Zagreb

Zagreb, the capital since 1557, is finally coming into its own as an intriguing combination of Eastern and Western Europe. The sober Austro-Hungarian architecture in the town centre houses newly opened boutiques displaying the latest fashions from France and Italy.

The twin neo-Gothic spires of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (formerly St Stephen’s Cathedral) were built in 1899, but you can still see elements of the medieval cathedral that was once on this site. Particularly interesting are the 13th century frescos, Renaissance pews, marble altars and a baroque pulpit. North-west of the city centre, climb the Lotrscak Tower for a sweeping 360° view of the city, or visit the Galerija Klovicevi Dvori, which hosts superb art shows. Also in the area is St Mark’s Church, with its colourful painted-tile roof and sculptures by Ivan Mestrovic, and the Natural History Museum, Historical Museum of Croatia and the City Museum, housed in a former convent.

In the Lower Town you can wear down your shoes and your attention span at a whole host of museums, although many remain closed, some for ‘reinterpretation’. The Art Pavilion hosts temporary contemporary art exhibitions, the Strossmayer Gallery features paintings by the old masters and an ancient inscription in Croatian. The Archaeological Museum, like its contemporaries around the world, has exhibitions of prehistoric and medieval artefacts and Egyptian mummies. Out the back there’s a Roman sculpture garden.

Before you get a gutful of museums, head to the west of the city where you’ll find the Museum Mimara. This is one of the finest art galleries in Europe. Housed in a neo-Renaissance building, the gallery is the private collection of Ante Topic Mimara, who donated thousands of priceless objects to his home town. The Spanish, Italian and Dutch paintings are the highlight, but there are also displays of glassware, sculpture and Oriental art. The other real highlight of Zagreb is Mirogoj, one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe - it’s in the north of the city. There are some gorgeous mausoleums here, and the English-style landscaping is enclosed by a long 19th century neo-Renaissance arcade.

Facts for the Traveler

Visas: Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, the USA and most continental European countries can enter Croatia for stays of up to 90 days without a visa. However, visitors must hold a return/onward ticket, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1 (Central European Time)
Dialling Code: 385
Electricity: 220-240V ,50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric

When to Go

May to September are the best months to visit Croatia weather-wise, though July and August can be busy along the Adriatic coast. September is probably the optimum month since by then the crowds have thinned out, off-season rates apply and fruits such as figs and grapes are abundant. In April and October it may be too cool for camping, but the weather is usually fine along the coast and private rooms are plentiful and inexpensive. You can swim in the sea from mid-June to late September.

Capital

Zagreb county - ZagrebaÄ?ka županija is a county in central Croatia.

Named after the city of Zagreb, this county is very historic: its center, the city of Samobor has existed since 1242, and was one of the first tourist resorts in the region. Its population is 309,696 inhabitants (2001), and it’s mostly considered as a metropolitan area of Zagreb.

Today the county is developing along with the nation’s capital. Several towns, once villages, such as ZapreÅ¡ić, Velika Gorica or Sesvete (which is administratively part of the city now), are latching onto Zagreb’s nearby industrial zones and becoming larger than some of the centers of other counties. The outer rim contains recreational facilities for the residents of Zagreb.

The Zagreb county borders on the Krapina-Zagorje county, the city of Zagreb and Varaždin county in the north, Bjelovar-Bilogora county in the east, Sisak-Moslavina county in the south and Karlovac county in the southwest.

Zagreb is the capital and a center of arts and culture with its numerous museums and galleries hosting world-renowned exhibits and festivals. The “Successful Meetings Magazine” listed Zagreb as one of the Top 10 international destinations for conventions and meetings, and Conde Nast Traveler also listed Zagreb as one of Europe’s 10 “reborn cities.” Besides its history and culture, Zagreb offers meeting and convention venues and accommodations in world-class hotels like the Sheraton, Opera, Esplanade, the Arcotel Allegra, and others.