Once Upon a Time - A Story About an Old Cannon
Since the 1st of January 1877, every day at noon, Gric cannon fires a cannonball. This strong, short, and loud sound that spreads all over Zagreb drives away pigeons from the Ban Jelačić Square, and you may hear it even if you are in the south, near the Sava! This sound helps churches and their bell-ringers to synchronise their clocks, but it also gives joy to kids and tourists. But let’s find out what does a chicken have to do with the cannon!?
ZGif by: Dobre ideje, Zagreb Tourist Board
Magnificent cannon
My first visit to Lotrščak Tower was when I was 8 years old. The Grič cannon was placed on the top floor of the Lotrščak Tower and from the moment I stepped into the tower, I knew I was entering an old world full of mysteries and historical stories. It was too good to be boring. I remember that we were so excited and scared at the same time that, after numerous and steep steps to the top, we closed our eyes hard and pushed our fingers into ears the very moment we saw this big old cannon even though it was about 11:30 am and the cannon strikes at 12. You never know, you have to be prepared!
Of course, our teacher and guide laughingly explained that the cannon was always precise and there was a man that fires this cannon ball, so we didn’t need to be afraid. Or prepared, as we believed. As I already said, this loud bang from the cannon may be heard from anywhere in the city so we hoped it wouldn’t swing away this tower since it was so loud.
Legend is still alive
First of all, if the story wasn’t so legendary it wouldn’t be alive even after a century! So read carefully because you’re about to find out maybe the best story of your life!
The legend has it that by the end of the 16th century, the Turks decided to rule over the entire Croatian kingdom. They won Bihać and the next station was Sisak. Between 1591 and 1593 they won Sisak too, and were slowly, but surely moving to Zagreb. Looting, killing, slaving – that’s how the situation was described within conquered cities. The citizens of Zagreb were terrified and in this desperate way to save themselves and their city, they tried to come up with a wise plan against the enemies.
Image credit: Davor Rostuhar
While the leader Telli Hasan Pasha was relaxing in his tent, Zagrebians imported from Vienna a big cannon and set him up in the Lotrščak Tower. They were ready for Hasan Pasha and his army. Soon Zagrebians found out that Hasan Pasha was in his tent near Zagreb and they decided to fire the cannon over the river Sava, right into their tents. Everything was set and the cannon tube was pointed directly to Hasan Pasha.
At noon a cannon fired from the Lotrščak Tower. The cannon ball flew all over the Sava right onto a plate with a chicken that was being brought to Pasha for his lunch. He and his army got so scared that they decided to escape not only from Zagreb, but from Sisak, too. Since then, in the name of the victory, a cannon has been fired every day at the same time.
What has changed since then?
Tradition is the same. The cannon fires every day at noon precisely. Also, the fifth generation of artilleryman changed a few years ago. Active artilleryman is Alem Tutundžić who comes every day at 12 pm and checks every single detail before firing the cannon.
After checking and before the fire, he gets some free time to chat with tourists and visitors. But, of course, he never forgets the cannon. So just like when I was visiting the tower with my elementary school, he shouts out loud “10 seconds left!”. This adrenaline rush is so intense that you think you won’t hear the bang from your fast heartbeat! But don’t worry, just put hands on your ears and enjoy!
I adore this story! And the best part, which most of Zagrebians wouldn't admit, is that moment when the cannon fires and tourists get scared. But we know the story and we knew it would fire, so we proudly smile, walk by and check our watches.
Header Image credit: Zagreb Tourist Board, Marko Vrdoljak
Author: Kristina Rep