Page 157 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

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ZAGREB

the capital of Croatia, Zagreb is also the heart of the political, economic and
cultural life of the country. Surrounded by woods and parks, the city lies
between the slopes of Mount Medvednica to the north and the river Sava to
the south. Located at the centre of continental Croatia, this Central european
city constitutes a meeting point between eastern and western europe.

The political scientist Max Weber once the Croat-Hungarian King Bela IV.
declared that the quality of life in a city This granted various economic and
could be measured by the number of its administrative privileges to the
cultural institutions. Zagreb has over inhabitants. From the 16th century
20 museums, 10 theatres, 350 libraries, onwards Gradec was also where the Ban
a university, and lively programmes of – the governor of Croatia delegated by
artistic and cultural events. This is not the Hungarian kingdom – and the Croat
just because Zagreb is the capital (it has parliament carried out their business and
only been the capital since 1991), but where Croat nobles met to govern this
is also due to the leading cultural and turbulent territory. The two towns were
political role that Zagreb has played both fortified with ramparts, towers,
over the centuries. moats and gates, and separated by the
Zagreb was originally two separate Medveščak stream. The stream was often
medieval towns. Two settlements were the site of violent clashes between
built on two adjacent hilltops: Kaptol, Gradec and Kaptol, and that time is
the centre of religious power and a vividly recalled by the street called
bishopric from 1094, and Gradec (now the Bridge of Blood (Krvavi most).
part of Gornji grad). In 1242, with the In 1880, a terrible earthquake
proclamation of a “Golden Bull”, Gradec struck the city and many of the major
was given the title of royal free city by monuments date from after this time.

Colourful Dolac market, held in the square of the same name
The famous polychromatic tiled roof of the Church of St Mark

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