Park Zrinjevac

If you are spending your time in Zagreb whether it be as an Erasmus student or just visiting even for a day there is no way you are going to miss a chance to go through one of the most beautiful parks in the center - Park Zrinjevac.

This is one of the most beloved parks by both the local and the foreign visitors throughout all the seasons. It is equally beautiful in snowy and cold winter, during spring when the nature wakes up, in hot summer when this park is the center of many festivals and visited by thousands of people every day who stop to sit there and relax alone or in a group... and in autumn when everything is in warm colours and the weather is still nice.

Although the official name of the place is the Square of Nikola Šubić Zrinski it is widely known simply as Zrinjevac. It was named after Nikola Š. Zrinski who was a Croatian count and a nobleman and an important historical figure in both Croatian and Hungarian history. He was important in 16th century as he defended the Croatian-Hungarian kingdom (within Austrian Empire) from the attacks of the Ottoman Empire whereas his glory and fame in Europe spread after en epic battle where he defended the Hungarian fortreess Sziget in 1566. The Ottoman army counted about 100 000 men and 300 cannons as they were making their 6th campaign to conquer Vienna. On the other hand, Nicola fought with 2 500 men consisting of mostly Croats who had sworn never to give up or surrender no matter what the cost. After a month of being under a seige the Turks did not succeed in bribing them and finally broke the gates of the fortress. Nikola and the rest of the soldiers died in an counterattack. Only four who survived had brought the news to the others. During the raid the sultan Suleyman the First died and because of the loss of about 30 000 soldiers and being exhausted of the siege the Turks had to give up from the invasion on Vienna and Europe. Thus Nikola Zrinski became kind of local Leonidas. However, there is no statue of him in the park.

The park is also part of this Lenuci's green horseshoe as you can see on the image.

Location and how to reach it

The park is located less than 5 minutes from the Main square (ban Jelačić). Here are a few tips if you plan to walk by foot:

• From there you can reach it by walking through Praška ulica which is the only street that goes from the main square to the south and has the tram railway through it.
• The other way from the city center that you will likely discover is through Teslina ulica (or Ulica Nikole Tesle) which brings you to or from the Croatian National Theatre and the square of Marshal Tito.
• The last option I believe is important for you is to walk by foot from the Main Railway station (Glavni kolodvor) from the south. If you are standing there near the statue of King Tomislav (on Tomislav's square) it will take about 5-7 minutes to reach the park.

The second option would be to use the tram. Here we have several lines and tram stops for it:

• Tram 6 and 13 that go through the main square and the main railway station. You will simply leave a the tram stop "Zrinjevac" and have to cross the road and there you are!
• You can take any other tram that goes through the main railway station or through the main square and then you have to walk 2-6 minutes till the park. This includes the lines 4, 12, 11, 17, 14.

What can you find there?

The park is only about 200 meters long but offers enough for every kind of a visitors. Let's say we are walking from the north. There are three paths that lead through the park. Two on each side and one in the middle. On each side of the pathways there is a row of benches which are somehow always available. Even in summer when you would expect all the benches to be taken you can find a few of them free to sit.

Almost always at the corner with Praška street you can find a guy selling popcorn, hot horsechestnut, baloons and toys for chidlren. But I guess it is not the main reason why you would come to Zrinjevac.

If you move to the central road it will lead you straight to the pavilion in the middle. The place is mostly empty but during the festivals it is used as a stage for the musicians (concert), sometimes for weddings and... occupied by children.

This pavilion in the center divides the park into four areas with the road also going into 4 directions under 90 degrees. Each of this green areas between the roads is pretty popular by the visitors as during the warmer days (and you will see it 100% in summer! ) it is a favorit place to sit by many students of the University of Zagreb.

Besides, there are the fountains (as you can see above) in each of this area which is one of the magical things this park possesses.

I forgot to add one intersting object at the beginning of the central path in the north (close to the road). You will probably stop by it to see what this strange instrument is being used for. It is a meterology column that has been present there since the end of the 19th century... and is there to give you information or rather weather forecast - the old school way.

The less interesting info but still have to share it is about the statues of some important national persons. You can find the sculptures of the count Krsto Frankopan, Nikola Jurišić, Ivan Kukuljević Sakcinski, Ivan Mažuranić, Julije Klović and Andrija Medulić. All of these guys have the streets pretty close to Zrinjevac. McDonalds, for instance, is in Jurišićeva Street.

Festivals and events in summer

I remember being around 2-3 festivals that have been taking part on Zrinjevac for the last couple of years. These are:

• Cest is d'Best

  This is one of the most famous Croatian street festivals and one of nowadays symbolic manifestations of the capital. I have always found about it at its end or too late. This festival is not only on Zrinjevac but around the main square too.

  This festival gathers hundreds of artists and performers from all around the world to come to our town and organize a diverse range of activities in field of music, drama, art, sports and the other things. The whole center of the city turns into colorful, vivid and merry colours and the park (and the other streets and squares) are turned into stages. There are lots of visitors and here is what is happening on Zrinjevac.

  Along the path that is next to the tram railway there is one artistic workshop being organized where each visitor gets a relatively large square on the floor and colors to paint or illustrate whatever he or she wants. I have always wanted to participate here but felt not prepared or in a hurry.

  The festival takes place in June and lasts for a few days.

• Festival of Sweets

  As its name says it is the sweet festival which should not be just easily missed. This festival gathers all the best confectionery stores and produced from Zagreb and the area where you can buy and try diverse products. There is plenty of different sorts of chocolate for each taste. And so far they have been making a giant cake weighing more than half a tone! You can get a piece of it for a symbolic donation.

  This event lasts for a week in the middle of April.

There are a few more events where I have not unfortunately participated and sound also fun and interesting. It is about the art festivals for youth in June and one in October.

Festivals and events in winter

Personally, the first thing that comes to my mind is the Advent in Zagreb which lasts from the end of November till few days after the New Year. Zrinjevac is then filled with many wooden stands or houses selling the warm wine or punch, cakes, hot dogs and more. The music pavilion in the center becomes the stage for numerous concerts of various artists. The visitors can enjoy the music in range from the classical scores to the popular one. Not only it attracts the youth but sometimes the seniors outnumber everyone in the audience. And then around the pavilion it turns into a dance hall.

Zrinjevac is especially a magic place when the snow falls in winter. Unfortunately it does not happen often or not at all last years but once it does be sure to go and check the scenery at this park! You are going to love it.

And the conclusion is...?

I am pretty sure you are going to love this place. The good thing is that it is almost in the heart (if not a heart) of the capital's center and pretty easy to reach. Whether you are looking for a place to be alone or to hang out with friends you can find it all here. And do not miss the events and the atmosphere in summer and winter!

Thanks for reading.