Zagreb : Up and Close with Offbeat Jewels of Croatia

Zagreb is the other side of Croatia and is truly a hidden gem with exquisite and absolutely gorgeous architecture. It is offbeat and is not visited by dozens by visitors making it amazing place. The small town has sort of country side charm with cobbled streets, beautifully lit alleys and known for stunning medieval architectures that represents Austro-Hungarian architecture. It has many Gothic influenced cathedrals set in 13th century, colorful cafes and beautifully landscaped parks. The Northwestern capital of Croatia must not be missed, here are the top 10 places to visit in Zagreb:

1. Kaptol

The old town of Kaptol is one of the fascinating places that captivate the interest of the onlookers. It consists of two hill top settlements side by side that make it unique and gorgeous. The Zagreb Cathedral is the most prominent landmarks of Kaptol and it had been damaged number of times but still stand beautifully. It gives you a countryside feel as you walk past the cathedral through the cobbled streets admiring everything around. It is a peaceful place to soak your soul into.

2. Stone Gate

It is also known as Kamenita Vrata and is located in the eastern entrance to Zagreb’s Upper town called Gornji Grad and makes one of the iconic landmarks. It is not mere a gateway and has religious value. It is an arch that is constructed from stone and has been basically transformed into a shrine. The stone gate has a chapel by its side that is lit with candles. It was constructed in 1266 and has been restored that makes a significant part of the ruins of the city. It has beautiful artwork that has survived test of time.

3. Gornji Grad

The upper town of the city is absolutely stunning with medieval settlements on hilltops and is the historic district of Zagreb. It is modern yet medieval and historic that is marked by beautiful cobbled streets, medieval squares, quaint cafes and lively aura with music and food. This is one of the most idyllic neighborhoods in the city of Zagreb. The narrow cobblestone streets with the side aligned colorful buildings and cathedrals make it a happy place. The upper town can be reached with help of a funicular.

4. Cathedral of the Assumption

The Cathedral of the Assumption is the oldest cathedral in Kaptol and is firm follower of Roman Catholic institution. It is Gothic style architecture and is dedicated to Assumption of Mary and to Saint Stephen and St Ladislaus. The neo-Gothic influenced architecture makes it extremely a gorgeous architecture with its impressive towers that is visible from anywhere in the city marking it one of the tallest monument in Zagreb. It was founded in 1242 and has been renovated many times.

5. Dolac Market

The open air market is the best thing to experience in Zagreb as local perspective and is a great place to shop for locally produced things. It is a great place to explore the lives of local people and understand a more about their culture, lifestyle, food and traditions. The market has farmers from all around the city sell their local produce like fruits, vegetables, meat products etc. It is located in the upper town area and is the most popular market in the city where trading has started since 1926.

6. Mirogoj Cemetery

It definitely is one of the most gorgeous cemeteries that you have ever visited and is one of the significant landmarks of the city. The cemetery was renovated by Herman Bolle and displays monumental arches, beautiful display of Astro-Hungarian architecture and has graves of some of the popular writers, composers etc. The memorial park has a beautifully manicured park and open art gallery along with a gallery of excellent and exquisite sculptures. It is a phenomenal reflection of architecture.

7. Maksimir Park

It is a gorgeous park that is spread across a sprawling area of 18 hectares and was designed in the 18th century. It is the largest open park that is surrounded by lush green environment. It was opened for public visit in 1794 and it is landscaped with inclusion of an artificial lake, beautiful alleys and manicured lawns. It is a heritage landmark and forms the habitat to a large number of plants and animals. It was basically founded in 1787 and is surrounded by meadows, creeks, lakes, etc.

8. Mimara Museum

The Mimara Museum is basically an art museum which is located at the Roosevelt Square of Zagreb and it has a huge collection of Wiltrud and Ante Topic Mimara. It has beautiful masterpieces yet exploring and gives you a fresh perspective of art. There are over 1500 permanent exhibits that range from pre-historic period to the 20th century. It has over 120 or more paintings and some of the work by some of the most prolific artists.

9. Jarun Lake

Jarun Lake is known for its clear blue water and is great for many activities. The lake was basically formed by the Sava River and is located on the southernmost end of the Jarun Neighborhood. It is an artificial lake extending up to 2km and it is surrounded by cycle tracks. It is famous for number of water activities like kayaking and there are many entertainment things to do. It is an ideal place for relaxing, sunbathing and great place even for enjoying a peaceful walk.

10. Museum of Broken Relationships

It is a unique and one of the kind museums that brings to you some of the most compelling and heartbreaking stories. The stories are personal and true stories of past lovers from all over the world. The tales of love are not happy ones but more of break-up and stories that were left incomplete. It is located in Kulmer palace in Upper Town of Zagreb and takes you on an emotional journey by featuring break up stories. It is dedicated to failed love stories and has huge collection of personal objects of ex-lover donated by individuals.

◎ Closing

Zagreb is an offbeat other side of Croatia that has remarkable architectures, beautiful culture and a medieval feel. It is not as crowded as the coastline side of Croatia making it perfect for a relaxing holiday.