Travel Croatia

Discover Croatia

RomWell Travel Advisory


Zagreb Cathedral

Zagreb Cathedral on Kaptol is the most famous and the tallest building in Zagreb, Croatian capital city. The Cathedral of the Assumption of Virgin Mary and St. Stephen and its Neo-Gothic bell towers (104 and 105 m high) can be seen from many locations in the city and are prominent part of the city's identity. Cathedral is also the tallest building in Croatia.

The building of the first Romanesque cathedral, on same location, started in the 11th century (1093), although the building was destroyed during the invasion of the Tatars in 1242. The current structure was built in the later half of the 13th Century, although many alterations and renovations have been made since that time, changing the structure almost completely.

At the end of the 15th century, the Ottoman Empire invaded Bosnia and Croatia, triggering the construction of fortification walls around the Cathedral. Some of these fortifications are still intact.

In the 17th century, a fortified renaissance watchtower was erected on the south side, and was used as a military observation point, because of the Ottoman threat.

In 1880, the cathedral was severely damaged in an earthquake. The main nave collapsed and the tower was damaged beyond repair. The restoration of the cathedral in the Neo-Gothic style was made by Hermann Bollé, bringing the cathedral to its present form.




In the Zagreb Cathedral Treasury, dating from the founding of the Zagreb Bishopric, invaluable treasures are stored.

The Cathedral is depicted on the reverse of the Croatian 1000 kuna banknote, issued in 1993.




The Tomb of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac in the Zagreb Cathedral

The Tomb was made by sculptor Hrvoje Ljubic.

DID YOU KNOW?

Zagreb was mentioned for the first time in writing in 1094, in a charter issued by King Ladislas I by which he founded the Zagreb Bishopric. The charter testifies to the existence of a much older settlement in these area, so it may well be assumed that the city's history goes back more than a thousand years.



Related Links:

Croatian National Parks

Croatian Nature Parks & Strict Reserves

Croatian Castles

Croatian Adriatic Coast - The Jewel of the Mediterranean

Croatian City Guide

Croatian Islands

Ivan Mestrovic Museums

Croatian Camping Info

Croatian Gastronomy & Related Info

Croatian Money

Travel Croatia

Browse Croatian Travel Info

Find out more about Croatia...

Croatian Churches & More
Some cities are distinctively marked by their churches...
Croatian Culture & History
The beauty of Croatia has been captured in countless ...
Museums & Galleries
The culture of Croatia has roots in a long history...
Croatian Language
The Croatian alphabet contains a total of 30 letters...
Ivan Mestrovic Museum
Learn about the work and life of famous Croatian artist...
Neanderthal from Krapina
The world's largest neanderthal finding site...
Castle Orsic
Castle was built in 1756 by Croatian count Krsto Orsic...
Croatian Naive Art
The Croatian Museum of Naive Art is the first museum...

More Travel Info





Croatian Historical Jewels

Continental Croatia, especially its North, is full of historical heritage and scenery. A lot of beautiful and fascinating castles and manors that once belonged to rich families, are spread all over Croatia, most of which are located in Hrvatsko Zagorje, for example: the Trakoscan Castle, Veliki Tabor, Mali Tabor, Miljana, Bezanec, Orsic, Golubovec, Klenovnik and more. >>> Find out more...
TRAVEL
enhance your experience...
KNOWLEDGE
make it much more comfortable...
INFORMATION
helps you to find things...

Discover Croatia

Visit Croatia and you will never forget the unforgettable natural beauty of the place where the Mediterranean, the Alps and the Pannonian plain come together. This country has taken something from every one of them and blended those parts into a unique harmony and a rare beauty. Geographically, it stretches from the Pannonian Plain, the Danube region, and woody and hilly areas to real peaks and mountains chains descending to and protecting the unique and unforgettable Adriatic coast.