Zagreb

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Grad Zagreb City of Zagreb
photo: Zagreb city center
General Information
State Capital:	Zagreb
Country:	Croatia
Croatian name:	Grad Zagreb
Licence plate code:	ZG
Area code:	01
Postal code:	10000
Website:	http://www.zagreb.hr
Nickname:	beli Zagreb grad ("the white city of Zagreb")
Flag
Coat of Arms
Map: Zagreb in Croatia
Politics
Mayor and governor	Milan Bandić (SDP)
Governing Party	SDP
Population
Population:	779,145[1] (2001) 1.1 million[2] in metro
Population density:	1,216/km²
Geography
Area:	641.355 km²
Location:	45°48' - 45°49' n. Br. 15°57' - 15°58' ö. L.
Dimensions:	North-South: 16.6 km East-West: 28.2 km
Highest Point:	1,030 m (Sljeme)
Lowest Point:	120 m

Zagreb (pronounced [ˈzɑː.greb]) is the capital and the largest city of Croatia. Zagreb is the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental center of the Republic of Croatia. The city's population in 2001 was 779,145.^[1] (1,088,841 in the metro area).^[2] It is situated between the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountains and the northern bank of the Sava river at an elevation of 120 m above sea level, located at 45°48′N, 15°58′E.

Its favourable geographic position in the southwestern part of the Pannonian Basin, which extends to the Alpine, Dinaric, Adriatic and Pannonic regions, provides an excellent connection for traffic between Central Europe and the Adriatic Sea.

The transport connections, concentration of industry, scientific and research institutions and industrial tradition underlie its leading economic position in Croatia. Zagreb is the seat of the central government, administrative bodies and almost all government ministries.

Contents 1 Population 2 Climate 3 Origin of name 4 History 4.1 Early Zagreb 4.2 17th and 18th century 4.3 19th to early 20th century 4.4 Modern Zagreb 5 Economy 5.1 High-rise buildings 5.1.1 See also 6 Metropolitan administration 6.1 City districts 6.2 City government 7 Transport 7.1 Roads 7.2 Public transportation 7.2.1 Metro 7.3 Air traffic 8 Education 8.1 Zagreb Classical Gymnasium 8.2 University 9 Museums 9.1 Archeological Museum 9.2 Croatian Natural History Museum 9.3 Technical Museum 9.4 Museum of the City of Zagreb 9.5 Arts and Crafts Museum 9.6 Ethnographic Museum 9.7 Mimara Museum 9.8 Croatian Naive Art Museum 9.9 Museum of Contemporary Art 9.10 Other museums and galleries 10 Other cultural sites and events 11 Surroundings 12 Tourism 12.1 Souvenirs and gastronomy 13 Recreation and sports 14 Sister cities 15 See also 16 Notes and references 17 External links

[edit] Population

See also: Demographics of Zagreb

Zagreb is the largest city in Croatia, and is the only Croatian city whose metropolitan population exceeds one million people. There are 1,088,841 people in the Zagreb metropolitan area, which includes the smaller cities of Samobor, Velika Gorica and Zaprešić. The official census states that the population of Zagreb itself is 779,145. According to the police department, which bases its information on the number of the applicants who wish to register to vote in Zagreb, the city had a population of 973,667.^{[citation needed]} The majority of its citizens are Croats making up 91.94% of the city's population (2001 census). The same census records 40,066 residents belonging to ethnic minorities. Such ethnic minorities comprise: 18,811 Serbs (2.41%), 6,204 Bosniaks (0.80%), 4,030 Muslims by nationality (0.52%), 3,389 Albanians (0.43%), 3,225 Slovenians (0.41%), 1,946 Roma (0.25%), 1,131 Montenegrins (0.17%), 1,315 Macedonians (0.17%), together with other smaller minor ethnic communities.^[3]

[edit] Climate

The climate of Zagreb is continental, with four separate seasons. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cold. The average temperature in winter is 1°C (34°F) and the average temperature in summer is 20°C (68°F). The end of May, particularly, gets very warm, with temperatures rising above 30°C (86°F). Snowfall is common in the winter months, from December to March, and rain and fog are common in autumn (October to December).^[4]

Climate Table

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rainfall (mm)	52	48	56	68	83	95	79	79	79	93	86	67
Rainfall (Inches)	2.1	1.9	2.2	2.7	3.3	3.7	3.1	3.1	3.1	3.7	3.4	2.6
Min. Temp (°C)	-3	-3	1	5	9	13	14	14	11	6	2	-1
Max. Temp (°C)	3	5	11	15	20	23	25	25	22	15	8	3
Min. Temp (°F)	25	27	34	41	48	55	58	57	51	43	35	29
Max. Temp (°F)	37	41	52	58	68	74	78	77	71	59	47	38

[edit] Origin of name

See also: Names of European cities in different languages

The modern name Zagreb likely comes from the Croatian word "zagrabiti", which cannot exactly be translated into English directly; its meaning could best be expressed by saying, "to take from something with a hand or with an object". There are several legends about the origins of the name of Zagreb. According to one legend, a lady was thirsty and she took water from a lake (now the fountain) Manduševac in Zagreb. While she was taking the water, other people shouted, "Zagreb Mando, zagreb!" which means, "Take it, Manda, take it!". Another legend says that a Croatian ban (viceroy) was moving with his army through a deserted region and the soldiers were struck by thirst. In his anger, the ban thrust his sabre into the ground, at which point water began to pour out, and he ordered the soldiers to scrape the soil, or zagreb in Croatian, in order to get to the water.

The verb zagreb in the sense of digging is also believed to have something to do with the name of the city as the city lay behind a water-filled hole (graba). This theory is supported by some scientists.

There is also an interesting theory that Zagreb may mean a place behind a hill ("za breg"), i.e. behind the Sava river's bank, and then the name just changed into Zagreb. This theory is supported by the fact that Sava had once flowed nearer to the centre of the city. At today's Ban Jelačić square in the very centre of Zagreb, pieces of what was once a wooden boat have been unearthed.

Some scientists believe that the name Zagreb is not of Slavonic origin, just as the name Croat is believed not to be of that origin. However, if the name does derive from Slavonic origins, then possibly the most acceptable explanation is the city za grebom, i.e. "behind the tomb". The tomb could be the one in Držićeva Avenue or one of many other still undiscovered tombs near Grič or Kaptol.

The German name is Agram.

[edit] History

Main article: History of Zagreb

See also: History of Croatia

[edit] Early Zagreb

The history of Zagreb dates as far back as 1094 when the Hungarian King Ladislaus founded a diocese. Alongside the bishop's see the canonical settlement Kaptol developed north of the Cathedral, as did the fortified settlement Gradec on the neighbouring hill. Today the latter is Zagreb's Upper Town (Gornji Grad) and is one of the best preserved urban nuclei in Croatia. Both settlements came under Tatar attack in 1242. As a sign of gratitude for offering him a safe haven from the Tatar the Croatian and Hungarian King Bela IV bestowed Gradec with a Golden Bull, which offered its citizens exemption from county rule and autonomy, as well as its own judicial system. According to legend, Bela left Gradec a cannon, under the condition that it be fired every day so that it did not rust. Since 1 January 1877 the cannon is fired from the Lotrščak Tower on Grič to mark midday.

The main square of the Gornji Grad is dominated by the Gothic church of St. Mark's. It was built at the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century and a late Baroque bell tower was added later.

Fighting ensued between the Zagreb diocese and the free sovereign town of Gradec for land and mills. Sometimes also for political reasons. The term Zagreb was used for these two separate boroughs in the 16th century. Zagreb was then seen as the political centre and the capital of Croatia and Slavonia. In 1850 the town was united under its first mayor - Josip Kaufman.^[5]

[edit] 17th and 18th century

It was not until the 17th century and Nikola Frankopan that Zagreb was chosen as the seat of the Croatian viceroys in 1621. At the invitation of the Croatian Parliament the Jesuits came to Zagreb and built the first grammar school, the St. Catherine's Church and monastery. In 1669 they founded an academy where philosophy, theology and law were taught.

During the 17th and 18th centuries Zagreb was badly devastated by fire and the plague. In 1776 the royal council (government) moved from Varaždin to Zagreb and during the reign of Joseph II Zagreb became the headquarters of the Varaždin and Karlovac general command.^[6]

[edit] 19th to early 20th century

In the 19th century Zagreb was the centre of the Croatian National Revival and saw the erection of important cultural and historic institutions.

The first railway line to connect Zagreb with Zidani Most and Sisak was opened in 1862 and in 1863 Zagreb received a gasworks. The Zagreb waterworks was opened in 1878 and the first horse-drawn tramcar was used in 1891. The construction of the railway lines enabled the old suburbs to merge gradually into Donji Grad, characterized by a regular block pattern that prevails in Central European cities. This bustling core hosts many imposing buildings, monuments, and parks as well as a multitude of museums, theatres and cinemas. An electric power plant was erected in 1907 and development flourished 1880-1914 after the earthquake in Zagreb when the town received the characteristic layout it has today.

Working class quarters emerged between the railway and the Sava, whereas the construction of residential quarters on the hills of the southern slopes of Medvednica was completed between the two World Wars.

From 1921 - 1931 the population of Zagreb went up by 70 percent — the largest demographic boom in the history of Zagreb. In 1926 the first radio station in the region began broadcasting out of Zagreb, and in 1947 the Zagreb Fair was opened.^[7]

[edit] Modern Zagreb

The area between the railway and the Sava river witnessed a new construction boom after World War II. After the mid-1950s, construction of new residential areas south of the Sava river began, resulting in Novi Zagreb (New Zagreb). The city also expanded westward and eastward, incorporating Dubrava, Podsused, Jarun, Blato, and other settlements.

The cargo railway hub and the international airport Pleso were built south of the Sava river. The largest industrial zone (Žitnjak) in the southeast represents an extension of the industrial zones on the eastern outskirts of the city, between the river Sava and Prigorje region.

In 1987 Zagreb hosted the Universiade.^[8]

In 1991, it became the capital of the country following secession from Second Yugoslavia During the 1991-95 Croatian War of Independence, it was a scene of some sporadic fighting surrounding its JNA army barracks, but escaped major damage. In May 1995, it was targeted by Serb rocket artillery in the Zagreb rocket attack that killed seven civilians.

Urbanized lines of settlements connect Zagreb with the centres in its surroundings: Sesvete, Zaprešić, Samobor, Dugo Selo and Velika Gorica. Sesvete is the closest one to become a part of the conurbation and is in fact already included in the City of Zagreb.

[edit] Economy

Quality land, favourable transit location and total municipal infrastructure, qualified labour force, scientific, expert, educational, health, financial, banking and other institutions, tradition in performing various services, size and quality of economy present essential potentials in Zagreb developing strategy.

Most important branches of industry are: production of electric machines and devices, chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, food and drink processing, tobacco production and processing. Zagreb is important international trade and business center, and transports crossroad of Central and East Europe.^[9]

The city of Zagreb has the highest GDP per capita in Croatia of 15,850 USD in 2006^[10] (the EU average was 28,114 USD). However, average income and prices are still somewhat lower than in Western Europe.

In 2005 the average unemployment rate in Zagreb was around 8%, half of the national average.^[11]

Zagreb, being a relatively large city situated on the fastest route that connects Central with Southeastern Europe, has great potential for investment and development.

[edit] High-rise buildings

There are many future and present high-rise construction projects in the city of Zagreb. The most important recent constructions are:

• Almeria Tower (near completion)
• Center Črnomerec (construction starts in 2007)
• Neboder (under reconstruction)
• Sky Office Tower (construction starts in 2007)
• Tower 123 (construction starts in 2007-2008)

[edit] See also

• Cibona Tower
• Eurotower
• HOTO Tower
• Mamut
• Zagrepčanka
• Zagreb TV Tower
• Zagrebtower

[edit] Metropolitan administration

According to the Constitution, the City of Zagreb, as the capital of Croatia, has special status. As such, Zagreb performs self-governing public affairs of both city and county.

City administration bodies: city assembly as representative body, mayor and city government as executive body.

Members of the city assembly are elected at direct elections. Members of the city assembly elect the mayor and members of the city government by majority vote.

City government has 11 members elected on mayor’s proposal by the city assembly by majority vote. Mayor is the head of city government. Mayor has two deputies.

Organization of city administrative bodies is composed of 12 city offices, 3 city bureaus and 3 city services. They are responsible to the mayor and the city government.

Local self-government is organized in 17 city districts represented by City District Councils. Residents of districts elect members of Councils.^[12]

[edit] City districts

The major city districts ("gradske četvrti" in Croatian):^[13]

No.	District	Area (km²)	Population (2001)	Population density
1.	Donji Grad	3	45,108	14956.2
2.	Gornji Grad - Medveščak	10	36,384	3593.5
3.	Trnje	7	45,267	6146.2
4.	Maksimir	14	49,750	3467.1
5.	Peščenica - Žitnjak	35	58,283	1651.3
6.	Novi Zagreb - Istok	17	65,301	3947.1
7.	Novi Zagreb - Zapad	63	48,981	782.5
8.	Trešnjevka - Sjever	6	55.358	9498.6
9.	Trešnjevka - Jug	10	67,162	6828.1
10.	Črnomerec	24	38,762	1593.4
11.	Gornja Dubrava	40	61,388	1524.1
12.	Donja Dubrava	11	35,944	3321.1
13.	Stenjevec	12	41,257	3387.3
14.	Podsused - Vrapče	36	42,360	1175.1
15.	Podsljeme	60	17,744	295.2
16.	Sesvete	165	59,212	358.3
17.	Brezovica	127	10,884	85.4

[edit] City government

The current mayor of Zagreb is Milan Bandić (SDP).

The city assembly is composed of 51 representatives, presided by Tatjana Holjevac (ind. rep.), coming from the following political parties:

• Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) 19
• Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) 7
• Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) 6
• Croatian People's Party-Liberal Democrats (HNS) 4
• Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU) 3
• Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) 3
• Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) 1
• Democratic Centre (DC) 1
• Independent 7

Based on the results of elections held in 2005.^[14]

[edit] Transport

There are three main transit connections:

• The western, towards Ljubljana, Slovenia and on to Western Europe;

• The eastern, towards Slavonia and on to Southeastern Europe and the Near East; and

• The southern, towards Rijeka, Croatia's biggest port in the Kvarner bay and Split in Dalmatia, the second largest Croatian city and also an important port.

A motorway tunnel going through the Medvednica Mountains is in the planning stages and will become Zagreb's main northern transit connection.

The railway running along the Sutla river and the Zagorje main road (Zagreb - Maribor - Vienna), as well as traffic connections with the Pannonian region and Hungary (the Zagorje railroad, the roads and railway to Varaždin - Čakovec and Koprivnica) are linked with truck routes.

The southern railway connection to Split operates on a line via the Lika region (renovated in 2004 to allow for a five-hour journey); a faster line along the Una river valley is currently in use only up to the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The railway and the motorway (A3) along the Sava river that runs to Slavonia (towards Slavonski Brod, Vinkovci, Osijek and Vukovar) are some of the busiest traffic corridors in the country.^[15]

[edit] Roads

The city has a well developed road network with several main arteries up to six lanes wide and a full-profile expressway encircling most of the city. There is some congestion in the city centre and parking is also a problem. This is somewhat alleviated by the construction of new underground multi-story car-parks (Importanne Centre, Importanne Gallery, Langov square, Tuškanac, Kvaternikov square, Klaićeva street and many more).

Two completely new bridges across the river Sava are planned in 2008: Jarun Bridge and Bundek Bridge (which will most likely be named in honor of John Paul II).^[16]

[edit] Public transportation

Public transportation in the city is organized in two layers: the inner parts of the city are mostly covered by trams and the outer suburbs are linked with buses. The public transportation company, ZET (Zagrebački Električni Tramvaj, Zagreb Electric Tram), is subsidised by the city council.

Currently there is an ambitious programme underway to replace old trams with the new and modern ones built mostly in Zagreb by companies Končar elektroindustrija and, to a lesser extent, by TŽV Gredelj. 70 trams have been purchased, with the final tram expected to be delivered by December 2007,^[17] and a deal securing an additional 70 trams is forthcoming.

The funicular (uspinjača) in the historic part of the city is a tourist attraction. Taxis are readily available, but are comparatively expensive. In recent years, the state rail operator HŽ (Hrvatske željeznice, Croatian Railways) has been developing a network of suburban trains in metropolitan Zagreb area. Starting in 2004 and continuing on through the next several years, east-west railway connections are being revitalized and enhanced, with the purchase of new trains and renovation of older stations, as well as the construction of new ones.

[edit] Metro

A metro system is in the planning stages. Currently, the system is envisioned with five lines; three running west-east, and two running north-south. All lines would go underground in the city centre. The first line is expected to be operational by 2012. The new revised plans also include construction of a Maglev light rail system with a single line running from the new airport terminal to the city center (Ban Jelačić Square)and with a planned opening date of around 2015.^[18] The partner in the implementation of the system will be AMT (American Maglev Technology). The same system is planned for the Croatian city of Rijeka.

[edit] Air traffic

Zagreb International Airport "Pleso" is located 14 km south of the city of Zagreb. The airport is also a main Croatian airbase featuring helicopters, as well as fighter and transport aircraft. As traffic figures rise, the airport is becoming increasingly congested. A new terminal is planned for 2011, with construction beginning in 2008.^[19]

Zagreb has a second, smaller airport, Lučko (LDZL). It is home to sports airplanes and the Croatian special police, as well as a military helicopter airbase. Lučko was once the main airport for Zagreb.

There is also a third, small grass airfield named Buševec, just outside V. Gorica. It is primarily used for sports purposes.

[edit] Education

[edit] Zagreb Classical Gymnasium

Zagreb is the home of the oldest high school (gymnasium, to be precise) in Croatia and the southeastern part of Europe - the Zagreb Classical Gymnasium (Klasična Gimnazija). It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1607 and has operated continuously since then. In its first year, the Gymnasium had 260 students, who were educated on the bases of the Jesuit programme . The programme is based on merging the classical education enriched with Christian moral principles. In 1977, during the communist régime, the name "gymnasium" was banned and the school became of the Educational Language Centre, but it preserved its spirit and the classical program of both Latin and Greek languages. The school was bombed on the 2nd of May, 1995, during the bombing of Zagreb in the Croatian war of independence. However, the damage was soon removed and the school resumed its work. During the 2006-2007 schoolyear, the Gymnasium is celebrating its 400th anniversary with a series of educational, historical, and entertaining festivities which include numerous symposiums and speeches, but also a big student manifestation, "Festival u Klasičnoj".^[20]

[edit] University

Main article: Zagreb University

The University of Zagreb (1669) is the oldest and largest university in South-Eastern Europe. Ever since its foundation, the University has been continually growing and developing and now consists of 29 faculties, three art academies and the Centre for Croatian Studies. With its comprehensive programmes and over 50,000 full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students the University is the strongest teaching institution in Croatia. It offers a wide range of academic degree courses leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in the following fields: arts, biomedicine, biotechnology, engineering, humanities, natural and social sciences. It is also a strongly research-oriented institution, contributing over 50 percent of the total research output of the country.^[21]

[edit] Museums

Zagreb's numerous museums reflect the history, art and culture not only of Zagreb and Croatia, but also of Europe and the world. Around thirty collections in museums and galleries comprise more than 3.6 million various exhibits, excluding church and private collections.

[edit] Archeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum (19 Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square) collections, today consisting of nearly 400,000 varied artifacts and monuments, have been gathered over the years from many different sources. These holdings include evidence of Croatian presence in the area as well as rare samples which have made the museum world renowned.^[22] The most famous are the Egyptian collection, the Zagreb mummy and bandages with the oldest Etruscan inscription in the world (Liber Linteus Zagrabiensis), as well as the numismatic collection. A part of the museum is set aside for the collection of stone monuments dating back predominantly to the Roman period.

[edit] Croatian Natural History Museum

The Croatian Natural History Museum (1 Demetrova Street) holds the world's most extensive collection of Neanderthal remains found at one site.^[23] These are the remains, stone weapons and tools of prehistoric Krapina man. The holdings of the Croatian History Museum comprise more than 250,000 specimens distributed among various different collections. Also this museum publishes the scientific journal "Natura Croatica".

[edit] Technical Museum

The Technical Museum (18 Savska Street) was founded in 1954 and it maintains the oldest preserved machine in the area, dating from 1830, which still operates. There are some distinct units: the Planetarium, the Apisarium, the Mine (model of mines for coal, iron and non-ferrous metals, about 300 m long), and the Nikola Tesla study.^[24] The Museum organises educational, study, informative and occasional exhibitions, lectures and panel discussions on popular science, as well as playrooms and workshops.

[edit] Museum of the City of Zagreb

The Museum of the City of Zagreb (20 Opatička Street) was established in 1907 by the Association of the Braća Hrvatskog Zmaja. It is located in a restored monumental complex (Popov toranj, the Observatory, Zakmardi Granary) of the former Convent of the Poor Clares, of 1650.^[25] The Museum deals with topics from the cultural, artistic, economic and political history of the city in a span from Roman finds until the modern period. The holdings comprise 75,000 items arranged systematically into collectinos of artistic and use objects characteristic of the city and its history.

[edit] Arts and Crafts Museum

The Arts and Crafts Museum (10 Marshal Tito Square) was founded in 1880 with the intention of protecting the works of art and craft against the new predominance of industrial products. With its 160,000 exhibits, the Arts and Crafts Museum is a national-level museum for arthistic production and the history of material culture in Croatia.^[26] The holdings are classified into 19 diverse museum collections: furnishing, metal, painting, sculpture, clocks, photography and photographic equipment, musical instruments, graphic design, ivory, printing and bookbinding, printed and painted leather, devotional items, smoking accessories and toys.

[edit] Ethnographic Museum

The Ethnographic Museum (14 Ivan Mažuranić Square) was founded in 1919. It lies in the fine Secession building of the one-time Trades Hall of 1903. The ample holdings of about 80,000 items cover the ethnographic heritage of Croatia, classified in the three cultural zones: the Pannonian, Dinaric and Adriatic.^[27] In the non-European section there are items from the traditional cultures of Africa, Latin America, Asia, Australia and Oceania.

[edit] Mimara Museum

Main article: Mimara Museum

The museum called the "Art Collection of Ante and Wiltrud Topic Mimara" or, for short, the Mimara Museum (5 Roosevelt Square), was founded with a donation from Ante "Mimara" Topic and opened to the public in 1987. It is located in a neo-Renaissance palace from the end of the 19th century.^[28] The holdings comprise 3,750 works od art of various techniques and materials, and different cultures and civilisations.

[edit] Croatian Naive Art Museum

The Croatian Naive Art Museum ((3 ĆiriloMetodska Street) is considered to be the first museum of naive art in the world. The museum keeps works of Croatian naive expression of the 20th century. It is located in the 18th century Raffay Palace in the Upper City (Gornji Grad). The museum holdings consist of 1500 works of art - paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints, mainly by Croatians but also by other well-known world artists.^[29] From time to time, the museum organises topics and retrospective exhibitions by naive artists, expert meetings and educational workshops and playrooms.

[edit] Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art was founded in 1954 and a rich collection of Croatian and foreign contemporary visual art has been collected throughout the decades. The Museum (2 Catherine's Square) is located in a space within the Kulmer Palace in the Upper City (Gornji Grad). A new Museum building in Novi Zagreb has been under construction since 2003.^[30] The Museum's permanent art collection will be presented to the public when it moves into its new building planned for 2007.

[edit] Other museums and galleries

Valuable historical collections are also found in the Croatian School Museum, the Croatian Hunting Museum, the Croatian Sports Museum, the Croatian Post and Telecommunications Museum, the HAZU (Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts) Glyptotheque (collection of monuments), and the HAZU Graphics Cabinet.

The Strossmayer's Old Masters Gallery (11 Zrinski Square) offers permanent holdings presenting European paintings from the 14th to 19th centuries,^[31] and the Ivan Meštrović Studio, (8 Mletačka Street) with sculptures, drawings, lithography portfolios and other items, was a donation of this great artist to his homeland The Museum and Gallery Centre (4 Jesuit Square) introduces on various occasions the Croatian and foreign cultural and artistic heritage. The Art Pavilion (22 King Tomislav Square) by Viennese architects Hellmer and Fellmer who were the most famous designers of theatres in Central Europe is a neo-classical exhibition complex and one of the landmarks of the city centre. The exhibitions are also held in the impressive Meštrović building on Hrvatskih Velikana Square — the Home of Croatian Fine Artists. The World Centre "Wonder of Croatian Naïve Art" (12 Ban Jelačić Square) exhibits masterpieces of Croatian naive art as well as the works of a new generation of artists. The Modern Gallery (1 Hebrangova Street) comprises all relevant fine artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.

[edit] Other cultural sites and events

The city offers rich cultural and artistic enjoyment. There are about 20 permanent or seasonal theatres and stages. The Croatian National Theatre, built in 1895, is the most impressive building among them. The most renowned concert hall is named "Vatroslav Lisinski", after the composer of the first Croatian opera. It was built in 1973 and is visited by 760,000 people each year. The great hall has 1847 seats over 2,360 m², while the smaller one can seat 304 people on 360 m².

Zagreb hosts many domestic and international events. Animafest, the World Festival of Animated Films, takes place every even-numbered year, and the Music Bienniale, the international festival of avant-garde music, every odd-numbered year. The Festival of the Zagreb Philharmonic and the famous flowers exhibition Floraart (end of May or beginning of June), the Old-timer Rally, the Week of Contemporary Dance, as well as Eurokaz, the international festival of contemporary theatre (in June) represent annual events. In the summer, theatre performances and concerts, mostly in the Upper Town, are organized either indoors or outdoors. The stage on Opatovina hosts the Zagreb Histrionic Summer.

Zagreb is also the host of Zagrebfest, the oldest Croatian pop-music festival, as well as of several traditional international sports events and tournaments. The Day of the City of Zagreb on the (16th of November) is celebrated every year with special festivities, especially on the Jarun lake near the southwestern part of the city. Entertainment can be found in many discotheques, night clubs, and casinos.

On Mount Sljeme there is also the 169 m TV Tower with a restaurant planned for the 75 m high pod.

The Archdiocese of Zagreb is the metropolitan see of the Catholic Church in Croatia, serving as its religious centre. The current Archbishop is Josip Bozanić.

[edit] Surroundings

The wider Zagreb area has been continuously inhabited since the prehistoric period, as witnessed by archaeological findings in the Veternica cave from the Paleolithic and excavation of the remains of the destroyed Roman town of Andautonia near the present village of Ščitarjevo.

The picturesque former villages on the slopes of Medvednica, Šestine, Gračani and Remete, maintain their rich traditions, including folk costumes, Šestine umbrellas, and gingerbread products.

The Medvednica Mountain (Zagrebačka gora), with its highest peak Sljeme (1,033 m), provides a panoramic view of metropolitan Zagreb, the Sava and the Kupa valleys, and the region of Hrvatsko Zagorje. In mid-January 2005, Sljeme held its first World Ski Championship tournament.

From the summit, weather permitting, the vista reaches as far as Velebit Range along Croatia's rocky northern coast, as well as the snow-capped peaks of the towering Julian Alps in neighbouring Slovenia. There are several lodging villages, offering accommodation and restaurants for hikers. Skiers visit Sljeme, which has four ski-runs, three ski-lifts and a chairlift.

Old Medvedgrad, the recently restored medieval burg built in the 13th century, represents a special attraction of Medvednica hill. It overlooks the western part of the city and also has the Shrine of the Homeland, a memorial with an eternal flame, where Croatia pays reverence to all its heroes fallen for homeland in its history, customarily on national holidays. Travel agencies organize guided excursions to the surroundings as well as sightseeing in Zagreb itself.

[edit] Tourism

Zagreb is an important tourist center, not only in terms of passengers travelling from Western and Central Europe to the Adriatic Sea, but also as a travel destination itself. Since the end of the war, it has attracted around half a million visitors annually, mainly from Austria, Germany and Italy. However, the city has even greater potential as many tourists that visit Croatia skip Zagreb in order to visit the beaches along the Croatian Adriatic coast and old historic Renaissance cities such as Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar.

Zagreb celebrated its 900th birthday in 1994 not only as a city with numerous cultural and historical monuments, museums and galleries, but also as a vibrant destination with a variety of modern shops, quality restaurants and sports/recreational facilities. It is a major centre of congress tourism, hosting a number of business events and trade fairs that are amongst those of the longest tradition in Europe. Being an important junction point, Zagreb has road, air, railway and bus connections with other European metropolises and all bigger cities and tourist resorts in Croatia.

The historical part of the city to the north of Ban Jelačić Square is comprised of the Upper Town and Kaptol, a medieval urban complex of churches, palaces, museums, galleries and government buildings that are exceptionally popular with tourists on sightseeing tours. The old town's streets and squares can be reached on foot, starting from Jelačić Square, the central part and the heart of Zagreb, or by a funicular on nearby Tomićeva Street. Tkalčićeva ulica is a winding street in the old town that features many very popular cafés and is a popular place for people-watching, particularly among the younger generations.

[edit] Souvenirs and gastronomy

Numerous shops, boutiques, store houses and shopping centres offer a variety of quality clothing. Zagreb's offerings include crystal, china and ceramics, wicker or straw baskets, and top-quality Croatian wines and gastronomic products.

Zagreb souvenirs:

• the tie or cravat, an accessory named after Croats who wore characteristic scarves around their necks in the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century
• the ball-point pen, a tool developed from the inventions by Slavoljub Eduard Penkala, who was a citizen of Zagreb

Many Zagreb restaurants offer various specialities of national and international cuisine. Domestic products which deserve to be tasted include turkey, duck or goose with mlinci (a kind of pasta), štrukli (cottage cheese strudel), sir i vrhnje (cottage cheese with cream), kremšnite (custard slices in flaky pastry), and orahnjača (traditional nut roll).

As Zagreb is relatively close to the sea, restaurants offer fresh seafood. There are many fast-food restaurants and stands in Zagreb, so those who prefer this type of food will not be disappointed.

[edit] Recreation and sports

There are several sports and recreational centres in Zagreb. Recreational Sports Centre Jarun, situated on Lake Jarun in the southwest of the city, has fine shingle beaches, a world-class regatta course, a jogging lane around the lake, several restaurants, many night clubs and a discotheque. Its sports and recreation opportunities include swimming, sunbathing, waterskiing, angling and other water sports, but also beach volleyball, football, basketball, handball, table tennis, and miniature golf.

Dom Sportova (Home of sports) features six halls. The largest two can accommodate 4,000 and 12,000 people. This center is used for basketball, handball, volleyball, hockey, gymnastics, tennis, and many others. It is also used for concerts.

The Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall seats 5,400. Alongside it is the 94 m glass Cibona Tower.

Sports Park Mladost, situated along the embankment of the Sava river, has an Olympic-size swimming pool, smaller indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sunbathing terrace, 16 tennis courts as well as basketball, volleyball, handball, football and field hockey courts. A volleyball sports hall is within the park. Sports and Recreational Centre Šalata, only a couple hundred metres from the city centre, is most attractive for tennis players. It comprises a big tennis court and eight smaller ones, two of which are covered by the so-called "balloon", and another two equipped with lights. The Centre also has swimming pools, basketball courts, football fields, a gym and fitness centre, and a four-lane bowling alley. Outdoor ice skating is a popular winter recreation at Šalata. There are also several fine restaurants within and near the Centre.

Tennis Centre Maksimir, in the part of the city called Ravnice to the east of the centre, consists of two sports blocks. The first comprises a tennis centre situated in a large tennis hall with four courts. There are 22 outdoor tennis courts with lights. The other block offers multipurpose sports facilities: apart from tennis courts, there are handball, basketball, indoor football grounds, as well as track and field facilities, a bocci ball alley and table tennis opportunities.

Recreational swimmers can enjoy a smaller-size indoor swimming pool in Daničićeva Street, and a newly opened indoor Olympic-sized pool at Utrine sports centre in Novi Zagreb. Skaters can skate in the skating rink on Trg Sportova (Sports Square) and on the lake Jarun Skaters' park. Hippodrome Zagreb offers recreational horseback riding opportunities, while horse races are held every weekend during the warmer part of the year.

The 40,000 seat Maksimir Stadium, currently under renovation, is located in the eastern part of the city. When completed, it will seat 55,000 spectators, and sport a fully retractable roof. It will finally serve Zagreb somewhat more appropriately. The stadium is part of the immense Svetice recreational and sports complex, south of the heavily wooded Maksimir Park. The complex covers an area of 276,440 m². It is part of a significant Green Zone, which passes from Medvednica Mountains in the north towards the south. SRC Svetice, together with Maksimir Park, creates an ideal connection of areas which are assigned to sport, recreation and leisure.

The latest larger recreational facility is Bundek, a group of two small lakes near the Sava in Novi Zagreb, surrounded by a partly forested park. The location had been used prior to the 1970s, but then went to neglect until 2006 when it was renovated.

There is a number of smaller sports centres and playgrounds as well as gyms and fitness centres throughout the city.

[edit] Sister cities

Zagreb is officially twinned with the following towns and cities:^[32]

• Mainz, Germany (1967)
• St. Petersburg, Russia (1968)
• Tromsø, Norway (1971)
• Kyoto, Japan (1972)
• Kraków, Poland (1975)
• Lisbon, Portugal (1977)
• Pittsburgh, USA (1980)
• Shanghai, China (1980)
• Budapest, Hungary (1994)
• Vienna, Austria (1994)
• Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2001)
• Ljubljana, Slovenia (2001)

[edit] See also

• Eurovision Song Contest 1990
• List of radio stations in Zagreb

[edit] Notes and references

http://www.dzs.hr/Eng/censuses/Census2001/Popis/E01_03_10/E01_03_10.html

[edit] External links

• Official website of the City of Zagreb
• Zagreb Photo Galeries
• WikiSatellite view of Zagreb at WikiMapia
• CroTouristica.com - Zagreb tourist info
• Metropolitan Zagreb
• Zagreb Museums and Galleries
• Croatian Museums and Galleries
• Zagreb Fair
• Zagreb Hotels and Travel Tips
• Zagreb International airport
• Zagreb Travel Guide Hotels, sights, transport and more.

Coordinates: 45°48′0″N, 15°58′0″E