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Happy birthday, Zagreb!

City of Zagreb Day is celebrated on the thirty-first of May, on the feast of Virgin Mary of the Stone Gate, who is the protector of the Zagreb city.

City legend

Stone Gate is the remain of the fort which surrounded Gradec since 1266th. The legend says that in a big fire, which happened on 31st of May 1731, the picture of Virgin Mary was found undamaged even though it was in the middle of the fire and the frame was the only part which burnt. That same year, the image was set in the baroque altar in the passage of the Stone Gate. The baroque fence was made in 1778 in Zagreb by the master, Ivan Korta. On the 31st of May 1991, the 260th anniversary of the sanctuary was celebrated, and the archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, proclaimed the Virgin Mary of the Stone Gate the protector of the city.

 

Image credit: Zagreb Tourist Board, Marko Vrdoljak

 

City of Zagreb Day 2015

For this year's celebration, Zagreb Tourist Board has prepared a rich program.

Zagreb Tourist Board gives to its citizens and visitors free city tours that will be run by Tourist Guide Association of Zagreb and the Croatian Central macro-region.

In daily sightseeing, you have a Bolle´s footsteps walking tour. In 10:00, 12:00 and 16:00 are croatian tours and in 12:00 you can have an english tour. Hermann Bollé was an Austrian architect who has worked on projects such as the construction of the Academy and renovation of Zagreb Cathedral. He worked on a number of projects like the building of the Museum of Arts and Crafts and complex Mirogoj.

Also, in terms of daily sightseeing, you can see costumed characters from the past as the part of the project Upper town in the past.

 

Image credit: Zagreb Tourist Board; Foto Video 7

 

Starting at 9 pm, you can get the night sightseeing of Zagreb in English or Croatian language. You can see all the beauty that Zagreb has to offer under the night lights.

As a part of the Zagreb time machine, the project of Zagreb Tourist Board, you can enjoy regular Sunday program, for free!

  • Sunday Promenade Concerts at Zrinjevac Music Pavilion - Brass band ZET 11:00 to 12:00 
  •  Sunday Promenade Concerts Maksimir - Maksimir Park, Small Stage, 10.30 -12.30
  • Upper musical panoramas, regular performance of street musicians from 10.00 to 12.00
  •  "Tkalčijana," street entertainment and music programs in Tkalčićeva Street, a clown for children from 11:00 to 13:00 at locations Bloody Bridge and the house number 41.
  • From 19:00 to 21:00 and from 9:00 p.m. to 23:00 at Bela you can hear the traditional music - "tamburaši."

 

Additional programs which are held on the City of Zagreb Day and are supported by Zagreb Tourist Board are:

  •  Two performances of "Hoerspiel" - theatrical performance  which returns viewers and listeners in the past by reconstructing radio drama materials in the tower Lotrščak 
  • 50th International Garden Exhibition FLORAART 25.-31.5. - Upper Town and Bundek
  • National Archive in Zagreb opens the door of the Erdödy-Drašković Upper Palace in Opatička 29th street. You can get a professional tour of the palace at 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00. The interested visitors will be able to buy the releases of the State Archives in Zagreb at promotional prices.
  • The project Slopey - Tkalčićeva street, setting a ramp for the disabled in the catering and commercial establishments in Tkalčićeva Street. The presentation of the project.
  • Opening of parking for campers and campers near Zagreb Fair
  • Secrets of Grič 29. and 30.5. - Interactive theater night tour ''Secrets of Grič'' is intended for visitors and citizens of Zagreb wishing to discover the historic and mysterious side of the capital. The tour is based on historical facts, the romanticized history from the novel by Marija Jurić Zagorka, and on urban legends. Night Tour "Secrets of Grič" is special because of the night time hours and costumed historical and fictional characters that in an interactive way represent the city's history, and guarantee a new experience of famous locations.

  • City tour in a carriage - starts at 16:00-20:00h and departure point is Catherine's Square. The price is 40kn per person (children 30kn).

  • City tours with Hop-on-hop-off bus - The red line starts at 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00 hours, and the green line starts in 14:00 and 16:00 hours. Starting position is in Bakačeva Street. Free tickets can be collected at the Tourist Information Centre on Ban Jelačić Square.

  • A tour of Zagreb's Green Horseshoe 31.5. - Check if Zagreb´s Green Horseshoe is your lucky charm. No need to book in advance, just come to Meteorological Column in Zrinjevac Park at 10am or 4pm (the tours will be in Croatian and in English)

 

Image credit: Secrets of Grič

 

If you are in Zagreb on the 31st of May, you should come to the towns birthday party! We promise you a lot of entertainment, and we can assure you that you will fall in love with Zagreb.

Header image credit: Zagreb Tourist Board, Marko Vrdoljak

Author: Nina Klarin