Zagreb is the capital of the Republic of Croatia
[Republika Hrvatska] having one million inhabitants. It is a political, scientific, university, cultural and sports center. The modern architecture has outdone its past whose traces have been marvelously preserved, especially at Kaptol and in the Upper Town. Owing to its harmonious expansion, it has become a metropolis with all characteristics of the centennial socio-political capital, a cradle of the Croatian National Revival,
a cultural-artistic treasury, the strongest economic national center, an attractive tourist destination
and the national hub. Today it is composed of
three parts: historic medieval Upper Town nucleus, the Lower Town that was developing in the second half of the 19th century and between the two World Wars, and new Zagreb where new settlements had emerged in the explosion of the city that spread to the other bank of the
Sava. The first written
Ban
Jelačić
Square
mention of Zagreb dates from 1094 when a bishopric had been founded at Kaptol while in 1242 King Bela IV proclaimed the neighboring Gradec a royal borough by the Golden Bull. Stone walls and towers whose remnants have been preserved to the present day surrounded both settlements. In the period from the 14th to the 18th century, during the Ottoman invasions in Europe, Zagreb was an important borderline stronghold. In 1557 Zagreb became the capital, and in 1669 the University of Zagreb was founded. In 1862 the railway had been constructed and not more than four years later, the Academy of Arts and Sciences was founded, the first in this part of the world. The twentieth century brings the spirit of Secession to Zagreb, and due to its development at a rapid pace Zagreb has become lately a large city.
The Cathedral with its treasury is one of many city gems as well as the Croatian National Theatre that celebrated its centenary in 1995, the Mimara Museum that holds the valuable collection with more than 3,750 works of art dating from the prehistory to the twentieth century.
The Upper Town, St Mark's Church, the Parliament, Ban Josip
Jelačić Square, the funicular, Lotrščak Tower, the Stone Gate,
Tkalčićeva Street, the Art Pavilion,
Mestrović Atelier, Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters, the Croatian Museum of Naive Art, Mirogoj - the city cemetery, Medvedgrad, Maksimir - forest-park, Jarun - recreational center, ...are just some sights that can make you feel Zagreb's
pulse.
Zagreb is also an important sports center with clubs that have won European trophies. Soccer club Dinamo Zagreb is the most popular club, who won the Uefa Cup in 1967. While the most popular basketball club is Cibona VIP that won twice the Champions Cup. The water polo players, women volleyball players of the Mladost Club, the
Medveščak and Grmošćica Club pin bowlers take pride in European trophies as well.
No doubt Zagreb is also known for handball. The Badel 1862 Zagreb Club is a double European champion, it placed second four times, it is the only constant participant of the Champions League since its creation. Women handball players from the Lokomotiva and
Trešnjevka Clubs have won European trophies while the performances of men handball players from the
Medveščak Club have also been impressive.
