Zagreb

Zagreb is capital of Croatia, but not as much popular with tourists as the coast of the country. We stopped here on the way to the sea and walked half a day in the city center .

Main tourist attractions are located around the historic center. It is small and 4 hours were enough for us to get around. Tourists usually start from the central square of Ban Jelacic. The square is used mostly as a meeting place for residents and as a tram intersection (panorama). All buildings built in different styles and because of that integrity is lost. Most of all we remembered pigeons.

200 meters to the west of the central square is a funicular (information) which connects the upper and lower town.


At the top station has an observation deck. The view is not very picturesque.


In the Upper Town (Gornji Grad) we strolled around St. Mark's Square. The most interesting sight is St. Mark's church. It was build in 1242 and it is quite unique. There is a mosaic with Emblems of Croatia, Slavonia, Dalmatia and Zagreb on the roof. Looks amazing.


Opposite the church there are several buildings that formerly served as the city hall. There are commemorative plaque of Nikola Tesla on the house with flags. It contains text: "As a son of this country I consider it is my duty to help the city of Zagreb in every way, either through counsel or action". In 1892, Tesla offered to make an electric lighting in the city and hydroelectric power plant on the Plitvice Lakes. Fortunately, the city authorities built it elsewhere.


In 2008 Croatia was actively preparing to join the EU, so there many flags on the streets.


We went in the direction of Zagreb cathedral and passed through the oldest surviving building of the city - Stone Gate (Kamenita vrata), which were built in the early 13th century.


Zagreb cathedral is located few hundred meters to the north of the central square. This huge Catholic cathedral was started in 1093. At the end of the XV century, the Ottoman Empire invaded Bosnia and Croatia and as a result many cities began to build fortifications. Some of the walls around the catherdral survived until our days. In 1880 it was severely damaged by a strong earthquake, but later the neo-Gothic appearance of the building has been restored and the two 105 m towers rebuilt.


Cathedral looks impressive






On the next map you can see a few walking routes around Zagreb. The walk consists of two parts: in the old town and in park area.




Useful links:
Tram traffic map and schedule (day and night)
Bus traffic map and schedule (day and night)
http://www.zagreb-airport.hr - airport
On the bottom of this page you can download a PDF map of the tourist bus traffic.

Getting there: There is an airport in Zagreb. City is reachable from it by bus ($5.5, schedule). The train station is in 10-minute walk from the city center. Bus station a little further. Both stations are seen on the first map above.