Zagreb Tourist Board

Recommendations

2012-02-17T10:46:00.001+01:00

Planetarium at the Technical Museum

If you consider yourself a bona fide star aficionado, and if you wish to get close and personal with the star-studded sky, come to the planetarium at the Technical Museum and avail yourself of the opportunity to observe the vast celestial expanse from different geographical positions, from the Equator to the North Pole, at different times of day or night, and during different seasons.
The planetarium at the Technical Museum was opened in 1965. It has attracted many aficionados of the celestial expanse ever since. Students’ trips include a visit to the planetarium on their itineraries. In the planetarium the image of the star-studded sky, featuring about 5 thousand stars, is simulated by means of a specially designed projection device, mounted in the centre of a circular room whose dome-like ceiling measures eight metres in diameter. This is achieved with the help of 31 optical systems, each projecting the image of one part of the sky onto the dome. The distribution of the artificial stars and their individual sparkle create the visual impression of a star-studded sky as it might appear under ideal conditions. Moreover, special projectors serve to display the Sun, the Moon and its phases, other planets and the Milky Way, as well as some other phenomena emulating their current positions in the real sky. By turning the lens of the projector, it is possible to simulate the (apparent) daily rotation of the starry sky and to show what the sky would look like at different times of night, in any season, from any geographical position.
The planetarium at the Technical Museum has operated without any interruptions since the moment it was opened. So far, over ten thousand space travels have been organized under its roof, as for a long time it was the only planetarium in Croatia. The second was opened and fitted out with digital technology in 2009 as part of the Astronomy Centre in Rijeka.

8th ZagrebDox

2012-02-08T13:54:00.003+01:00

An overview of the most important European documentaries

The eighth edition of ZagrebDox, the biggest international documentary film festival in the region, scheduled to take place between 26th February and 4th March, will certainly attract the attention of numerous Croatian and foreign documentary film aficionados and professional film makers. Over the eight festival days, the audiences will be able to see over 150 documentaries from current international and regional productions. They will be shown in different categories and in different locations in Zagreb.
The competition programme encompasses 50 different titles, 30 in the international competition category and 20 in the regional competition. As in previous years, some of the films have already been awarded at various international festivals such as IDFA, Hot Docs, Dok Leipzig and Sundance. Among them is even one Oscar recipient. According to the traditions of the festival, in addition to the main competition programme, there is also a number of other official programmes, including “Musical Globe”, “Controversial Dox”, “Happy Dox”, “State of Affairs”, and the two which were launched last year, “Masters of Dox” and “Teen Dox”.
“Musical Globe” brings musical stories from all over the world, “Happy Dox” is all about the positively toned documentaries, whereas “Teen Dox” focuses on the teenage population and tries to bring the documentary form closer to them.
“Controversial Dox” includes those films which deal with controversial individuals, social deviations or challenging political issues. The “State of Affairs” programme features such works which document topical and often unknown social issues and thus provide audiences with insight into the state of affairs of modern society. Last but not least, “Masters of Dox” provides audiences with insight into the recent work of world renowned documentary film authors. This year, these will be films by such masters as Werner Herzog, Victor Kossakovski, Kevin Macdonald, Nick Broomfield, Errol Morris, Mojtaba Mirtahmasba and Jafar Panahi.
The concurrent programmes encompass several retrospectives. The first one presents the contemporary Baltic documentaries selected by the Danish film expert Tue Steen Müller, who has included documentaries by Estonian, Lithuanian and Latvian authors. The second retrospective presents the Danish Film School (Den Danske Filmskole) selected by Arne Bro, the head of the DDF documentary film studio. The Mondo film retrospective will showcase documentaries which marked the 60’s of last century when documentaries were exploited for covering sensationalist topics. This year, another retrospective will feature works by Jay Rosenblatt, an internationally renowned and multi award winning independent American film maker with a film opus of over 25 titles and some hundred different awards to his name.
This year, Croatian retrospectives present the work of Fade-In, a production company which has made a significant impact on the development of Croatian documentaries, primarily due to its film activism and a series of very intriguing documentaries, as well as the television series “Direkt”. The author’s evening is dedicated to Tomislav Radić and a selection of some forty documentaries that he made for Television Zagreb during the 70’s of last century.

Valentine's Day in Zrinjevac Park

2012-02-03T10:43:00.001+01:00

Experience Romance!

If you have ever wished to spend Valentine's Day in the romantic atmosphere of a park in Zagreb where you will savour the harmony of sounds, love potions and sweet surprises together with other like-minded people, and then set out on a romantic ride in a horse driven carriage in the embrace of your loved one, Zagreb is your “promised” destination.
Instead of going to see a movie, a theatre play or dancing the night away, head for one of the most romantic of all of Zagreb's parks – Zrinjevac. For the first time ever, it will be the venue of a romantic programme for all those in love. This is yet another event staged by the Zagreb Tourist Board, one which will certainly delight many couples because it will be indeed romantic, unusual and entertaining. Visitors can look forward to a host of surprises, starting from the early morning hours when couples will have an opportunity to partake in art workshops organized by the Croatian Artists' Association.
The overall atmosphere will be enhanced with romantic décor, sweet delights galore, tasty delicacies and love cocktails. There will be a souvenir for every visitor to take away: a licitar heart, the most beautiful token of love and a symbol of Zagreb. Salsa rhythms will rev up the atmosphere even more, and a romantic musical background will be provided in the afternoon hours by three violin players. In the evening, couples will be able to enjoy the rhythms of jazz and dance. We believe that the heady atmosphere in this romantic ambience will inspire many to fall in love all over again, or to renew their wedding wows with the king of rock'n'roll, Elvis. Afterwards, they can go on to spend their mini honeymoon sightseeing Zagreb on a romantic horse-driven carriage or rickshaw ride.
Another attractive programme will be organized for the occasion – a sightseeing city tour entitled “Zagreb in Love”, during which couples will also hear of some of the most romantic stories that have happened in Zagreb. The programme will certainly inspire many to fall in love with the city itself.
When designing the Valentine’s Day in Zrinjevac programme, we also thought of those whose loved ones are far away or who are still waiting for the right one. “The Tree of Love” is where they will be able to deposit their love messages and wishes. If you still do not know what to do and where to go on Valentine’s Day, come to Zagreb. You will certainly not need rose-tinted glasses here – love will absolutely mesmerize you here.

The European Futsal Championship

2012-01-24T11:41:00.000+01:00

Between January 31st and February 11th, the Zagreb Arena and the Spaladium Arena in Split will be hosts of this year’s UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 in which the 12 best European teams will be competing for the throne.

The championship will be officially opened on January 31st at the Spaladium Arena in Split, where group A and group C will be playing, while Zagreb will host the games for group B and D, as well as the competition finals. Along with Croatia, group A also consists of teams from the Czech Republic and Romania. Group B consists of teams from Spain, Slovenia and the Ukraine, group C consists of teams from Italy, Russia and Turkey, while group D consists of teams from Portugal, Serbia and Azerbaijan.

The group stage games as the quarter finals will concurrently take place in Zagreb and Split, one game a day, but on February 7th this sporting event will move exclusively to Zagreb. According to the competition schedule, after the quarter finals games on the 6th and the 7th of February, there will be a day of rest before the semi-finals. The final two games will take place on February 11th starting at 6.30 P.M. and 8 P.M. Since both arenas are fairly spacious, with the Zagreb Arena seating 14,500 spectators, and the Spaladium Arena seating 10,500, and both cities having a great passion for football and futsal, a magnificent atmosphere is expected in the stands. Ticket prices for all games have been divided into three categories, and they can be purchased online at the UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 site, at Tisak Media kiosks or at the box offices at both arenas.

More information and an exact game schedule can be found online at www.futsaleuro2012.hr.

Zagreb Tourist Board

2012-01-02T14:23:00.000+01:00

A new Tourist Information Centre at the main bus station

Towards the end of December, a new Tourist Information Centre, the fourth consecutive one, was opened at yet another important location in the city, its main bus station. Tourist Information Centres run by the Zagreb Tourist Board already exist at Ban Josip Jelačić Square, at the main railway station and at the airport. The fourth and the last one now covers the last important location in the city, one of the hubs with the highest frequency of travellers. The newly opened Tourist Information Centre, covering an area of 70 square metres, is a place where tourists will be able to receive absolutely all information about the city and Croatia as a whole. This is the first, and for the time being the only Tourist Information Centre with an area dedicated to the tourist offer of the entire state, provided with a rich selection of the Croatian National Tourist Board thematic brochures. The Tourist Information Centre will be opened between 8.30 A.M. and 8.30 P.M. on workdays, and between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M. on weekends and bank holidays (except on Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter and All Saints’ Day). The four existing Tourist Information Centres will operate the whole year, whereas the year 2012 will see the opening of a new seasonal tourist centre. The Gate of Zagreb Tourist Information Centre will be set up next to the Lučko toll booth, at the southern entrance into the city, wherefrom modern highways lead to destinations on the Croatian Adriatic Coast.

Klovićevi Dvori Gallery

2011-12-27T13:17:00.000+01:00

The Great Masters of the Renaissance

You can view the representative exhibition “Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese; The Great Masters of Renaissance Beauty” at the Klovicevi Dvori Gallery until 22nd January 2012. These are anthological works of art by the most prominent Italian renaissance painters of the 15th and 16th centuries.
There are a total of 46 oils on canvas and on wooden boards which were painted by Italian masters between 1450 and 1590. The works were commissioned by Croatian clients, mostly representatives of church communities, noblemen, sea merchants and by individuals who studied the humanities. The works were painted by famous painters who at the time were no other than the best craftsmen in their trade, which testifies to the high sensibility of the Croatian Maecenas who quite clearly understood and appreciated the value of their works. At that time Italian painters were the heads of art workshops and their clients came from all over Europe. Their buyers also included representatives from urban centres all over Europe as well as from small local Adriatic communities such as Vrboska on the island of Hvar. Their way of sophisticated urban living did not lag much behind the lifestyle in Venice. Thus, visitors will be able to see exceptionally valuable artwork by great Italian masters all in one place. These pieces are currently the property of churches, monasteries and museums along the entire length of the Croatian Adriatic coast. One of the most interesting among them is certainly Titian's polyptych of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the main altar of the Cathedral of Dubrovnik, as well as his altar pala “Madonna with Child, St. Francis, St. Blaise and benefactor Lujo Gucetic”. At the exhibition visitors will be able to see other anthological works from the famous workshops of Italian renaissance artists, some of which rank among the most beautiful works of Croatian fine art heritage.
The catalogue of the exhibition features a comprehensive description of each painting, including those which were too big to include in the current display.

The City as a Stage

2011-12-01T09:18:00.000+01:00

Treat yourself to Advent in Zagreb

Advent in Zagreb is on. This year it will be marked by a host of new events, more numerous than ever before, which will take place in the squares and streets of the Lower and Upper Towns. There will be something for everybody: entertainment for families with children and for groups of friends. Everybody can look forward to new and interesting events, all in the spirit of Advent in Zagreb, the time when the city exudes a very special holiday atmosphere. Traditional festivities leading up to Christmas started with an exciting cultural and entertainment programme which included the lighting of the first Advent candle on 25th November in the main city square. This will also be the venue of various daily events – programmes by children’s choirs, girls only choirs, mixed and gospel choirs, tamburitza orchestras and other types of concerts and the like.
However, this is just the beginning, because as of this year there will be a new addition to the overall extravaganza: Advent in Zrinjevac, the most beautiful city park, whereas a multimedia 3D Mapping projection to celebrate Advent will take place in front of the Mimara Museum on 2nd December. It will start at 8 P.M. and it will certainly take your breath away. You can look forward to a unique virtual show which will take place on the façade of the Mimara Museum with the support of state-of-the-art technology. After the virtual fairytale is over, all you have to do is let your hair down and enjoy the rhythms of beautiful music with a hot drink in hand before you embark on a free visit of the museum.
The launch of Advent in Zrinjevac has been scheduled for 6 P.M. on 3rd December. The sounds of music will resound every day from the stage of the old Musical Pavilion which was erected in the park back in 1891.
There will be dancing in the open air in Zrinjevac during the period leading up to Christmas, with a well thought out musical programme befitting the most beautiful park in Zagreb, only a stone’s throw from the main city square. To complement the entertainment programmes that await you there, you can also look forward to sampling some of the old and almost forgotten culinary delights typical of Zagreb: pasta with cabbage or baked strukli. There will be hot chocolate and mulled wine to keep your hands warm and a Christmas market with gifts for your dearest, as well as Christmas decorations. Besides in Zrinjevac, festivities will also be organized in Britanski Trg (British Square) with daily concerts, various cultural and culinary programmes, interesting presentations, as well as a New Year’s party featuring a band from Split, TBF.
Besides the new programme at Britanac, which is the square’s pet name, Advent festivities have also been launched at Trg Žrtava Fašizma, as well as in the most colourful street with the most amazing selection of restaurants and bars – Tkalčićeva, located in an exclusively pedestrian zone. From 27th November to 31st December, the street will be reserved for the so-called Advent Tkalčijana featuring excellent street musicians and singers. On Thursdays and Fridays between 5 P.M. and 7.30 P.M. and on Saturdays between 11 A.M. and 1.30 P.M. they will sing Christmas carols, chansons typical of Zagreb, old urban hits and love songs, as well as international evergreens… at different locations along Tkalčićeva Street.
A new winter pop culture festival under the name Gričevanje will be launched at Grič on 9th December and it will continue up until New Year.
During the three weeks of festivities, the Upper Town will be marked by the old legends of Grič witches. Exactly 100 years ago the best known and the first Croatian female author, Marija Jurić Zagorka, depicted them in her famous novel “The Witch of Grič”. All those legends are expected to attract numerous citizens of Zagreb to the Upper Town where they will be warmed up by music, performances, masked entertainment and hellishly good parties which will take place in tents as well as outdoors.
The traditional New Year’s party in the main city square will feature the legendary New Gypsies – the former Gipsy Kings. Fun will continue on the first day of the New Year with a rerun of the New Year’s party in Zrinjevac. Another part of the tradition is a gala New Year’s Folklore Evening for international guests on 1st January, hosted by the City Tourist Board at the City Theatre Komedija. On the same day there will be a special changing of the guards of the ceremonial Kravat Regiment. They will walk along the city streets on the first day of the New Year to delight the citizens of Zagreb and to satisfy the interests of Zagreb’s guests. They will present the military skills of the 17th century Croatian light cavalry regiment. Apart from the courage of its soldiers, the regiment was also known for its uniforms, i.e. the colourful kerchiefs that the soldiers used to tie around their necks, thus providing the male fashion accessory with its present-day name.
This is not the end of the story of all the events tied to the end-of-the-year holidays, because there are too many of them to mention. That is why you should treat yourself to Advent in Zagreb, and enjoy it together with us.
To find out more about Advent in Zagreb events, log onto our website at www.adventzagreb.hr.

Looking ahead to the holidays

2011-11-14T15:23:00.001+01:00

Advent in Zagreb

This year, during the time of the Advent, Zagreb will once again radiate with a special pre-holiday seasonal atmosphere. Numerous events will be taking place on the main city square as well as other squares and streets throughout the city. The traditional pre-holiday event, Advent in Zagreb, will begin on November 27th. Every day thereafter, beginning at 6 p.m. (and from 11 a.m. on weekends) citizens of Zagreb and their numerous guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a diverse cultural and artistic program.
There will be something for everyone: from performances by children’s choirs, girl choirs and gospel choirs; to tamburica orchestras and concerts; as well as various other programs for all generations and tastes, including the announcement of Father Christmas and heaps of fun for all ages. Also, do not forget the Christmas fair, the merry Christmas tram for youngsters, as well as the attractive live nativity scene, which is performed annually by members of the Cenacolo Community in front of the Zagreb cathedral. The project is the result of work by members of the Cenacolo Community, in which the marginalized youth – nowadays active members of the community – have found their purpose in life, whilst also designing a great program for numerous tourists who regularly visit Zagreb during the time of the Advent. However, the story of the Advent in Zagreb does not end there, because there will be numerous other events in various other locations across town, including “Winter at Kvatrić” among others. The Kvaternik Square will also feature everyday programs throughout November, December and January, which are tied to St. Martin’s Day, St. Nicholas’ Day, the Advent, and the New Year.
Numerous tourists are also attracted by the “Christmas Story” in Čazma near Zagreb, on the Salaj family farm, where a special holiday atmosphere is provided by a property that is entirely decorated with hundreds of thousands of lamps, which makes the whole estate look like a fairytale dwelling. As of this year, there will also be some new programs, such as the “Advent at Zrinjevac” and at the Trg Žrtava Fašizma, while the Mimara Museum will be the venue for a Multimedia 3D Mapping projection on December 2nd. Therefore, every day between December 3rd 2011 and January 7th 2012, the stage of the old city pavilion in Zagreb’s most beautiful park, Zrinjevac, will be the venue for music performances: Christmas concerts, waltzes and handpicked music programs for ladies and gentlemen. All visitors at these music events will have the opportunity to enjoy the somewhat-forgotten specialties of Zagreb (such as pasta with cabbage, dressed apple strudel or baked Štrukli), warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine, or buy unique souvenirs and Christmas decorations for their loved ones.
More information about the Advent in Zagreb, which will last until January 17th 2012, can be found online at www.adventzagreb.com.

The Regent Esplanade Zagreb

2011-10-28T11:01:00.000+02:00

The best luxury city hotel in the world

Zagreb’s Regent Esplanade Hotel has been proclaimed best luxury city hotel in the world, and it was awarded the World Luxury Hotel Award 2011: considered to be the pinnacle of business achievement in the hotel industry. The award ceremony, which took place in mid-September and was held in the Emerald Hall of The Regent Esplanade Hotel itself, was attended by representatives of the most luxurious hotels in the world. Awards were presented in 30 different categories, and more than a thousand hotels were nominated.
The Regent Esplanade Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Zagreb. It opened in 1925 to provide luxury accommodation to the passengers of the renowned Orient Express. Since the very beginning, the hotel has offered high standards and the list of noteworthy guests who have stayed there includes numerous royals, politicians, renowned artists, actors, etc.
The hotel was most recently renovated in 2004, when it was given a new luxury makeover as well as a new name: The Regent Esplanade Zagreb. That same year it became part of The Regent International Group and it was also the first Regent Hotel in Europe.

A Cultural Event

2011-10-14T14:23:00.000+02:00

Placido Domingo and the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra at the Arena

On October 21st, the Zagreb Arena will be hosting a concert by Placido Domingo, with the backing by the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. The performance by the globally popular tenor, combined with the best symphony orchestra in Croatia, certainly represents a great cultural event, for which tickets will certainly be in high demand.
Placido Domingo is a renowned performer who has sung the most opera parts in history, a total of 130. Annually he only holds around ten concerts and at his upcoming concert in Zagreb he will perform a special programme, specially selected for the Zagreb audience. The Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra will be conducted by Eugen Kohn, while the famous tenor will also have the backing support of American sopranos, Angel Blue and Micaela Oeste, as well as Croatian singer, Tony Cetinski.
Tickets for this spectacular concert can be purchased online and at all Eventim box-offices.

Professor Balthazar

2011-09-26T11:06:00.002+02:00

The best-known animated character from Zagreb is now on iPhone

Legendary Professor Balthazar, the best known character from the Zagreb School of Animated Film, has recently become the protagonist of an entertaining game for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. In order to take a peek into the magical world of fictional Balthazargrad, one must only download a simple application, which is available at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/balthazar/id454683939?mt=8#. The game, which has been adapted for both children and adults, features nine levels and is available in three languages.
Professor Balthazar is a charming scientist who solves his fellow citizens’ problems with the help of a complicated machine, his imagination and loads of positive energy. He is an aficionado of nature and all living things, a fighter against evil, an ecologist, and advocate of knowledge, tolerance, peace and love. He is funny, imaginative, modest and unobtrusive, accommodating and self-scarifying, and he solves all of the problems of his fellow citizens in a humane and acceptable Balthazar-like way. He is the main character from a series of cult cartoons conceived at the Zagreb School of Animated Film, created between 1968 and 1972. All 59 episodes of this cult animated series can nowadays be found in digital format.
The content and numerous tasks in the game have been conceptualized according to situations familiar to viewers, but since those are older generations, these new virtual adventures of Professor Balthazar give the younger generations an insight into the magical Balthazargrad. Apart from the game, the application also offers additional features such as background images, ringtones etc.

Concert

2011-09-15T10:31:00.002+02:00

Sade at the Arena

On November 22nd, the Zagreb Arena will be the venue for a concert by British band Sade and their charismatic lead vocalist, Sade Adu. They will be holding the concert as part of their current “Once in a Lifetime Tour”, with which they are promoting their sixth studio album “Soldier of Love”.
The band, which is influenced by various music genres including soul, jazz, R&B and soft rock, was named after its lead singer, songwriter, composer and music producer, Sade Adu, who was born in Nigeria. The band’s debut album, “Diamond Life”, was released in 1984 and went platinum; soon thereafter the band gained global fame. In a career spanning over two decades, the band has sold more than fifty million records and their sixth studio album has recently been released, ten years after their previous one.
Tickets for the Sade concert cost between 300 and 450 Kuna. Tickets for the VIP stands cost 540 Kuna, while the VIP booth tickets cost 720 Kuna.

Tkalčijana

2011-08-29T13:09:00.002+02:00

A new entertainment programme in Tkalčićeva Street

In early July, the Zagreb Tourist Board launched a music and entertainment programme, called “Tkalčijana”, which will be taking place in Tkalčićeva Street. This is yet another new tourist programme that is taking place as part of the “Zagreb Time Machine” and, until the end of September, Zagreb’s most popular bar-street – located in the pedestrian zone – will be the lively venue for performances by numerous musicians. The programme will be taking place on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., as well as on Saturdays and Sundays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The programme will feature diverse music genres, from old town songs and “Schlagers”, to swing, jazz and Irish music, and these performances will take place in several locations stretching from the beginning of Tkalčićeva Street, on the corner of Krvavi Most (“The Bloody Bridge”), all the way to its end.
A special attraction of this programme is the “wandering piano”, which will be installed in various points along the street, allowing performers as well as visitors to play on it as they please. Considering the popularity of Tkalčićeva Street, strewn with bars, cafes and boutiques along its entire length, we do not doubt that the programme will attract numerous visitors… Nowadays, Tkalčićeva is one of the liveliest streets in Zagreb, attracting numerous citizens as well as tourists throughout each day; it stretches from the main city square of Ban Josip Jelačić, while its gastronomic and souvenir offer reflects the spirit of old Zagreb. The Society of Naïve Artists of Croatia is also located on that street, while its centre is dominated by a statue of great Croatian writer and first female journalist, Marija Jurić-Zagorka.

Tourist Informers

2011-08-09T10:32:00.004+02:00

Roaming the city streets in new attire

As they roam the squares and streets of Zagreb, Tourist Informers will be easily recognizable by their distinct uniforms, which feature plans of the city on the front as well as on the back, in order to help tourists find their way around Zagreb as quickly and easily as possible.
In 2006, the Zagreb Tourist Board introduced Tourist Informers to the city streets, thus establishing the Croatian capital as one of the first cities in Europe to offer such a service for visitors. There are ten specially-trained and educated Tourist Informers in total and they roam four of the most frequent tourist routes in the city centre each day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. They roam the centre of Zagreb in pairs, and one of them has the letter “i” printed on their uniform, while the other is wearing the uniform with the plans of the city. They offer information to guests in numerous languages, and they will remain on the city streets until the end of October.

Return to the Sixties

2011-08-01T11:05:00.003+02:00

Dance Evenings in Zrinjevac Park

Dance evenings will take place in Zrinjevac Park every Friday between July 1st and September 2nd. This event has been launched by the Zagreb Tourist Board to revive the spirit of Zagreb's dance halls and to demonstrate how people used to socialize and amuse themselves. During the aforementioned period, every Friday between 9.30 P.M. and 10.30 P.M., Zagreb's citizens and their guests will have an opportunity to enjoy the music of the sixties performed by well-known musicians, and swirl to the rhythms of dance music. Popular Croatian musicians, Walter Neugebauer and Miro Ungar, have been lined up to kick off the event on July 1st.
Dance evenings in Zrinjevac Park are part of another larger project, the Zagreb Time Machine, which was launched by the Tourist Board a few years ago. Within the framework of that project, every Saturday between 11 A.M. and 1 P.M., the pavilion in Zrinjevac is the venue for promenade concerts. Meanwhile, the traditional customs of Zagreb and its surrounding areas are conjured up in the heart of the city, on the stretch between Dolac Market and Ban Josip Jelačić Square. On weekend mornings, visitors of the Upper Town are entertained by the street musicians who play old love songs, and during late-afternoons they can take a leisurely stroll in the company of costume-clad characters from Zagreb's past.
Additionally, every Saturday and Sunday at noon, St. Mark's Square is the stage for the changing of the Guard of Honour of the Cravat Regiment, whose soldiers introduced the cravat (or tie) into European fashion back in the 17th century. With so much going on, it is not surprising that Zagreb has been dubbed a big urban stage.

Museum of Arts and Crafts

2011-07-26T10:12:00.000+02:00

The Art Deco Exhibition attracts great interest

Due to the great interest of visitors, the exhibition “Art Deco and Art in Croatia Between the Two Wars” at the Museum of Arts and Crafts has been extended until the end of August. The exhibition opened in late-January and it was viewed by numerous visitors during the first three-month period. The exhibition features some 750 works by eminent Croatian artists who produced works during the period between the two world wars. Aside from paintings, sculptures and examples of applied arts, there are also works by artists who left a mark on the development of Croatian architecture and industrial design, as well as visual arts, music and dance. The displays have already attracted the attention of visitors from all over Croatia as well as abroad. Moreover, global media have proclaimed the Art Deco exhibition to be a top-class cultural event in Zagreb; the French daily newspaper, Le Figaro, even recommended it to its citizens as a must-see.
In addition to the exhibit area, for which high-quality printed and audio-visual materials have been prepared, the Art Deco exhibition also features various concurrent events. On Wednesdays, there are specialist lectures related to Art Deco, while “long” Thursdays (when the museum is open until 10 p.m.) feature live music performances dedicated to cabaret. Furthermore, at the weekends there are hands-on workshops for families and children, and there is also a diverse selection of souvenirs available for tourists. In cooperation with the Fajn Association of Jewellery Artists, there is also a sales exhibition of unique jewellery made by top-class goldsmiths who were inspired by particular exhibits on display at the Art Deco exhibition.

The Amadeo Stage 2011

2011-07-13T13:20:00.000+02:00

A diverse programme of theatre and concerts

This year the Amadeo Stage has once again prepared a diverse programme of theatre events and concerts, which will ensue throughout the summer in the attractive atrium of the Croatian Natural History Museum in the Upper Town. This year is the twelfth edition of the event, which features, on average, some sixty plays and concerts of classical, jazz and ethno music, performed by renowned artists from Croatia as well as abroad.
This year’s edition will take place until July 31st and will continue, after a short break, on August 13th until September 3rd. Part of the attraction of this event is the venue – the atrium of the Croatian Natural History Museum – the architecture and acoustics of which are perfect for hosting theatre plays and concerts. The centre of the atrium, fully renovated by the Amadeo Stage in 2003, is dominated by a “stone-map” of Croatia, consisting of 2500 stone plaques gathered from all over the country. The atrium is tiled with characteristic Croatian stone, while the courtyard contains a unique geological post. Based on the idea of the famous Croatian pianist, Ivo Pogorelić, the atrium also features floor and wall lighting, which was strategically placed according to the needs of both the museum and the Amadeo Stage.
Over the past eleven years, 589 plays, concerts and film projections, as well as numerous exhibitions have taken place within the framework of this event. Plays for adults as well as children begin at 10 a.m. each day, weather permitting.

25th Eurokaz

2011-07-04T10:38:00.002+02:00

The most respectable theatre festival in this region of Europe

The 25th Eurokaz, which is one of the most respectable festivals of new theatre in this region of Europe, will be taking place until July 5th; this is the final chance to attend one of the remaining shows. The festival is taking place at several locations throughout the city, including the attractive Museum of Contemporary Art, Avenue Mall, the Academy of Dramatic Art, the Zagreb Dance Centre, the Croatian National Theatre, the Zagreb Youth Theatre, and the International Centre for Cultural Services Travno.
This Silver Jubilee edition of the Eurokaz Festival opened on June 28th with an interpretation of “Saloma” by Miroslav Krleža, in the unusual ambiance of the Avenue Mall. However, the best treats are yet to come; for instance, the play “Company – Vertical Road” by one of the most significant contemporary choreographers, Akram Khan, will be performed at the Croatian National Theatre on July 1st. There will also be a presentation by the great African choreographer of contemporary dance, Faustin Linyekulu, with his play “Studios Kabako – more more more … future”. The play will be taking place on the 2nd and the 3rd of July at the Zagreb Dance Centre, and visitors will also have the opportunity to meet and chat with the renowned choreographer after his performances.
Almost every day beginning at 5 p.m., the Academy of Dramatic Arts will feature projections of films and videos by Christoph Maria Schlingensief (Church of Fear - Eine Kirche der Angst vor dem Fremden in mir, Mea culpa …)
The final two days of the festival, July 4th and 5th, are reserved for the play “Vivarium Studio – Big Bang”, as well as a subsequent meet and greet with the great upcoming French director, Philippe Quesne, at the Zagreb Youth Theatre.
Eurokaz Festival takes place in Zagreb every year during the second half of June; it has thus far featured numerous artists and theatre troupes from all over the world, which makes it one of the most significant theatre events in this region of Europe. Although it is renowned as a festival of theatre or, better yet, – new theatre – it has never been really limited in terms of genre. This event regularly features theatre, dance, performance and other similar arts, while parts of the programme are often dedicated to themes that deal with important theatre phenomena such as iconoclastic theatre, post-mainstream, body-art, new dramaturgy, vertical multiculturalism, new circus, theatre conservatism, theatre of intimacy, new forms of political theatre and many others. Occasionally the themes reflect the theatre and dance situation of some interesting geographical areas in terms of theatre, such as: the New Italian Theatre; Contemporary Dance in Africa, Latin America and Japan; Traditional Asian Theatre; A New Generation of French Directors; and the Technological Theatre of the American West Coast, etc.

The 2nd international blues festival

2011-06-10T09:36:00.000+02:00

Big Daddy Wilson and Charlie Musselwhite in Zagreb

Despite the fact that blues already has deep roots within Croatian borders, Zagreb only got its first international blues festival last year; a spectacular premiere notwithstanding, this year’s edition will bring even greater challenges. The festival will take place between the 9th and the 12th of June, and the main stars will be the undisputed blues greats: American singer, Big Daddy Willson; and one of the greatest harmonica masters, Charlie Musselwhite.

Big Daddy Wilson and trio, who will perform on June 10th at the Student Centre, will certainly be a treat for numerous blues fans in Zagreb. His expressive “black” voice, and even greater songs, will be appreciated by anyone who understands blues and soul. He is a top-class musician who was born 50 years ago in the American state of North Carolina. At the age of 16, he came to Germany as an American soldier and that is where he still lives today. He has recorded a total of seven albums, the last of which, “Love is the Key”, was released by the renowned blues production house “Ruff Records”.

The second renowned name of this new festival is the top-class harmonica master, Charlie Musselwhite, whose performance audiences can enjoy on June 11th. His famous vocals, the rich sound of melodic harmonica, and a deep country-blues guitar resonance have influenced numerous unforgettable songs over the past several decades. In his prolific career he released more than 30 albums with countless hits, he has been nominated for a Grammy six times, and received the prestigious Blues Music award 24 times. He draws his music roots of essential blues from the areas where he spent his youth. He was born in Mississippi, grew up in Memphis, and was schooled in Chicago’s South Side; all of these locations influenced his music preference. Over time, however, he opened his music expression to include other music genres such as country and city blues, as well as gospel and rockabilly, which has undeniably influenced the creation of the recognizable sound that the Zagreb audience will now have an opportunity to enjoy.

Cest is d’Best Everyone to Zagreb, everyone to the streets!

2011-05-31T10:37:00.003+02:00

If you find yourself in Zagreb between the 8th and the 12th of June, do not be surprised by a circus-like atmosphere ensuing downtown. It is the festival of joy and laughter, trumpeters and jugglers, the young and the old… In one word, it is Cest is d'best! During the festival, the entire city centre will be marked by festival elation and, as in previous years, at least 300 performers from all over the world are expected to attend and entertain an expected average of 50,000 visitors. Apart from professional artistic troupes, oftentimes the passers-by involve themselves in the diverse festival programme, which literally includes all types of performances.
It is impossible to remain a passive bystander, so the audience often happily sings along, spins a hula-hoop, or attempts juggling… Someone will dance, others sing, while someone else runs, but one thing is always certain – the goal of the festival is always fulfilled. All-day entertainment in the open air, hanging out with people from all over the world and, finally, promoting Zagreb as a city that pushes the boundaries of an ordinary tourist destination, at least for a few days. Not only does the festival breathe life into the city streets and squares, but it also completely erases the boundaries between the mainstream forms of culture and alternative ones, and it brings all generations and nationalities together.
Do not miss out on the chance to participate in this most playful event in Zagreb, which is being organized for the 15th year in a row now by the best known street performers, The Street Kings.

Zagreb Foam Fest

2011-05-23T09:28:00.003+02:00

Dance along with DJ David Morales

DJ David Morales is once again visiting Zagreb. His performance has been announced as part of the premiere edition of the newest festival of club music in Zagreb – the 1st Zagreb Foam Fest 2011 – which will take place at the Zagreb Arena on May 28th. The festival will feature numerous names from the domestic as well as international DJ scene; however David Morales, already well-known to the Zagreb audience, is certainly the biggest surprise and will be the star of the newest party festival in Zagreb.

Although he has performed in Croatia many times before, there will certainly be a lot of interest among the fans, especially because many other DJs will perform alongside him. The organizers are still keeping their names secret, but a star like David Morales will not be easily overshadowed. After all, he is a musician who has had the reputation of being one of the greatest stars of electronic music for many years now, while audiences (as well as the media) often refer to him as the ‘godfather’ of house music.

He began his career in the late 1970s and became a globally renowned icon with the emergence of the dance revolution in the 1990s. While recording with numerous stars – such as Mariah Carey, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Björk and U2 – he created and remixed his greatest hits: “Needin’ U”, “Mr Loverman”, “Dream on Dreamer”, and one of his greatest productions, recorded with Jody Watley, “I’m The One You Need”.

Morales will certainly be the biggest star of the upcoming festival, but visitors will also find many other surprises in store. Tickets can be purchased at all Eventim box offices in Croatia and abroad at a price of 230 Kuna.

On the streets of Zagreb

2011-05-18T09:07:00.002+02:00

The KravataArt Event

During the months of May and June, painted art installations of monumental ties will be mounted in four prominent squares throughout Zagreb as well as at Pleso Airport. These installations are part of the art event KravataArt, which has been jointly organized by the Zagreb Tourist Board and the Academia Cravatica Institute. The mounting of these installations in public spaces, as part of the more general project entitled “Zagreb – the Capital of the Cravat”, is a way to symbolically convey the message of the Croatian origins of the tie or cravat. During the 17th century, Croatian soldiers were first spotted wearing this modern fashion accessory. While serving in the then-French Army, they were famous not only for their bravery but also for the way they tied scarves around their necks. They even gave the name the “Royal Cravates” to a special regiment that was established in 1667.

The cravat, or tie, installations have been designed by sculptor Petar Ujević; they vary in size from four to five metres and the first one has already been installed at Zagreb's Airport. Painter Matko Vekić was commissioned to illustrate the installation once it was mounted at its designated place. The remaining four installations of monumental ties – which will promote Zagreb as a city synonymous with culture, hospitality and charm – will be mounted over the next two months. Zagreb's citizens and guests will be able to enjoy them until the end of the year.

A Marketing Award Arrives from Beijing

2011-05-16T12:03:00.000+02:00

At the China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market Fair, which was held during mid-April in Beijing, the Zagreb Tourist Board received a prestigious Chinese Tourists Welcoming Award – CTW 2011, a bronze medal in the marketing category. Amidst fierce competition, the Zagreb Tourist Board won an award in one of the seven different categories: Marketing, Product Innovation, Internet/Media, Service Quality, Social Media Marketing, Retail, and Overall Performance in the Chinese Market. The recognitions were awarded by the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI), which is based in Germany. PhD Amelia Tomašević received the award in Beijing, on behalf of the Zagreb Tourist Board, from the Director of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt.

The Zagreb Tourist Board is very active in the Chinese market; ten years ago, it published the first Chinese language brochure. Moreover, in cooperation with Chinese citizens, who either reside in Zagreb or have visited in the past, the Tourist Board has released several short films regarding the way they see Zagreb, and the aspects of the city that they like the best. At the Tourist Board’s initiative, Zagreb now has its first licensed Chinese speaking tour guide. At the recent International Tourism Trade Fair CroTour, which was held at the grounds of the Zagreb Fair, a seminar with lecturers from China was organized for Zagreb's travel agents and hoteliers.

The Middle Ages on the main square

2011-05-06T19:26:00.000+02:00

When the Middle Ages return to the main square it means it is time for yet another exciting St. Mark’s Fair: a festival of ancient trades and produce, food and drink, music, knights games, and costumed characters. This year the fair will take place between the 18th and the 22nd of May so, if you come to Zagreb during this period, do not be surprised if you find yourself coming across numerous costumed knights, noblemen and their ladies, pickpockets, rope-makers, alchemists, blacksmiths, armourers, falconers… each plays a role without which this recreation of the past would not be complete.

The fair was conceived as a return to the Middle Ages, so everything is dedicated to the image that contemporary generations can see only in films. Each of the costumed characters will gladly talk to anyone, demonstrate their knowledge and skills, and convey the past with romantic stories and anecdotes. In the meantime, the craftsmen will be making ancient souvenirs, and should you find yourself amidst a chaotic crowd, do not be alarmed: it is all part of the stage show.

Every year the fair gathers a large number of tradesmen who sell their traditional goods at promotional prices, so every tourist will have an opportunity to take home a piece of Zagreb’s past. If anyone thinks they may go hungry, do not worry, there will be numerous local delicacies on offer. Moreover, there will also be treats from other cities such as Koprivnica, where many tradesmen also attend the local, annual Renaissance Fair in September. Organizers of this fair are the renowned street musicians from Zagreb, The Street Kings, as well as the Zagreb and Koprivnica Tourist Boards.

A diverse offer in one city brochure

2011-05-02T09:06:00.000+02:00

In the beginning March, Atlas tourist agency (operating under adriatica.net Group), published its new brochure, “Zagreb”. It presents the Croatian capital as a cultural and culinary tourist destination suitable for an extended stay. Zagreb had been considered a must-see Croatian destination as part of the European city break tours even before the brochure, but now everything that the city has to offer can be found in one place. The brochure consists of 56 pages and it has been published in five languages: English, German, Spanish, French and Croatian.

The basic information in the first part of the brochure reveals various opportunities for entertainment over a several-day stay in the city. It includes a complete list of landmarks, museums, galleries and art collections, selected hotels, restaurants, meetings and events, opportunities for shopping, sports, health tourism, and excursions to the surrounding countryside. In such a way, tourists will receive all of the interesting information, but also suggestions about all of the other relevant programmes; for example, the Zagreb City Break, Zagreb Wine and Gastro, Zagreb’s parks, Contemporary Art, Zagreb and its surroundings in the Middle Ages, and many others.

Zagreb city break is a three-day programme that, among other things, offers a diverse choice with a variety of at least 50 different programmes . Zagreb Wine & Gastro is a four-day programme in the city centre or the pleasant ambiance of the Medvednica foothills, which includes enjoying an extensive sampling of the exquisite local gastronomic scene. The programme also includes a visit to the Wine Academy as well as an excursion to a nearby wine-road of Plešivica. Those who do not know much about wine will, therefore, have an opportunity to learn a thing or two about viticulture . The original offer of Zagreb includes programmes that consist of educational walks through the city parks, or visiting contemporary art galleries, museums and other hidden places in which Zagreb’s artists used to, and still do, work. There is also the attractive programme on Zagreb and its surroundings in the Middle Ages, as well as one intended for food lovers – a weekend cooking school. Through forgotten recipes, tourists can have a hands-on experience of the famous Zagreb tradition of buying fresh ingredients at the markets, and then using them to make delicious specialties.

This is but a small part of the entire tourist offering, so we suggest you get the brochure and start exploring the original Zagreb. Do not forget that Zagreb really is a global hit this year, as testified by the numerous praises of global media, as well as prestigious recognition from tourist professionals, and statistical data depicting the increase of guest visits this year.

The Medvednica Nature Park

2011-04-26T15:31:00.001+02:00

A million visitors per year

The Medvednica Nature Park is one of the most popular nature parks in Croatia – it is visited by a million people each year. The park soars above Zagreb, but its forests spill down to the very city centre; it abounds with diverse flora and fauna, including many endemic species. The park also contains the only preserved medieval mine in Europe, Zrinski, which dates from the 16th century. The former silver mine has been adapted for visitors, and it is one of the features of the tourism project called “Medieval Days at Medvednica”. This popular event attracts numerous visitors who can actively participate in reinvigorating the spirit of medieval times and chivalry.

Aside from Veternica cave, which was protected in 1979 as a geomorphologic monument of nature, the Medvednica Nature Park also contains numerous bicycle paths, and educational walking trails. Religious visitors can traverse the Marian pilgrimage path, while the Bliznec forest trail is intended for disabled visitors. The nature park also features various ecology workshops, the newest of which is “Little nature preservers”, organized and headed by specialists in the field. The workshop is designed to educate children about the rules of conduct and orientation in nature, with the help of a map and compass, as well as about the protected landscape itself. The workshop includes fieldwork, which consists of searching for and learning about the amphibians and reptiles that can be found in the area of Medvednica Nature Park, as well as research work and a presentation of a final group project.

The duration of the workshop is four hours and, during its course, parents of the enrolled children may relax and drink coffee with friends, or simply enjoy the beautiful natural environment.

Welcome to Zagreb

2011-04-18T13:40:00.000+02:00

When the Croatian people achieved their independence in 1991, Zagreb became a capital - a political and administrative centre for the Republic of Croatia. Zagreb is also the hub of the business, academic, cultural, artistic and sporting worlds in Croatia. Many famed scientists, artists and athletes come from the city, or work in it. Zagreb can offer its visitors the Baroque atmosphere of the Upper Town, picturesque open-air markets, diverse shopping facilities, an abundant selection of crafts and a choice vernacular cuisine. Zagreb is a city of green parks and walks, with many places to visit in the beautiful surroundings. The city will enter into the third millennium with a population of one million. In spite of the rapid development of the economy and transportation, it has retained its charm, and a relaxed feeling that makes it a genuinely human city.

Facts and Figures

Location:
northern Croatia, on the Sava River, 170 km from the Adriatic Sea
45° 10' N, 15° 30' E
situated 122 m above sea level

Time:
Central-european time (GMT+1)
Climate and Weather:
continental climate
average summer temperature: 20° C
average winter temperature: 1° C
current forecast
Population:779,145 (2001)
Surface area:
650 sq. km.

Institutions:
The University
19 theatres
24 museums
65 galleries and art collections