Countries of the world - croatia - zagreb. The best photos of Zagreb. Cuisine and restaurants in Zagreb

The capital of Croatia, Zagreb, stands on the banks of the Sava River at the foot of the Medvednica mountain range. Its historical core - the Upper City - was formed from two medieval cities located on neighboring hills: Kaptola - the spiritual center of the diocese, and Hradec, which received the status of a free city from the Hungarian king in the 13th century. Constantly at war with each other, at the beginning of the 17th century they merged into one city - Zagreb.

The main attractions are concentrated in the Upper City: the Parliament and the President's Residence. And although most ancient buildings were destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1880, some of the churches and palaces of the Croatian nobility were restored. Below on the plain lies the Lower City with parks and squares, museums, galleries and the National Theatre. The special charm of Zagreb is given by the scattered pedestrian zones with cozy cafes and restaurants with flower-decorated terraces and balconies.

How to get to Zagreb

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Transport

The most popular public transport in Zagreb, blue-painted buses run from 4:00 to 0:00 at short intervals on a variety of routes. In second place are trams, some of which run around the clock. Tickets are sold at a variety of kiosks, including newspaper and tobacco kiosks. You can buy them from the driver at a higher price. A validated single ticket is valid for 1.5 hours.

For those who plan to make more than two trips per day, it makes sense to buy Dnevna Karta - a “day card” that gives the right to an unlimited number of trips on any type of public transport from the moment of purchase until 4:00 the next day.

The oldest form of transport in Zagreb is the funicular, whose trailers have been slowly crawling along the inclined rails between the Upper and Lower Towns for 130 years. Opening hours from 6:30 to 22:00, traffic interval 10 minutes.

From the Zagreb bus station (av. Marina Dzica, 4) on comfortable buses of the companies Croatia Bus (off. site in English), AutoHerc, Autopromet you can get to Split (5.5 hours), Pula (4 hours), Rijeka (1, 5 hours), Dubrovnik (9.5 hours) and other cities of the country. The frequency of flights is 5-10 per day, the prices are very humane.

Taxis in Zagreb can be ordered by phone, via the Internet or taken at special parking lots in the Upper and Lower Towns, near the main stations, large shopping centers and tourist attractions. The cost of a trip within the city is 80 HRK, payment by the meter, tips are welcome. At night and on weekends, the tariff is higher by 15-20%. Prices on the page are for November 2018.

Bicycles for rent

With the exception of the Upper Town with its steep cobbled streets, Zagreb is very bike friendly. The companies Bike.com.hr (official website in English) and Blue Bike (official website in English) organize bicycle tours around the city and its surroundings, as well as rent bicycles (city, road, mountain bikes) for a period of 3 hours to several days. The cost of 1 day rental - from 100 HRK.

Car rental in Zagreb

Cozy, green and hilly Zagreb is not intended for cars - here you need to walk. But to visit the surrounding beauties, mountains, gorges, ancient cities and monasteries, or, what’s good, wave to the sea, which is a 4-hour drive away, without a car. There are representative offices of international car rental companies (Avis, Hertz, Sixt, etc.) and local ones (Right Cars, Uniline, Last Minute, etc.) at the airport and in the city itself. Prices, in comparison with Western Europe, are pleasantly pleasing, especially when booking in advance.

Unlike international ones, local offices are ready to accept cash payments.

On weekdays, parking in the central part of the city is paid. The zones differ in color - red (in the very center, where you can leave the car for 1 hour), orange (2 hours) and yellow (time is not limited). Payment for parking - in the parking meter in cash or via SMS. Without a time limit, you can leave the car in underground and multi-storey car parks with a barrier.

The organization of traffic in Zagreb is well thought out and well informative. In the Upper City, the roads are narrow, steep, and one-way. In Nizhny - comfortable and wide, during the day they seem empty. The maximum traffic density is from 8:00 to 9:00 on weekdays, and the concept of “traffic jams” is simply absent here. Foreigners who have unwittingly violated traffic rules are treated with indulgence by the police, especially if the culprit expresses sincere remorse.

A fine for unpaid parking is 100-300 HRK, speeding up to 10 km/h - 300 HRK, up to 30 km/h - 500-1000 HRK, not wearing a seat belt or talking on the phone while driving - 500 HRK. The fine receipt must be paid at the bank or at the post office within 8 days.

Zagreb Card

The Zagreb Card tourist card (official site in English) is sold at tourist offices and many hotels in the city. It comes in two types - valid for 24 hours (98 HRK) and 72 hours (135 HRK). During this time, its owner can ride all types of public transport for free, including the funicular. In addition, the card entitles you to free admission to the Museum of Modern Art, the Zagreb City Museum, the Museum of Arts and Crafts, the original Museum of Broken Relationships, observation deck Zagreb 360º and Zoo. The total cost of tickets to these places, together with trips by public transport, is more than 2 times the cost of the Zagreb Card itself.

In addition to this, Zagreb Card provides an opportunity to receive discounts of up to 50% when visiting another 76 objects - museums, restaurants, shops, as well as take advantage of more favorable conditions when renting a car.

Zagreb Hotels

Despite the status of the capital, the prices for accommodation in Zagreb are pleasantly surprising. In the upper price category - hotels of the world famous "chains" Sheraton Zagreb and The Westin. The cheapest double deluxe costs from 1100 HRK, another 160 HRK will be required for a sumptuous breakfast. A very high level of service in the palace hotels The Regent Esplanade and Le Premier, built in the era of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The cost of "fours" lies in the range of 300-700 HRK. They attract with good service, spacious rooms, new furniture and plumbing. The most expensive ones have spas and fitness centers, swimming pools, restaurants and facilities for guests with disabilities.

There is free Wi-Fi almost everywhere. Free parking - only in hotels on the outskirts of the city. Many central hotels do not have parking at all or for a fee.

What to bring

Perhaps the most romantic souvenir from Zagreb is the Licidar heart - a honey gingerbread in the shape of a bright red heart. In 2010, this symbol of the Croatian capital was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. According to tradition, they decorate Christmas trees and give as a sign of devotion and love.

A silk tie will be a good gift for a business partner, because Croatia is the birthplace of this must-have accessory for a real gentleman. Women are delighted with the unusually beautiful Page lace. Skillful craftswomen from the island of Page have been weaving them since time immemorial, but “white Croatian gold” was introduced into European fashion at the beginning of the 20th century by the Austrian Archduchess Maria Josephine, who specially came to the island to order lace. In addition to them, the best Croatian Pag cheese made from sheep's milk comes from the island, the taste of which is determined by the sage and rosemary growing here.

Strong drink lovers should leave room in their luggage for the famous plum brandy. The aromatic cherry liqueur Moraschino, which Casanova admired, is very good. Among the wines, dry red Dingaya should be preferred.

In souvenir shops, a huge number of handicrafts - dolls in national costumes, terracotta, painted ceramic dishes, napkins and tablecloths from Osijek, embroidered with gold and silver thread. The favorites of any jewelry store are “morchichi”: all kinds of earrings, pendants, brooches in the form of a black head of a Moor in a turban. The history of the appearance of this talisman that brings happiness is more than one hundred years old. Usually the head of the Moor is made of ceramics, but the turban can be silver or gold, decorated with precious stones.

Cuisine and restaurants in Zagreb

In Zagreb, as in the whole Croatian Zagorje, hearty meat cuisine prevails. The influence of former and present neighbors is easily guessed in it. Austrian schnitzel, thick sauces based on Hungarian paprika, spicy Slovenian kulen sausage. The Turkish trace is in all kinds of kebabs and meatballs, and the old connection with Vienna is felt in desserts, pastries and cakes.

Zagreb is the capital of a maritime country. Fish, octopuses, squids, edible shellfish come to restaurants directly from the Adriatic Sea.

On the go, you can have a bite to eat "burek" - a pie stuffed with meat, cheese or potatoes (10-20 HRK). This most common Croatian fast food is sold everywhere. In cafes that are open from early morning until late at night, you can drink a cup of coffee and enjoy donuts “riganise” with jam or sweet pancakes “palacinke” with various fillings.

Croats drink beer in the "pivnitsa" - their own or well-known world brands. Konoba mainly serves wine. These family-run, tavern-like establishments are mid-priced - a good meal here costs about 80 HRK. It is in them that you should order authentic dishes - Zagreb steak with cheese and ham or "hollow" - meat stewed in wine with spices. The restaurants offer not only local but also international cuisine. Dinner with moderate alcohol in them - 150-200 HRK.

Feature of Zagreb - numerous fountains with drinking water. You can use them to fill a bottle with water or just wash your face in the heat.

The best photos of Zagreb

Guides in Zagreb

Entertainment and attractions

The Croatian capital has many parks, museums, galleries, monasteries and cathedrals. The symbol of the city is the Cathedral of St. Stepan, next to which stands a memorial pillar crowned with a gilded figure of the Holy Virgin Mary. Since the 13th century, the highest hierarchs of the church and the Croatian nobility were buried in it. Next to the temple is the Baroque Archbishop's Palace, which was rebuilt over 13-19 centuries. The local Franciscan monastery with the church of St. Francis has existed since the time of Francis of Assisi (13th century).

The center of Hradec is the Gothic Church of St. Mark (Trg Sv. Marka 5, 10000), near which the buildings of the Croatian National Assembly (1908) and presidential palace Banski Dvori. In addition, in this part of the city you can visit the Croatian Historical Museum (off. site in English), the Museum of Naive Art (Ul. Sv. Cirila I Metoda, 3, Gornji grad 10000), Historical Museum(Ul. Antuna Gustava Matosa 9, 10000).

The lower town was built in accordance with the town planning plans of 1865 and 1889. Its quarters, squares, parks and mansions are made mainly in the style of eclecticism, neoclassicism and secession. Here are located Archaeological Museum(off. site in English), Strosmeier Gallery (Trg Nikole Subica Zrinskog 11, 10000), Academy fine arts(off site in English).

On the square of King Tomislav there is an equestrian monument to the first Croatian king. On the square of Marshal Tito - neo-baroque building of the Croatian National Theatre. The square in front of the theater is decorated with the "Fountain of Life" by Ivan Meštrovic. And next to the National Theater is the Mimar Museum, which houses paintings by famous artists.

In the eastern part of Zagreb, there is the largest garden and park ensemble in Croatia "Maksimir" (Maksimirski perivoj, 10000) - an English-style park, laid out in the 18-19 centuries. In 1925 a zoo was opened here. Another sample landscape gardening art in the English style - the cemetery "Mirogoj" (1876, Aleja Hermanna Bollea 27, 10000), which is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. The sights of the cemetery are its entrance gates and arcades along the western wall, where the rich and famous residents of the Croatian capital found eternal rest.

December

The climate of Zagreb is temperate continental. Winter is relatively snowy and cold, especially in January and February. Spring is the most comfortable time to explore the city. However, in May the temperature can exceed 30 °C. June is the summer record for the number of rains. The hottest months are July and August. The beginning of autumn is warm and rainy, but at the end of October, night temperatures can drop below zero.

In Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, we arrived from Zagorje.

Zagorye is Northern part Croatia separated from Zagreb mountain range Medvednitsa.

From the north, Zagreb is bounded by mountains, from the south and southeast by the Sava River (a tributary of the Danube). The city seems to be sliding towards the river.

We are entering Zagreb. In the background is a mountain range Medvednitsa. At the highest point of the Slieme massif (1033) there is a TV tower.

In the center of the city, Medvednica disappears somewhere, and smaller hills come to the fore.

Unlike many cities built on seven hills, the Croatian capital was quite content with two.

The Zagreb hills stand one opposite the other. One of them - Kaptol, initially it was inhabited by churchmen. Another hill, steeper, higher and more spacious, - Hradec populated by ordinary people. At one time there was a Hungarian military garrison.

Previously, these were two separate cities. The river Medveshchak flowed between the hills, and the bridge thrown over it was called Bloody. One can easily guess what kind of relations there were between the inhabitants of neighboring hills.

Time passed, and the two towns merged into one - Zagreb. Mills were set up on the river. And then the river was completely covered up, and the resulting street was called Tkalchicheva. Now Tkalchicheva street is a pedestrian zone with numerous cafes.

Ban Jelačić Square

At the foot of the hills lies the main square of Zagreb - Ban Jelacic Square. Ban was the supreme ruler of Croatia.

Also on the square is a fountain - seemingly simple, but respectfully fenced with chains. This fountain is built over a spring Mandeshuvac, which was the main source drinking water for the people of Zagreb. Water was taken from the source until the end of the 19th century.

Buildings on Jelacic Square

On the square there is a tourism office (house 11), where, in addition to the city map, you can take booklets in Russian with a description of the sights of Zagreb. Booklets are very detailed, convenient, made with the desire to present your city to the smallest detail. Descriptions of Zagreb attractions are interspersed with articles about the most prominent representatives of Croatian history, science and art. Lots of writers and poets. Of the representatives of science, only two seem to be mentioned - Nikola Tesla and Slavoljub Penkala (who invented the fountain pen and built the first Croatian aircraft in 1910).

Memorial plaque to Nikola Tesla in Hradec

Jelacic Square is the border between the Upper Town and the Lower Town. Let's start, of course, with the Upper, since it was on the hills that the first settlements arose, which later grew into the capital city of Zagreb.

Kaptol

First, we will climb the right hill - Kaptol. Ahead is a column with a gilded sculpture of the Virgin.

The column stands in the center of the main square of Kaptol.

The area is spacious. Its dominant is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, main cathedral Zagreb.

Fortified walls were erected around the cathedral. They were built in the middle of the 16th century to protect against the Turks.

To the right of the cathedral is one of the towers. The tower merges with the episcopal palace.

Cathedral, episcopal palace and fortress tower

Behind the tower, such a narrow street begins, leading down.

Behind the fortress walls there were once ponds in which the priests fished. Now here is the city park Ribnyak.

Cafe near the park

On the other side of the square is a large open space– Dolac food market.

Let's walk along the main street of Kaptola.

That's where the houses are.

Musical Theatre

Church of St. Francis. The church was built in the 17th century. Previously, a 13th-century church stood on this site, in which, according to rumor, Francis of Assisi lived for some time.

Behind the Franciscan church, the street descends into a small shady park, and from there it goes out onto the busy Tkalchicheva street.

Tkalchicheva street

Tkalchichev are endless rows summer cafes, these are houses with three floors, over which the slopes of the hills rise.

Somewhere these slopes are densely built up - houses creep up in steps. Somewhere covered with vineyards.

From Tkalchicheva, here and there, narrow stairs go up, climbing up ..

At the bottom, the street is filled with people, but as you go up, the number of people on the street decreases.

Here is a house with hussars found upstairs.

At the beginning of Tkalchicheva Street there is a monument to the local journalist and writer Maria Jurich, who wrote under the pseudonym Zagorka. She wrote historical novels, including those about the powerless and difficult fate of women, about girls who flocked to the city in search of work and ended up on the panel.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, persecution of witches spread in Zagreb, and many women were burned. Trials of the local inquisition and burning of women began at the beginning of the 17th century and continued until the middle of the 18th century. It took the intervention of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, who issued a decree banning the persecution of witches. In one of the novels, the writer describes the events of those years.

Having slightly risen up Tkalchicheva Street, we see a monument to one of those whose unfortunate fate Zagorka wrote about - this is not about a witch, but about a girl who ended up in a brothel. This monument stands here not by chance - in the 19th century there were many brothels on Tkalchicheva.

To the left of this monument is a not too noticeable path that leads to a narrow steep staircase.

Hradec

We start climbing Hradec Hill.

Lanterns are another sign of Old Zagreb. Gas lamps are still used here, which are lit by lamplighters in the evenings.

In the middle of the slope is a street Radicheva. It stretches parallel to Tkalchicheva. Most remarkable place on her - sculpture of St. George with a defeated serpent.

From the monument, the path leads to stone gate. In our time, the gate stood in the forests

Inside the gate is the chapel of Our Lady with an icon that survived one of the fires. The icon is considered miraculous and is highly revered. Our Lady of the Stone Gate is considered the patroness of Zagreb.

Passing through the Stone Gate, we rise above

and soon we find ourselves on the top of Hradec Hill, in the middle St. Mark's Square with a magnificent and original cathedral in the center - the Church of St. Mark. The coats of arms of Croatia and Zagreb are laid out on the roof of the church.

To the left of the church is the building of the Croatian government, to the right is the building parliament(in Croatian - Sabor).

On the corner of the house is an unusual monument. pictured Matia Gubets- Croatian "Emelyan Pugachev", the leader of the peasant uprising. In St. Mark's Square, the captured Matius was tortured and then quartered.

We go down the hill along the street of Cyril and Methodius, or, according to the local, Chirilomethodskaya. On Chirilomethodskaya Street stands the Church of Chiril and Method.

We pass by the museum of naive art.

Looking back at St. Mark's Church

On our way - the area Jesuit Trg with baroque Church of St. Catherine. The Jesuits built it in the 17th century, and next to it a gymnasium, which became the first gymnasium in Zagreb (1607).

View from the Church of St. Catherine on Zagreb

Tower Lotrszczak- a tower that has survived to this day, which was part of the city fortress of the 13th century.

Tower Lotrszczak

We leave the fortress walls and begin the descent along the wall along the steep stairs. This descent is called Strossmeyer alley.

And here we are again at Ban Jelačić Square.

Lower Zagreb

The lower city was built thoughtfully and intelligently. The architect Milan Lenuzzi designed a chain of squares-parks, formed by the letter "U" on the plain in front of the hills. This series of park spaces has been nicknamed the Lenuzzi horseshoe. It seems to me that it looks more like a green garland around the neck of the Mountain City than a horseshoe.

Buildings along park areas built in the form of closed fortresses, facing outwards with front facades and hiding green courtyards inside.

Plane alleys, fountains, sculptures follow each other - as well as numerous museums: archaeological, Academy of Sciences and Arts, Art Nouveau Gallery, ethnographic, art pavilion, arts and crafts and the famous Mimara Art Museum.

Mimar Museum

In a series of outstanding buildings - the building of the Croatian National Theater in the center of Broz Tito Square and the University of Zagreb.

The Botanical Garden is built into the lower part of the "horseshoe" of parks

The modern city has reached the river Sava and moved to the other side.

In the south of Zagreb is the so-called "Zagreb Sea" - an artificial lake Jarun.

And in the north, the Medvednitsa mountain range rises. Hiking trails are laid on the slopes of the mountain, mountain shelters and cafes are arranged. There is a chapel, a fortress, and a cave on the mountain. A funicular takes you to the top of Slieme. In winter, they go skiing there.

Now the population of Zagreb is creeping up to a million. There is no metro in the city. Plugs are present.

However, the most cursory and superficial acquaintance with Zagreb leaves the impression that the city is comfortable enough for Everyday life, there is a lot of greenery here, the urban space is thought out, there are a lot of walking people, a lot of young people, some kind of healthy fullness and cheerfulness is felt. At the same time, the southern climate brings a feeling of lightness and carelessness.

At first glance, Zagreb is very different from. It seemed to me that he, like him, is closer in spirit to Hungary.

When you find yourself in the city for a short time, in passing, sometimes you get the feeling that you have already seen all the most important things. Then you start leafing through guidebooks, booklets and you understand that you could easily find something to fill your time in this city. The sights of Zagreb are quite enough for a few days. Perhaps those days are yet to come.

Zagreb (Croatia) - the most detailed information about the city with a photo. The main attractions of Zagreb with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Zagreb (Croatia)

Zagreb is divided into three parts: the ancient Upper Town (Gornji Grad), where among old streets the main attractions and museums are located; Lower City (Donji Grad) with shops, restaurants, cafes, theaters and parks; New town - modern district built after World War II. Zagreb is famous big amount museums and good restaurants with excellent Croatian and European cuisine. The city is located a little in the shadow of the Adriatic resorts. Nevertheless, it is visited by over 700,000 tourists a year, mostly from Austria, Italy and Germany.

Geography and climate

Zagreb is located in continental Croatia on the southwestern edge of the Pannonian Plain on both banks of the Sava. The city is located at the foot of the southern slopes of Medvednica at an altitude of 122 meters above sea level.

The climate is temperate continental. Summers are rather hot and dry with an average temperature of about 20 degrees, winters are cool with frequent negative temperatures.

Best time to visit

Late spring and early autumn. High season- summer.

Practical Information

1. The population is 790 thousand people.
2. The area is 641 square kilometers.
3. The language is Croatian.
4. Currency - kuna.
5. Visa - Schengen.
6. Time - Central European UTC +1, summer +2.
7. Tourist information Center located on Kaptol, 5.

Story

Historically, Zagreb grew out of two neighboring settlements, Hradec and Kaptol, which now form the basis of the historical center. In fact, independently, two settlements existed until the 18th century, until they formed a single city. The first mention of Zagreb dates back to 1094, when a bishopric was established on Kaptol Hill. In 1242, Gradets was destroyed by Batu. A little later, he received the status of a free royal city.

In the 17th century, a university was formed in Zagreb, which is one of the oldest in Europe. In 1776, the government of Croatia was transferred here from Varazdin. In fact, Zagreb becomes the capital. In 1851, Hradec and Kaptol were finally merged. During the period when Croatia belonged to the Habsburgs, the city was called Agram. Zagreb was proclaimed the capital of independent Croatia in 1991.

How to get there

international Airport Zagreb is located 17 km southeast of the historical center. There are regular flights to the capital of Croatia from Amsterdam, Athens, Moscow, Munich, Prague, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Rome, London, Istanbul, Vienna, Paris, Madrid, Berlin and others major cities Europe. The airports of Ljubljana, Graz, Rijeka and Maribor are quite close. The historic center can be reached by bus. The fare for 2018 is 30 kunas.

Zagreb's main railway station is one of the largest in Croatia and has direct connections to Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Zurich, Munich, Ljubljana, Sarajevo.

It is easy to get to Zagreb by car. Almost all highways in Croatia either start or pass near its capital. Freeways are tolled. At the entrance you need to get a special coupon (ticket), according to which, upon departure, the fee will be calculated according to the distance traveled.

Zagreb has developed system public transport represented by trams, buses and suburban trains. There is a unified zonal system. Tickets can be bought at newsstands, special ticket offices or from the driver. Interestingly, the trams operate 24 hours.

Shopping and shopping

There are many shops in Zagreb, from small local stores to large chain supermarkets and well-known brands. In terms of shopping, the capital of Croatia presents a wide range of opportunities. Souvenirs can be bought on Radićeva Street (eg GEA Gallery). Oktogon Passage is home to many trendy shops.

Shopping centers in Zagreb:

• Arena Centar - ULICA VICE VUKOVA 6.
• Avenue Mall - AVENIJA DUBROVNIK 16.
• Branimir Centar - ULICA KNEZA BRANIMIRA 29.
• Centar Kaptol - NOVA VES 17.
• City Center one East - SLAVONSKA AVENIJA 11D.
• City Center one West - JANKOMIR 33.
• Cvjetni Centro - TRG PETRA PRERADOVIĆA 6.
• Designer Outlet Croatia - ULICA ALFREDA NOBELA 4.
• Green Gold - RADNIČKA CESTA 52.
• Importanne Centar - TRG ANTE STARČEVIĆA 7.
• Importanne Galeria - TRG DRAGE IBLERA 10.
• Point Shopping Centar - RUDEŠKA CESTA 169.
• Rotonda Centar - JURIŠIĆEVA ULICA 19.

Food and drink

Zagreb cuisine has its own characteristics. The capital of Croatia offers a wide range of original street dishes that include ham, dry cottage cheese, dry beef tongue and cheese. Traditional dishes: roast turkey, mlinci (pasta with goose or duck sauce), buncek (smoked pork tail with sauerkraut), veal steak, češnjovke (garlic sausages) or krvavice (blood sausages), gablec, goulash Hungarian cuisine), krpice sa zeljem (pasta flakes with cabbage), prisiljeno zelje (braised cabbage), žganci s lukom i špekom (polenta with onions and bacon).

There are many cafes and restaurants in Zagreb with good traditional and European cuisine. The bars are concentrated around the Cvjetni trg square, the main square, Preradovićeva, Tkalčićeva, Radićeva, Bogovićeva and Gaje streets.

Attractions

The highlight of the capital of Croatia is the medieval Upper Town with charming cobblestone streets and old houses. It is here that the most interesting sights of Zagreb, most of the museums and cultural monuments are located.

The upper city arose as a result of the union of two neighboring (often rival) settlements Hradec and Kaptol. Kaptol in the Middle Ages was the seat of a bishop, and merchants and artisans lived in Hradec.

At the beginning of Radićeva Street, there is the famous stone gate, which is the eastern entrance to Old Hradec. They were built in the 13th century. Inside is the image of St. Mary, which is very revered. local residents. This shrine survived a great fire in 1731. When passing through the gate, it is recommended not to make noise. Nearby is a sculpture of St. George killing the serpent (dragon).

Church of St. Marka is one of the main attractions of Zagreb. Is one of oldest buildings city ​​and was first mentioned in 1334. The first church was built in the 13th century in the Romanesque style. Only the window on the southern wall and the base of the bell tower have been preserved from that building. The Gothic arches were built in the second half of the 14th century, when the church received its most valuable part - the sumptuous southern portal, which is one of the most beautiful in Croatia. The portal was made in the workshop of Parler, one of the most famous medieval sculptural workshops. The northwestern wall contains the oldest known coat of arms of Zagreb from 1499. The most striking feature of the church of St. Mark is a bright tiled roof in style national flag with coats of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia, Slavonia and Zagreb.

One of the central squares of old Zagreb is Kaptol Square, famous for its many early 17th century buildings, a 13th century Franciscan monastery, a cathedral and a column with a statue of the Virgin Mary surrounded by four angels.

Cathedral (Assumption) Cathedral - is the most monumental and most impressive sacral building in gothic style southeast of the Alps. was built on the site of ancient church destroyed by the Tatars. The building's most famous feature is its two beautiful Gothic spiers. The current cathedral was built in the second half of the 13th century, although it has been altered and rebuilt several times to date. An earthquake in 1880 destroyed large sections of the cathedral, including the dome and bell tower, although the reconstruction retained the original medieval appearance. We recommend visiting the cathedral treasury, which houses beautiful works of religious art, clothing and relics.

The Lotrschak tower was built to protect south gate city ​​wall of Hradec. The construction dates back to the 13th century and has long been one of the most recognizable sights of Zagreb. Legend has it that this massive square Romanesque tower once held a bell that rang every evening to warn of the gates being closed. Residents who did not have time to return were forced to spend the night outside the walls. You can climb the tower.

Church of St. Catherine was built in the first half of the 17th century by the Jesuits and is considered one of the finest churches in Zagreb. The church has a beautiful interior with many fine examples of Baroque art as well as stucco reliefs by the Italian artist Antonio Quadrio. The facade is decorated with sculptures of saints in niches.

Church of St. Francis is a monumental Gothic church from the 13th century. It is located in the northwestern part of Kaptol Square. It is considered one of the best Franciscan sacred buildings in Central Europe.

Maksimir - largest park Zagreb, decorated in the English style. The park has many great places for walks and picnics, artificial lakes, flower beds. The Dynamo football stadium is located here, where the national team plays its matches.

• The Mimara Museum is housed in a 19th century Neo-Renaissance building and includes archaeological collections from Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, the Middle East, the Far East, India and South America. In addition, there is furniture from the Middle Ages and sculptures from Ancient Greece. The museum exhibits a collection of paintings including masterpieces by the Dutch painters Rembrandt and Ruisdael, the Italian painters Raphael and Veronese, the Flemish painters Rubens and Van Dyck, and the Spanish painters Velasquez and Goya.
• The Art Pavilion is housed in a striking Art Nouveau building. The works of the famous Croatian artist Mestrovic are exhibited here.
• The Archaeological Museum of Zagreb has more than 400,000 exhibits: Greek vases, Egyptian mummies and many items from the Middle Ages.
• Gallery of Modern Art - located in a magnificent palace in the Lower City. Includes paintings by contemporary Croatian artists.
• Old Masters Gallery - contains a collection of almost 600 items: works by Bellini, Veronese, Tiepolo, Bartolomeo Caporali, Proudhon, Carpeau, Brueghel, Van Dyck and Croatian artists Medulik and Banković.

Although this city has been the capital of an independent state for less than two decades, it has been the political and cultural center of Croatia since the Middle Ages. Zagreb, where almost a quarter of the population of Croatia now lives, was formed by the merger of two medieval communities - Kaptol and Hradec, which used to exist as independent fortified settlements, but gradually, growing, began to feel like a single city.

However, Zagreb owes its present appearance to the rapid development in the 19th century, and many of its buildings are perceived as monuments to the self-assertion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. And even today, Zagreb is the bearer of the refined urban culture of Central Europe - public transport is well organized, the streets are clean, the parks are impeccably trimmed, and behind the shiny facade, life is in full swing, in which Central European, Mediterranean and Balkan cultures have merged.

IN last years The population of Zagreb approached the one million mark. It was replenished in part by refugees from the territories of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina covered by the conflicts of 1991-1995. Families, several generations of which live in Zagreb, proudly call themselves purgeri - by analogy with the German "burghers", this is a kind of trace of the Habsburg past.

Perhaps the true “purgerism”, expressed in clicking heels, kissing hands, and the like, has already sunk into oblivion, but the name itself exists as an important sign of Zagreb identity, and is certainly used by provincials when describing capital snobbery. Most foreign visitors visiting Croatia tend to the coast and rarely give their attention to Zagreb, inviting tourists rather to adjust to the successful rhythm local life than to rush from one tourist to another.

The local museums are ready to absorb the visitor, but are rarely spectacular. A couple of days is more than enough to get an idea of ​​what the capital has to offer - unless, of course, you find yourself swallowed up by a stormy nightlife city, then, of course, it is worth staying here longer. And during the day, of course, it is better to walk around Zagreb. The streets of baroque Kaptol and Hradec breathe comfort and are good at any time of the year.

Well, the streets business center, which sometimes seem depressingly gloomy in winter, in spring and summer, as soon as good weather, flourish from the tables and umbrellas of numerous open-air cafes, and the popular pedestrian areas of Tkalchichev and Preradovichev-Trg square - acquire languid Mediterranean glamour. And yet, you should not leave Zagreb without visiting at least somewhere in its charming surroundings. Mount Medvednica rises from the north with a peak called Slieme - the townspeople go there to relax all year round. Many places far from the coast of Croatia can be visited in the continuation of a one-day excursion.

A Brief History of Zagreb

Despite the fact that human settlements dating back to the Iron Age have been found on Hradec Hill, real story Zagreb dates back only to 1094, when the Hungarian king Ladislas I founded a bishopric here in order to bring the lands of Northern Croatia under firm Hungarian control. In Kaptol (the name translates approximately as "meeting of canons at the temple") around Cathedral and a complex of episcopal buildings, a large church community was formed, and on Hradec the Hungarian crown kept a military garrison.

Both Kaptol and were seriously damaged during the Mongol invasion of 1240-1242, and the Hungarian king Bela IV ordered the restoration of Hradec and granted him the title of Royal Free City in order to attract settlers and revive urban life here. The settlements flourished due to their location on the trade route between and the Adriatic, despite the growing threat from the Ottoman Empire, which began to make itself felt in the 15th century. The communities of Kaptol and Hradec rarely found a common language with each other - the dispute over control of the water mills on the river that separated them was a constant source of enmity between them.

The largest outbreak of this hostility occurred in 1527, during the dispute for the Croatian throne between the Habsburg emperor Ferdinand II, supported by Hradec, and the Hungarian nobleman Ivan Zapolvai (supported by Kaptol). As a result, the Habsburg troops plundered Kaptol. From now on, the names "Kaptol" and "Gradec" gradually began to fall into disuse, and the common name Zagreb for two came into use more and more (literally: "Beyond the mountain", at the location of the city at the foot of Mount Medvednica).

By the end of the 16th century, most of Croatia's inland territory was under the control of the Ottoman Empire - the country's territory was reduced to a northern enclave, the center of which was Zagreb. Although this city served as the seat of the Croatian Sabor (parliament), whose meetings were largely ceremonial, Zagreb became more and more a provincial backwater of the Habsburg Empire, and the Croatian language was supplanted by German, Hungarian and Latin.

It was not until the middle of the 19th century that the growth of Croatian national identity confirmed Zagreb's status as the guardian of national culture. The establishment of the Academy of Arts and Sciences (1866), the Philharmonic Orchestra (1871), the university (1874) and the National Theater (1890) strengthened the sense of cultural identity of the Croatian capital in Zagreb residents. The architect Hermann Bolle (1845-1926) - a German by nationality - the creator of the school of arts and crafts, the Zagreb Cathedral and the Mirogoj cemetery, which occupy an important place in the architectural profile of the new Zagreb.

With the creation of Yugoslavia in 1918, political power shifted from Vienna to what most Croats considered a backwater in the Balkans. The situation changed significantly after the Second World War, when it received the status of a Socialist Republic, and Zagreb became the seat of its government. However, the city still felt inferior due to being overshadowed by Belgrade.

The 1950s-1960s were a period of great architectural change - the ambitious mayor Vecheslav Holevac carried out a large-scale expansion of the city in southbound, and a new residential area was born - New Zagreb. The city survived the collapse of Yugoslavia relatively painlessly, despite sporadic rocket attacks from the Serbs. Life in post-communist Zagreb was initially characterized by stagnation and corruption, but over the last decade the capital has been transformed in many ways by business development and has become stylish, prosperous and optimistic.

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Zagreb

General information

The city is located on the Sava River, a tributary of the Danube, at 45.815° north latitude and 15.98306° east longitude, at an altitude of 104 meters above sea level ( lowest point) near the Medvednica mountain range.

The climate is continental, the average summer temperature is +20 degrees Celsius, the average winter temperature is +1 degree Celsius.

Time - Central European, Greenwich Mean Time +1. The area is 641.29 km².

The city of Zagreb with its suburbs has the status of a separate county within Croatia, the city is governed by a mayor elected by the city assembly.

Transport

Zagreb is located in the center of an extensive transport network. Major modern motorways run from the city in an easterly direction towards Slavonia, Belgrade and Osijek (A3); to the northeast towards Čakovec, Varaždin and Hungary (A4); southwest towards Karlovac, Rijeka and Split (A1); northwest towards Slovenia and Western Europe (A2); to the west towards Bregana and Ljubljana (A3) and to the southeast towards Sisak and Banja Luka (A11). Railways connect Zagreb with the largest cities in Croatia and neighboring countries. In the city center there are large bus and railway stations.

Zagreb Airport is located 17 kilometers from the city. Capacity - 2 million passengers in 2007.

Urban transport is represented by an extensive network of trams and bus routes, as well as a funicular line on Tomiceva street in historical center city ​​linking the Upper and Lower City. A plan for the construction of the city metro has been developed, the first line is scheduled to open in 2012.

Climate

The climate of Zagreb is continental, there are 4 seasons. The average temperature in winter is 1°C, in summer 20°C. As a rule, May is very hot in Zagreb, especially at the end of the month - the temperature exceeds 30 °C. Snowfalls are common in winter; autumn is usually very rainy.

Story

The first mention of Zagreb dates back to 1094, when the Hungarian king Laszlo I established a bishopric in a settlement on Kaptol Hill. While settlements Hradec and Kaptol, now part of the historical core of the city of Zagreb, were two independent settlements.

In 1242, Zagreb (Hradec) was proclaimed a free royal city by the Golden Bull of the Croatian-Hungarian king Bela IV.

At the beginning of the 17th century, Hradec and Kaptol finally merge into one city, the bishopric of Kaptol is renamed the Archbishopric of Zagreb.

In 1669 the Jesuits founded the first gymnasium and academy. This date is considered the founding date of the University of Zagreb, one of the oldest in Europe. Soon Zagreb becomes the cultural center of the country and one of the most big cities posavian Croatia.

In 1776, meetings of the Croatian royal council (government) were transferred from Varazdin to Zagreb, after which the city actually acquired the status of a capital.

In 1851 Ban Josip Jelačić united Kaptol and Hradec into Zagreb.

During the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the city was called Agram.

On June 25, 1991, the Sabor of the Republic of Croatia declared the independence of Croatia and proclaimed Zagreb its capital.

Demography

Zagreb is the largest city in Croatia and the only one whose population (including suburbs) exceeds 1 million inhabitants, which is more than 20% of the country's population. 1,088,841 people live in the urban agglomeration, the population of the city itself is 779,145 (2001 census data). According to the local police department for 2005, 973,667 people were registered in the city.

The national composition of Zagreb is quite homogeneous: according to the 2001 census, 91.94% of the city's inhabitants were Croats. According to the same data, 40,066 ethnic minorities lived in the city; the largest of them are Serbs (18,811 people, 2.41%), Bosnians (6,204 people, 0.80%), Albanians (3,389 people, 0.43%), Slovenes (3,225 people, 0.41%), Gypsies (1,946 people, 0.25%), Montenegrins (1,131 people, 0.17%) and Macedonians (1,315 people, 0.17%).

The majority of the population (approx. 90%) professes Catholicism, there is also a small Orthodox and Muslim minority.

Economy

A significant part of Croatian industrial enterprises is concentrated in Zagreb (machine-building, textile, chemical-pharmaceutical, woodworking, paper-making, food). The city also represents the nation's largest financial and shopping mall. A significant sector of the city's economy is tourism (about a million tourists visit it every year). The unemployment rate in the city for 2005 was 7.7%.

Zagreb's budget in 2007 was 7.38 billion kunas (35.88 billion rubles) and the average monthly net salary was 6,228 kunas (30,090 rubles). GDP (PPP) in 2004 was $28,261 (771,836 rubles).

Districts of Zagreb

The city of Zagreb consists of 17 districts (Croatian: gradska četvrt):

• Dolny Grad (Donji grad)
• Gornji grad - Medveščak
• Trne (Trnje)
• Maksimir
• Peshchenitsa - Zhitnyak (Peščenica - Žitnjak)
• New Zagreb - East (Novi Zagreb - istok)
• New Zagreb - west (Novi Zagreb - zapad
• Treshnevka - north (Trešnjevka - sjever)
• Treshnevka - south (Trešnjevka - jug)
• Chrnomerec (Črnomerec)
• Hornja Dubrava
• Donja Dubrava
• Stenjevec
• Podsused - Vrapce (Podsused - Vrapce)
• Podsljeme
• Sesvete
• Brezovica (Brezovica)

Education and culture

Zagreb is home to the University (28 faculties), 16 theatres, 22 museums and 31 art Gallery.

The most famous theater in the city is the Croatian National Theater, created in 1895 and located in a magnificent building, which was built in the same year and is rightfully considered one of architectural gems cities. The most famous concert venue is the Vatroslav Lisinsky Concert Hall.

One of the most notable museums in Zagreb is the Mimara Museum. It has more than 3,700 works of art in its collection, from antiquity to the present day. Also notable is the Old Masters Gallery, an art gallery with a large collection of European paintings from the 14th-19th centuries. Klović Palace (Klovićevi dvori) - a gallery in the east Upper City. It houses the collections of many Croatian artists, such as Oscar Herman or Vinka Percic.

Other museums and galleries: Sport

From July 22 to August 5, 2006, Zagreb hosted the 2006 World Shooting Championship. In January-February 2009, the Zagreb Arena, located in Laniste in Novy Zagreb, hosts the 2009 World Handball Championship.

Attractions