Get a brief insight into Croatia's capital that offers a mixture of Central European architecture, Mediterranean lifestyle, and modern culture and art.

Glimpse into Zagreb  | Cultural Places

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King Tomislav Square – Welcome to Zagreb

If you arrive to Zagreb by train, your first view of Zagreb will be one of the most beautiful ones. You will see the equestrian statue of the semi-mythical King Tomislav in the forefront, the beautiful park with the Art Pavilion behind, and the cathedral spires in the distance, against Medvednica Mountain. The Art Pavilion, the pretty yellow building on the northern side of the park, was built as the Croatian Pavilion at the Budapest Millennial Exhibition in 1896 using the latest steel frame techniques. After the exhibition it was disassembled, transported to Zagreb by train and rebuilt at this location, where it became a venue for art shows. To this day it hosts important exhibitions and provides a picturesque background for people chilling or picnicking in the park.

YOUR VISIT
Trg Kralja Tomislava, 10000 Zagreb

Republic of Croatia Square – Old and New

Until recently called Marshall Tito Square, this may be the most beautiful square in Zagreb. Its centerpiece is the building of the Croatian National Theatre, built in the late 19th century by the famous Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer. Other notable buildings on the square include The Museum of Arts and Crafts, the new Music Academy (one of the most successful architectural interpolations) with its remarkable rainbow-colored roof and unusual sculptures in front. The building on the northern side of the square was originally built as a hospital, later served as a tobacco factory, and since the late 19th century it’s been hosting the seat of Zagreb University. A few steps from the theatre’s main entrance you’ll find a gem of Croatian sculpture – Meštrović's evocative Well of Life.
 
YOUR VISIT
Trg Republike Hrvatske, 10000 Zagreb

Vibrant Art Park and Eerie Grič Tunnel

Opened to the public in summer of 2016, Grič tunnel is one of the latest additions to Zagreb’s tourist map. It dates from World War II when it was built as an air raid shelter, but it has been mostly forgotten and neglected all these years. In the 1990s it hosted one of the first rave parties in Croatia. Various ideas have been proposed to repurpose it, and in 2016 it was finally renovated and opened as a tourist attraction and a venue for cultural events and site-specific installations. The tunnel has four entrances, two of which lead into another novelty on Zagreb's map: the Art Park, once a neglected and unsightly nook, now an atmospheric oasis with some delightful street art. It hosts all kinds of alternative happenings.

OUR TIP
If you need a quick cool off on a hot summer day, enter the chilly tunnel!

YOUR VISIT
The Art Park
Strossmayerovo šetalište 99, 10000, Zagreb
Open 24/7.
 
Grič Tunnel
The main entrance is from Mesnička ulica 19, 10000, Zagreb
Open daily from 9 am to 10 pm.
Free entrance

Kula Lotršćak – Adjust Your Clock

Romanesque Lotršćak tower is one of the best-preserved remains of the old city defense system. The name comes from campana latrunculorum, the Latin name of the "thieves' bell" hung in the tower in 1646 to signal the closing of the town gates. In the old Zagrebian dialect, thieves were called “lotrijaši,’’ and hence the name Lotršćak. The current look of the tower dates from the 19th century, when the cannon was placed on the top floor. The tower now hosts temporary exhibitions, while the top floor offers a pretty view of the Upper Town roofs.
 
LOCALS’ SECRET
Come to the front of Lotršćak Tower a bit before noon to witness the firing of the famous Grič cannon exactly at noon. It’s loud but fun to watch. Locals set their clocks to the blast of the cannon.
 
YOUR VISIT
Strossmayerovo šetalište 9, 10000 Zagreb
Open from Mon to Fri from 9 am to 9 pm; Sat, Sun & holidays from 11 am to 9 pm.
Adult: 20 kn (Kuna)

The Off-Beat Museum of Broken Relationships

It all started in 2003 when film producer Olinka Vištica and sculptor Dražen Grubišić broke up and then joked about founding a museum to host the personal items from their failed relationship. The joke materialized into a real project: first their friends started to contribute to the collection which grew further while touring the world – visitors from various countries donated their tokens of failed love stories. The museum finally opened in 2010, in a baroque Kulmer palace, as Zagreb's first privately-owned museum. Already the following year it won the prestigious Kenneth Hudson Award for Europe's most innovative museum. Since then it has been fascinating visitors with its unusual collection of poignant items and stories ranging from funny to melancholy and disturbing.
 
YOUR VISIT
Ćirilometodska 2, 10000 Zagreb
Open from June 1 to September 30 from 9 am to 10:30 pm; from October 1 to May 31 from 9 am to 9 pm.
Adult: 40 kn

St. Mark’s Square - Zagreb’s Prettiest Roof

Just a short uphill walk from the bustling downtown is the more tranquil Upper Town with St. Mark's Square at its heart. Formerly the main market of Gradec settlement, the square is nowadays the center of political and juridical power with the buildings of the Croatian Parliament and Government and the Constitutional Court. However, what attracts the most attention is the square's centerpiece, the Church of St. Mark. Its intricate and colorful tiled roof represents the coats of arms of the Triune Kingdom of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia and the city of Zagreb. It was added in the late 19th century, when this originally Romanesque church was rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style by the famous architect Hermann Bollé, to whom we owe the design of many other sights in Zagreb.

OUR TIP
Check out if there is an organ concert in St. Mark’s Church. A new, technically superb organ was built by a renowned German workshop and installed into the original case in 2011.
 
YOUR VISIT
Trg Sv. Marka, 10000 Zagreb

Stone Gate – Mystery-Laden Shrine

Candle lights gleaming in the dark passage, people standing in silent prayer … this place of mystic atmosphere is the Stone Gate, once part of the medieval defense system of Gradec settlement, now a shrine and oath site, where people pray to Virgin Mary for health and good luck. It dates from the 13th century, when it was built of stone in a town where wood was the main building material. A fire in the 18th century badly damaged the Stone Gate, but one painting remained preserved – a painting of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. To honor this miraculous event, a chapel was built inside the Gate where it stands to this day, behind an intricate baroque fence. The engravings on the stone plates express locals' gratitude to the Virgin Mary for answering their prayers.
 
YOUR VISIT
Kamenita vrata, Kamenita ulica, 10000 Zagreb

Dolac Market – Buy Where Locals Buy

The lively Dolac farmers' market is one of the city’s most charming spots. It’s been Zagreb's main trading place since the 1930s, when city authorities set it up on the border between Gradec and Kaptol, the two oldest parts of Zagreb. To reach its main part on a raised square, you’ll pass through a small flower market and climb up the staircase – currently adorned with nice street art showing a ‘’kumica’’ (countrywoman) with apples falling out of her basket. The stalls area is surrounded by local color cafes and offers a pretty view to the cathedral. Here you can buy fruits and vegetables from farmers from all around Croatia as well as honey, oil and traditional handicrafts. Meat and dairy products are sold at the covered market underneath.

LOCALS’ SECRET 
For the best prices, come after 2 pm when many sellers go home and offer great bargains.
 
YOUR VISIT
Dolac 9, 10000 Zagreb
Open from Mon to Sat from 7 am to 3 pm; Sun from 7 am to 1 pm.

Ban Jelačić Square – Zagreb’s Bustling Heart

Jelačić plac, as locals call it, has been city's commercial heart since the mid-17th century, when it was chosen as a place for hosting fairs. It’s lined with representative buildings in a variety of architectural styles. Once called Harmica (after the Hungarian name for "one thirtieth", the tax levied on the goods sold here), in 1848 it was renamed in honor of Ban (Governor) Jelačić. The equestrian statue representing Ban originally faced northwards, towards Hungary, to symbolize Ban's fight against the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Denouncing Ban as a “servant of foreign interests,” communist authorities removed the statue. In the 1990s it was brought back, this time facing southwards, for a more balanced composition of the square.

OUR TIP
Climb the Zagreb 360° observation deck for a beautiful view of the square and the Upper Town.

YOUR VISIT
Trg bana Josipa Jelačića, 10000 Zagreb

Mirogoj – A Lush Open-Air Art Gallery

Considered one of Europe’s most beautiful cemeteries, Mirogoj is worth the 30-minute walk from the main square. This is another sight designed by the Austrian architect Hermann Bollé. He decided to surround the graves with pavilions and monumental arcades topped by domes, creating the look of a fortress. Due to lack of funding, the construction took half a century and was finished only in 1929. Many other artists left their imprint on Mirogoj's look – you'll find sculptures by the famous artists like Meštrović, Džamonja and Murtić, many of whom were buried here. Mirogoj is peculiar for its mix of religions – since it was owned by the city, it accepted burials from all religious backgrounds. Plus, considering the high demand for places on Mirogoj, you'll find graves shared by Catholic, Muslim and Jewish people.

YOUR VISIT
Aleja Hermanna Bolléa 27, 10000 Zagreb

Open daily from April 1 to September 30 from 6 am to 8 pm; from October 1 to March 31 from 7:30 am to 6 pm.
Free entrance

It's been a long walk and you're likely pretty exhausted. We hope you had a wonderful time exploring the city and made a lot of amazing memories.

Mirna Marić for Cultural Places
© 2018

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