 and it maintains the oldest preserved machine in the area, dating from
1830, which is still operational. The museum exhibits numerous historic aircraft, cars, machinery and equipment. There are some distinct sections in the museum: the Planetarium, the Apisarium, the Mine (model of mines for coal, iron and non-ferrous metals, about 300 m long), and the
Nikola Tesla study.
[ Tehnical Museum ] The Museum organises educational, study, informative and occasional exhibitions, lectures and panel discussions on popular science, as well as playrooms and workshops.
Museum of the City of Zagreb
The Museum of the City of Zagreb (20 Opatička Street) was established in 1907 by the Association of the Braća Hrvatskog Zmaja. It is located in a restored monumental complex (Popov toranj, the Observatory, Zakmardi Granary) of the former Convent of the Poor Clares, of 1650.
[ Museum of the City of Zagreb ] The Museum deals with topics from the cultural, artistic, economic and political history of the city spanning from Roman finds to the modern period. The holdings comprise 75,000 items arranged systematically into collections of artistic and mundane objects characteristic of the city and its history.
Arts and Crafts Museum
The Arts and Crafts Museum (10 Marshal
Tito Square) was founded in 1880 with the intention of preserving the works of art and craft against the new predominance of industrial products. With its 160,000 exhibits, the Arts and Crafts Museum is a national-level museum for artistic production and the history of material culture in Croatia.
[ Arts and Crafts Museum ] The holdings are classified into 19 diverse museum collections: furnishing, metal, painting, sculpture, clocks, photography and photographic equipment, musical instruments, graphic design, ivory, printing and bookbinding, printed and painted leather, devotional items, smoking accessories and toys.
Ethnographic Museum
The
Ethnographic Museum (14
Ivan Mažuranić Square) was founded in 1919. It lies in the fine Secession building of the one-time Trades Hall of 1903. The ample holdings of about 80,000 items cover the ethnographic heritage of Croatia, classified in the three cultural zones: the Pannonian, Dinaric and Adriatic.
[ Ethnographic Museum ] In the non-European section there are items from the traditional cultures of Africa, Latin America, Asia, Australia and Oceania.
Mimara Museum
Main articles: Mimara Museum
The museum called the "Art Collection of Ante and Wiltrud Topic Mimara" or, for short, the
Mimara Museum (5
Roosevelt Square), was founded with a donation from Ante "Mimara" Topic and opened to the public in 1987. It is located in a neo-Renaissance palace from the end of the 19th century.
[ Mimara Museum ]
The holdings comprise 3,750 works of art of various techniques and materials, and different cultures and civilisations.
Croatian Naive Art Museum
The Croatian Naive Art Museum (3
ĆiriloMetodska Street) is considered to be the first museum of naive art in the world. The museum keeps works of Croatian naive expression of the 20th century. It is located in the 18th century Raffay Palace in the Upper City (
Gornji Grad).
The museum holdings consist of 1500 works of art - paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints, mainly by Croatians but also by other well-known world artists.
[ Croatian Naive Art Museum ] From time to time, the museum organises topics and retrospective exhibitions by naive artists, expert meetings and educational workshops and playrooms.
Museum of Contemporary Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art was founded in 1954 and a rich collection of Croatian and foreign contemporary visual art has been collected throughout the decades. The Museum (2
Catherine's Square) is located in a space within the Kulmer Palace in the Upper City (
Gornji Grad). A new Museum building in Novi Zagreb has been under construction since 2003.
[ The Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb ] The Museum's permanent art collection will be presented to the public when it moves into its new building planned for 2007.
Other museums and galleries
Valuable historical collections are also found in the Croatian
School Museum, the Croatian
Hunting Museum, the Croatian
Sports Museum, the Croatian Post and
Telecommunications Museum, the HAZU (
Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts) Glyptotheque (collection of monuments), and the HAZU Graphics Cabinet.
The
Strossmayer's Old Masters Gallery (11
Zrinski Square) offers permanent holdings presenting European paintings from the 14th to 19th centuries,
[ About Strossmayer's Old Masters Gallery ] and the
Ivan Meštrović Studio, (8
Mletačka Street) with sculptures, drawings, lithography portfolios and other items, was a donation of this great artist to his homeland The Museum and Gallery Centre (4
Jesuit Square) introduces on various occasions the Croatian and foreign cultural and artistic heritage. The
Art Pavilion (22 King
Tomislav Square) by Viennese architects Hellmer and Fellmer who were the most famous designers of theatres in Central Europe is a neo-classical exhibition complex and one of the landmarks of the city centre. The exhibitions are also held in the impressive
Meštrović building on Hrvatskih Velikana Square — the Home of Croatian
Fine Artists. The World Centre "Wonder of Croatian Naïve Art" (12
Ban Jelačić Square) exhibits masterpieces of Croatian naive art as well as the works of a new generation of artists. The Modern Gallery (1 Hebrangova Street) comprises all relevant fine artists of the
19th and
20th centuries.
Other cultural sites and events
The city offers rich cultural and artistic enjoyment. There are about 20 permanent or seasonal theaters and stages. The
Croatian National Theater, built in
1895, is the most impressive building among them. The most renowned
concert hall is named "
Vatroslav Lisinski", after the composer of the first Croatian opera. It was built in 1973 and is visited by 760,000 people each year. The great hall has 1847 seats over 2,360 m², while the smaller one can seat 304 people on 360 m².
Zagreb hosts many domestic and international events. ''Animafest'', the World Festival of
Animated Films, takes place every even-numbered year, and the Music
Bienniale, the international festival of
avant-garde music, every odd-numbered 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
Contemporary Dance, as well as ''Eurokaz'', the international festival of contemporary theater (in June) represent annual events. In the summer, theater 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. The Day of the City of Zagreb on the (
16th of November) is celebrated every year with special festivities, especially on the
Jarun lake near the southwestern part of the city. Entertainment can be found in many
discotheques, night clubs, and
casinos.
On Mount Medvednica there is also the 169 m
TV Tower with a restaurant planned for the 75 m high pod.
The
Archdiocese of Zagreb is the
metropolitan see of the
Catholic Church in Croatia, serving as its religious center. The current Archbishop is
Josip Bozanić.
Zagreb is also see of Metropolitan of Zagreb, Ljubljana and All Italy of
Serbian Orthodox Church. The current Metropolitan is Jovan.
Surroundings
The wider Zagreb area has been continuously inhabited since the prehistoric period, as witnessed by archaeological findings in the
Veternica cave from the
Paleolithic and excavation of the remains of the destroyed Roman town of Andautonia near the present village of
Ščitarjevo.
The picturesque former villages on the slopes of Medvednica,
Šestine,
Gračani and
Remete, maintain their rich
traditions, including folk costumes, Šestine
umbrellas, and
gingerbread products.
The
Medvednica Mountain (''Zagrebačka gora''), with its highest peak
Sljeme (1,033 m), provides a panoramic view of metropolitan Zagreb, the Sava and the
Kupa valleys, and the region of
Hrvatsko Zagorje. In mid-January 2005, Sljeme held its first World Ski Championship tournament.
From the summit, weather permitting, the vista reaches as far as
Velebit Range along Croatia's rocky northern coast, as well as the snow-capped peaks of the towering
Julian Alps in neighbouring
Slovenia. There are several lodging villages, offering accommodation and restaurants for hikers. Skiers visit Sljeme, which has four ski-runs, three ski-lifts and a chairlift.
Old
Medvedgrad, the recently restored medieval
burg built in the
13th century, represents a special attraction of Medvednica hill. It overlooks the western part of the city and also has the ''Shrine of the Homeland'', a memorial with an eternal flame, where Croatia pays reverence to all its heroes fallen for
homeland in its history, customarily on national holidays. Travel agencies organize guided excursions to the surroundings as well as sightseeing in Zagreb itself.
Tourism
Hotel Esplanade/Regent
Zagreb is an important tourist center, not only in terms of passengers travelling from Western and Central Europe to the Adriatic Sea, but also as a travel destination itself. Since the end of the
war, it has attracted around half a million visitors annually, mainly from
Austria,
Germany and
Italy. However, the city has even greater potential as many tourists that visit Croatia skip Zagreb in order to visit the beaches along the Croatian
Adriatic coast and old historic
Renaissance cities such as
Dubrovnik,
Split, and
Zadar.
Zagreb celebrated its 900th birthday in
1994 not only as a city with numerous cultural and historical monuments, museums and galleries, but also as a vibrant destination with a variety of modern shops, quality restaurants and sports/recreational facilities. It is a major centre of
congress tourism, hosting a number of business events and
trade fairs that are amongst those of the longest tradition in Europe. Being an important junction point, Zagreb has road, air, railway and bus connections with other European metropolises and all bigger cities and tourist resorts in Croatia.
The historical part of the city to the north of
Ban Jelačić Square is comprised of the Upper Town and Kaptol, a medieval urban complex of churches, palaces, museums, galleries and government buildings that are exceptionally popular with tourists on sightseeing tours. The old town's streets and squares can be reached on foot, starting from Jelačić Square, the central part and the heart of Zagreb, or by a
funicular on nearby Tomićeva Street. Tkalčićeva ulica is a winding street in the old town that features many very popular cafés and is a popular place for people-watching, particularly among the younger generations.
Souvenirs and gastronomy
Numerous shops, boutiques, store houses and shopping centres offer a variety of quality clothing. Zagreb's offerings include
crystal,
china and
ceramics,
wicker or
straw baskets, and top-quality Croatian
wines and
gastronomic products.
Zagreb souvenirs:
★ the
tie or ''cravat'', an accessory named after Croats who wore characteristic scarves around their necks in the
Thirty Years' War in the 17th century
★ the
ball-point pen, a tool developed from the inventions by
Slavoljub Eduard Penkala, who was a citizen of Zagreb
Many Zagreb restaurants offer various specialities of national and international cuisine. Domestic products which deserve to be tasted include turkey,
duck or
goose with ''
mlinci'' (a kind of
pasta), ''štrukli'' (cottage cheese
strudel), ''sir i vrhnje'' (
cottage cheese with cream), ''kremšnite'' (
custard slices in flaky pastry), and ''orahnjača'' (traditional
nut roll).
As Zagreb is relatively close to the sea, restaurants offer fresh
seafood. There are many
fast-food restaurants and stands in Zagreb, so those who prefer this type of food will not be disappointed.
Recreation and sports
A look at the Zrinjevac park in the city centre
There are several sports and recreational centres in Zagreb. Recreational Sports Centre
Jarun, situated on Lake
Jarun in the southwest of the city, has fine shingle beaches, a world-class
regatta course, a
jogging lane around the lake, several restaurants, many night clubs and a
discotheque. Its sports and recreation opportunities include swimming, sunbathing, waterskiing, angling and other water sports, but also
beach volleyball, football, basketball, handball, table tennis, and
miniature golf.
Dom Sportova (Home of sports) features six halls. The largest two can accommodate 4,000 and 12,000 people. This center is used for basketball, handball, volleyball, hockey, gymnastics, tennis, and many others. It is also used for concerts.
Zagreb Arena is going to be finished by the end of 2008. The construction started in July 2007. It's going to have 16.300 seats and it will be used for many sports and events.
The
Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall seats 5,400. Alongside it is the 94 m glass
Cibona Tower.
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
Šalata, only a couple hundred metres from the city centre, is most attractive for tennis players. It comprises a big tennis court and eight smaller ones, two of which are covered by the so-called "balloon", and another two equipped with lights. The Centre also has swimming pools, basketball courts, football fields, a gym and fitness centre, and a four-lane
bowling alley. Outdoor ice skating is a popular winter recreation at Šalata. There are also several fine restaurants within and near the Centre.
Tennis Centre
Maksimir, in the part of the city called Ravnice to the east of the centre, 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
bocci ball alley and
table tennis opportunities.
Recreational swimmers can enjoy a smaller-size indoor swimming pool in Daničićeva Street, and a newly opened indoor Olympic-sized pool at Utrine sports centre in Novi Zagreb. Skaters can skate in the skating rink on Trg Sportova (Sports Square) and on the lake Jarun Skaters' park.
Hippodrome Zagreb offers recreational
horseback riding opportunities, while horse races are held every weekend during the warmer part of the year.
The 40,000 seat
Maksimir Stadium, currently under renovation, is located in the eastern part of the city. When completed, it will seat 55,000 spectators, and sport a fully retractable roof. It will finally serve Zagreb somewhat more appropriately. The stadium is part of the immense Svetice recreational and sports complex, south of the heavily wooded Maksimir Park. The complex covers an area of 276,440 m². It is part of a significant Green Zone, which passes from Medvednica Mountains in the north towards the south. SRC Svetice, together with Maksimir Park, creates an ideal connection of areas which are assigned to sport, recreation and leisure.
The latest larger recreational facility is
Bundek, a group of two small lakes near the Sava in
Novi Zagreb, surrounded by a partly forested park. The location had been used prior to the
1970s, but then went to neglect until
2006 when it was renovated.
There is a number of smaller sports centres and playgrounds as well as gyms and
fitness centres throughout the city.
Sister cities
Petar Preradović square
Zagreb is officially
twinned with the following towns and cities:
[ Zagreb sister cities ]
★
'
Mainz',
Germany ''(1967)''
★
'
St. Petersburg',
Russia ''(1968)''
★
'
Tromsø',
Norway ''(1971)''
★
'
Kyoto',
Japan ''(1972)''
★
'
Kraków',
Poland ''(1975)''
★
'
Lisbon',
Portugal ''(1977)''
★
'
Pittsburgh',
USA ''(1980)''
★
'
Shanghai',
China ''(1980)''
★
'
Budapest',
Hungary ''(1994)''
★
'
Vienna',
Austria ''(1994)''
★
'
Sarajevo',
Bosnia and Herzegovina ''(2001)''
★
'
Ljubljana',
Slovenia ''(2001)''
See also
★
Eurovision Song Contest 1990
★
List of radio stations in Zagreb
★
Notes and references
★ http://www.dzs.hr/Eng/censuses/Census2001/Popis/E01_03_10/E01_03_10.html
External links
★
Official website of the City of Zagreb
★
Zagreb Photo Galeries
★
WikiSatellite view of Zagreb at WikiMapia
★
CroTouristica.com - Zagreb tourist info
★
Metropolitan Zagreb
★
Zagreb Museums and Galleries
★
Croatian Museums and Galleries
★
Zagreb picture gallery
★
Zagreb Fair
★
Zagreb Hotels and Travel Tips
★
Zagreb International airport
★
Zagreb Travel Guide Hotels, sights, transport and more.
★
Get discounts in Zagreb, free city transport
★
Guide through city events
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