ZAGREB

Zagreb je glavni grad Republike Hrvatske, i najveći grad u Hrvatskoj po broju stanovnika. Povijesno gledano, Zagreb je izrastao iz dva naselja na susjednim brdima, Gradeca i Kaptola, koji čine jezgru današnjeg Zagreba, njegov Stari grad.

Zagreb danas predstavlja upravno, gospodarsko, kulturno, prometno i znanstveno srce Hrvatske. I položajem i kulturom spada u gradove Srednje Europe. Stari i Novi grad smatraju se spomenicima kulture i sačuvali su do danas ugođaj srednjovjekovlja te baroka.

Osnovni podaci
Zemljopisni smještaj i položaj

Zemljopisna širina: 45,815 stupnjeva sjeverno, zemljopisna dužina: 15,98306 stupnjeva istočno. Zagreb se nalazi ispod gore Medvednice, na jugozapadnom kutu Panonske nizine, na rijeci Savi. Kao raskrižje putova, Zagreb se nalazi na glavnom prometnom pravcu koji spaja Srednju Europu s Malom Azijom, te također na jednom od najlakših pristupa Jadranskom moru iz Panonske nizine.

Prolaz 16. meridijana na križanju Držićeve ulice i Ulice grada Vukovara, kojeg je Državni geodetski zavod označio 1987. godineVremenska zona

Srednjoeuropsko vrijeme (GMT +1) po ljeti (GMT +2)

Klima

umjereno topla
prosječna ljetna temperatura: 20° C
prosječna zimska temperatura: 1° C
Stanovništvo:

973.667 (2005.), Procjena za 2007. je 1,000.000 (1.300.000 metropolitansko područje).
Površina:

641 km2
Institucije:

Sveučilište,
16 kazališta,
22 muzeja,
30 galerija,
12 umjetničkih zbirki

Nastanak imena
O nastanku imena grada govori poznata legenda, u kojoj stari drevni ban, umoran i žedan, naredi djevojci Mandi da donese vode s izvora. Ban reče: "Mando, dušo, ZAGRABI" ! I tako nastane Zagreb i Manduševac...

Povijest

Zagrebačka katedrala (pogled s Gornjeg Grada)Glavni članak: Povijest Zagreba

U pisanim izvorima Zagreb se prvi puta spominje 1094., utemeljenjem Biskupije.

1242. Zagreb (tada Gradec) Zlatnom bulom hrvatsko - ugarskog kralja Bele IV. postaje slobodni kraljevski grad.
1557. Zagreb se u pisanim dokumentima prvi puta spominje kao glavni grad Hrvatske.
1607. Isusovci osnivaju prvu gimnaziju i Akademiju. Ta se godina smatra godinom utemeljenja Zagrebačkog sveučilišta.
1776. iz Varaždina je u Zagreb preseljeno sjedište Hrvatskog kraljevskog vijeća (Vlade).
7. rujna 1850. Kaptol, Gradec i Vlaška Ves ujedinjeni u grad Zagreb.
25. lipnja 1991. Sabor Republike Hrvatske proglašava neovisnost i suverenost Republike Hrvatske. Zagreb postaje glavni grad.

Vidi:

Zagrebački gradonačelnici

Demografija
Prema popisu stanovništva iz 2001. godine grad Zagreb ima 779.145 stanovnika, i to 415.153 žene i 363.992 muškarca. Šire gradsko područje okuplja više od milijun stanovnika. Prosječna starost stanovnika je 39,7 godina. Prema narodnosti većinu stanovnika čine Hrvati (oko 92%), a od nacionalnih manjina najznačajnije skupine su: Srbi, Slovenci, Bošnjaci (bosanski muslimani) i Albanci. Prema vjeri većina Zagrepčana izjašnjava se katolicima (87%), a ostale najznačajnije vjerske zajednice su: pravoslavna zajednica, islamska zajednica (2%), Jehovini svjedoci, Evangelička crkva i Reformirana kršćanska (kalvinska) crkva kao povijesne protestantske konfesije, te Adventistička crkva, Baptistička crkva te židovska zajednica. Oko 4% izjašnjava se agnosticima, a 3.5% ateistima. Najveće gradske četvrti su: Trešnjevka (više od 120 000 stanovnika), Novi Zagreb (više od 110 000 stanovnika) i Dubrava (blizu 100 000 stanovnika). Po popisu stanovništva iz 1991. godine, naseljeno mjesto Zagreb imalo je 706,770 stanovnika.

Gradska uprava

Zgrada Gradskog poglavarstvaGrad Zagreb, kao glavni grad Republike Hrvatske, ima status jedinica lokalne samouprave (grad) koja ujedno ima i položaj jedinice područne (regionalne) samouprave, odnosno županije. Status Grada Zagreba reguliran je Zakonom o Gradu Zagrebu (NN 62/2001.).

Tijela Grada Zagreba jesu:

Gradska skupština,
Gradonačelnik,
Gradsko poglavarstvo.
Gradska skupština je predstavničko tijelo građana Grada Zagreba koje donosi akte u okviru samoupravnog djelokruga Grada Zagreba te obavlja druge poslove u skladu sa zakonom i Statutom. Gradska skupština ima pedesetjednog člana.

Izvršna tijela Grada Zagreba su Gradonačelnik i Gradsko poglavarstvo.

Gradske četvrti [uredi]
Detaljniji članak o ovoj temi: Zagrebačke gradske četvrti

Na području Grada Zagreba nakon upravne podjele iz 1999. osnovane su gradske četvrti i mjesni odbori kao oblici mjesne samouprave. U Gradu Zagrebu osnovano je 17 gradskih četvrti[1]:

Donji grad
Gornji grad - Medveščak
Trnje
Maksimir
Peščenica - Žitnjak
Novi Zagreb - istok
Novi Zagreb - zapad
Trešnjevka - sjever
Trešnjevka - jug
Črnomerec
Gornja Dubrava
Donja Dubrava
Stenjevec
Podsused - Vrapče
Podsljeme
Sesvete
Brezovica

Naselja u sastavu Grada
Područje Grada Zagreba (kao jedinice lokalne uprave i samouprave), osim naselja Zagreb, obuhvaća i drugih 70 naselja. To su: Adamovec, Belovar, Blaguša, Botinec, Brebernica, Brezovica, Budenec, Buzin, Cerje, Čučerje, Demerje, Desprim, Dobrodol, Donji Čehi, Donji Dragonožec, Donji Trpuci, Drenčec, Drežnik Brezovički, Dumovec, Đurđekovec, Gajec, Glavnica Donja, Glavnica Gornja, Glavničica, Goli Breg, Goranec, Gornji Čehi, Gornji Dragonožec, Gornji Trpuci, Grančari, Havidić Selo, Horvati, Hrašće Turopoljsko, Hrvatski Leskovac, Hudi Bitek, Ivanja Reka, Jesenovec, Ježdovec, Kašina, Kašinska Sopnica, Kučilovina, Kućanec, Kupinečki Kraljevec, Lipnica, Lučko, Lužan, Mala Mlaka, Markovo Polje, Moravče, Odra, Odranski Obrež, Paruževina, Planina Donja, Planina Gornja, Popovec, Prekvršje, Prepuštovec, Sesvete , Soblinec, Starjak, Strmec, Šašinovec, Šimunčevec, Veliko Polje, Vuger Selo, Vugrovec Donji, Vugrovec Gornji, Vurnovec, Zadvorsko i Žerjavinec.

Kultura

Nacionalna i sveučilišna knjižnicaGlavni članak: Kultura u Zagrebu

Zagreb je kulturno središte Hrvatske. U gradu se nalazi više ustanova koje tradicionalno imaju velik prestiž. U glazbi je to Koncertna dvorana Vatroslava Lisinskog, u svijetu kazališta, baleta i opere Hrvatsko narodno kazalište, a među knjižnicama Nacionalna i sveučilišna knjižnica. Među brojnim kvalitetnim muzejima i galerijama, po kulturnom odjeku izložaba možda se najviše ističu Klovićevi dvori.

Osim toga, u gradu se nalaze sjedišta praktički svih važnijih kulturnih ustanova, kao što su Matica hrvatska i Društvo hrvatskih književnika. Zagreb je i mjesto održavanja više festivala sa svjetskim značenjem, kao što su Zagreb Film Festival, Animafest i Eurokaz.

Sport
Glavni članak: Sport u Zagrebu

Poznatiji profesionalni klubovi iz Zagreba:

Atletika: AK Mladost
Košarka: KK Cibona, KK Zagreb, KK Dubrava,KK Cedevita
Nogomet: NK Dinamo, NK Zagreb,
Rukomet: RK Zagreb, RK Agram Medveščak, RK Dubrava
Vaterpolo: HAVK Mladost (vaterpolo), VK Dinamo, VK Medveščak, VK ZPK, VK Zagreb
Veslanje: HAVK Mladost (veslanje), VK Trešnjevka, VK Zagreb, VK Croatia, VK Jarun
Jedna od najpoznatijih dvorana u Zagrebu je Dom sportova,koja sadrži 6 hala,najveće dvije mogu primiti 4,000 i 12,000 posjetilaca.Najviše se koristi za rukomet,košarku,odbojku,gimnastiku,tenis ali i za koncerte.

U planu je i izgradnja Arene Zagreb koja bi trebala biti završena krajem 2008 godine.Izgradnja je započela u srpnju 2007.Imati će 15 200 sjedećih mjesta ,ukljućujući teleskopske tribine,a dodatkom i stajaćih mjesta u parteru moći će primiti ukupno 25 000 posjetilaca.

KC Dražen Petrović prima oko 5 400 posjetilaca pokraj kojeg je 94 m visok Toranj Cibone

Obrazovanje

Sveučilište
Glavni članak: Sveučilište u Zagrebu

Sveučilište u Zagrebu je drugo najstarije u Hrvatskoj, osnovano nakon zadarskog (1396), i među najstarijima u Europi. Osnovano je 1669. Do danas je na Sveučilištu u Zagrebu diplomiralo je više od 200.000 studenata, magistriralo više od 18.000 i doktoriralo više od 8.000 predloženika. Na Sveučilištu u Zagrebu, znanstveno-nastavni i umjetnički rad obavlja se na 28 fakulteta, 3 umjetničke akademije, stručnoj - Učiteljskoj akademiji i sveučilišnom studiju - Hrvatskim studijima. Pri Sveučilištu djeluju 33 visoka učilišta.

Znanstvene institucije
U Zagrebu djeluju 22 instituta na područjima društvenih i prirodnih znanosti. Zagreb je sjedište HAZU - Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti koju je osnovao đakovački biskup Josip Juraj Strossmayer.

Srednje škole i gimnazije
Glavni članak: Srednje škole i gimnazije u Zagrebu

Promet

Cestovni promet

Prometni čvor LučkoSve glavne prometnice prolaze kroz Zagreb. Skoro oko cijelog grada su razne autoceste prema svim dijelovima Hrvatske. Glavna od njih je sigurno autocesta A1 Zagreb - Split - Dubrovnik, koja je u potpunosti završena do Splita, te su u tijeku radovi od Splita do Ploča sa završetkom do 2008. godine. Poslije 2008. godine nastavlja se graditi do Dubrovnika.

Druga glavna trasa je na koridoru X Transeuropskih autocestnih mreža, A3 Bregana - Zagreb - Lipovac, koja spaja sjevernu Europu s Turskom preko Balkana i Grčke. Zadnji dio te dionice od Županje do graničnog prijelaza Bajakovo sa Srbijom dovršen je na ljeto 2006.

Treća glavna trasa je autocesta A6 Zagreb - Rijeka, koja spaja glavni grad s najbližom velikom lukom na Jadranu. Djelovi te autoceste su izgrađeni kao poluautocesta, međutim do 2008. godine će se izgraditi i ta autocesta u puni profil.

Uz te tri glavne grane tu su još i autoceste A4 Zagreb - Goričan koja se u Mađarskoj spaja na autocestu prema Budimpešti, te autocesta A2 Zagreb - Macelj (dovršetak zadnje dionice Krapina - Macelj do 2007. godine), koja pripada Phyrnskoj autocesti od Nürnberga u Njemačkoj do Beograda u Srbiji (od Zagreba do Lipovca/Bajakovo Phyrnska autocesta nosi ime A3).

Uskoro počinju i radovi na novoj autocesti A11 Zagreb - Sisak, završetak dionice do Lekenika do 2008. godine, nastavak do Siska poslije 2008. godine.

Željeznički promet
Dvije od tri najvažnije europske koridorske željezničke pruge u Hrvatskoj prolaze kroz Zagreb. To su Paneuropski Željeznički koridor V (krak b) koji ide od Botova do Rijeke i Paneuropski Željeznički Koridor X koja je najvažniji željeznički pravac u Republici Hrvatskoj. Osim toga, u Zagrebu se spajaju i pruge za Karlovac i Sisak. Prigradski putnički promet je vrlo razvijen. Teretni promet se vrši obilazno. Zagreb posjeduje i veliki teretni kolodvor.

Javni gradski promet
Detaljniji članak o ovoj temi: Javni gradski promet u Zagrebu

Tramvaj NT 2200 i autobus ZET-aJavni gradski promet u Zagrebu čini mreža tramvajskih i autobusnih linija, gradsko-prigradski vlakovi te taksi vozila. Glavninu javnog gradskog prometa u Zagrebu obavlja Zagrebački električni tramvaj (ZET), koje je operator tramvajskog i autobusnog prometa, a brine se i o uspinjači i žičari, koja je trenutno izvan funkcije (očekuje se izgradnja nove). ZET je podružnica gradskog trgovačkog društva Zagrebački holding d.o.o.

Prvi električni tramvaj pušten je u promet 18. kolovoza 1910. godine. Danas, tramvajska mreža ima ukupnu dužinu od 116 km (širina tramvajskog kolosjeka je 1000 mm). Promet je organiziran u 15 dnevnih i 4 noćne linije. Autobusni promet ZET-a trenutno se sastoji od 120 autobusnih linija, od toga 69 gradskih i 51 prigradskih.

Uspinjača ZET-a spaja zagrebački Gornji i Donji grad. S prugom dugom 66 metara, poznata je i kao najkraća žičana željeznica na svijetu namjenjena javnom prometu. Službeno je puštena u pogon 8. listopada 1890. godine. Danas je zakonski zaštićena kao spomenik kulture, a također je jedna od turističkih atrakcija u Zagrebu.

Žičara "Sljeme" puštena je u promet 27. srpnja 1963. godine, a za promet je zatvorena sredinom 2007. godine (službeno je zatvorena 1. srpnja), nakon kvara na elektromotoru (5. lipnja) za koji je procijenjeno da je neisplativ za saniranje. U tijeku su pripreme za izgradnju nove moderne sljemenske žičare. Žičara je bila u funkciji prijevoza izletnika na vrh Medvednice.

U Zagrebu danas ima oko 1.150 taksi vozila, a vožnja taksijem dostupna je 24 sata dnevno. Ovlašteni koncesionar je Radio taksi Zagreb - udruženje autotaksi prijevoznika Grada Zagreba. Prvi autotaksi u Zagrebu pojavio se na Trgu Bana Jelačića 11. lipnja 1901. godine.

Gradsko-prigradskim željezničkim prijevozom koristi se radnim danom u prosjeku oko 70.000 putnika. Glavna željeznička linija prometuje na relaciji Savski Marof - Zagreb Glavni kolodvor - Dugo Selo. Hrvatske željeznice uvele su ovu liniju 1992. godine. Uz ovu liniju, drugi važni prigradski smjerovi su prema Velikoj Gorici te Jastrebarskom, a zajedno s lokalnim vlakovima iz smjera Zaboka, Novske, Karlovca i Koprivnice.

Zračni promet
Detaljniji članak o ovoj temi: Zračna luka Zagreb

Novi terminal koji bi trebao biti izgrađenZračna luka Zagreb nalazi se u naselju Pleso pored Velike Gorice. 1959. na Plesu je izgrađena putnička zgrada i platforma te se u jesen iste godine zračna luka otvara za civilni zračni promet.

Pored međunarodne zračne luke, u Lučkom postoji i manji sportski aerodrom Zračno pristanište Lučko

Znamenitosti

Trg bana Josipa Jelačića

Spomenik banu Jelačiću na istoimenom trgu

Zdenac Manduševac na Jelačić placu

Trg kralja Tomislava

Spomenik kralju Tomislavu na istoimenom trgu

Zdenac života Ivana Meštrovića ispred HNK

Hrvatsko narodno kazalište

Nacionalna i sveučilišna knjižnica

Muzej Mimara

Leksikografski zavod 'Miroslav Krleža'

Zagrebačka katedrala

S obzirom na svoju dugu povijest, Zagreb je pun mjesta koja vrijedi vidjeti, bilo turistu koji prvi puta dolazi u Zagreb, ili čovjeku rođenom u Zagrebu, koji često hoda Zagrebom znajući malo ili ništa o njegovoj bogatoj povijesti. Slijedi kraći popis spomenika ili znamenitosti Zagreba:

tzv. Lenucijeva potkova - zona 8 perivoja i 8 trgova, to su redom: Trg Nikole Šubića Zrinskog- popularno zvani Zrinjevac, nastao u 19. stoljeću, Trg J.J.Strossmayera-slavnog đakovačkog mecene, Trg kralja Tomislava- prvog hrvatskog kralja koji je tu titule dobio 925. godine,Trg Ante Starčevića, Trg Marka Marulića, Trg Mažuranića i Trg maršala Tita - gdje se nalaze zgrade Hrvatskog narodnog kazališta, Muzej za umjetnost i obrt, te zgrada Sveučilišta sa spomenikom Ivana Meštrovića - Povijest Hrvata.(Tomislavov trg s Umjetničkim paviljonom, Strossmayerov trg, Zrinjevac),
Gornji grad (katedrala, crkva sv. Marka, kula Lotrščak, Strosmayerovo šetalište, kamenita vrata...)
groblje Mirogoj
Medvednica (Sljeme, stari grad Medvedgrad)
perivoj Maksimir
Dom hrvatskih likovnih umjetnika (popularna Džamija) - arhitekt Muzeja bio je kipar Ivan Meštrović
poslovni neboder Zagrepčanka
stambena zgrada Mamutica

Gradovi prijatelji
Zagreb ima uspostavljenu prijateljsku suradnju sa sljedećim gradovima:[2]

Mainz, Njemačka (1967.)
St. Petersburg, Rusija (1968.)
Tromsø, Norveška (1971.)
Kyoto, Japan (1972.)
Kraków, Poljska (1975.)
Lisabon, Portugal (1977.)
Pittsburgh, SAD (1980.)
Šangaj, Kina (1980.)
Bologna, Italija (1984.)
Budimpešta, Njemačka (1994.)
Beč, Austrija (1994.)
Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina (2001.)
Ljubljana, Slovenija (2001.)
Podgorica, Crna Gora (2006.)

Poznate osobe
Relja Bašić, glumac
Franjo Bruna, astronom i meteorolog
Krešimir Ćosić, košarkaš
Dimitrija Demeter, književnik
Branko Gavella, redatelj i teatrolog
Ivo Karlović, tenisač
Ivica Kostelić, alpski skijaš
Janica Kostelić, alpska skijašica
Miroslav Krleža, književnik
Ivana Lang, skladateljica
Vatroslav Lisinski, skladatelj
Željko Mavrović, boksač
Pavao Skalić, humanist i polihistor
Marin Soljačić, fizičar
Ivan Supek, fizičar i filozof
August Šenoa, književnik
Branko Zebec, nogometaš i trener

 

ZAGREB

Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of Croatia. Zagreb is the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental center of the Republic of Croatia. The city's population in 2006 was 784,900[2] (approx. 1.1 million in the metropolitan area). It is situated between the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain and both northern and southern bank of the Sava river at an elevation of approximately 122 m above sea level.

Its favorable geographic position in the southwestern part of the Pannonian Basin, which extends to the Alpine, Dinaric, Adriatic and Pannonic regions, provides an excellent connection for traffic between Central Europe and the Adriatic Sea.

The transport connections, concentration of industry, scientific and research institutions and industrial tradition underlie its leading economic position in Croatia. Zagreb is the seat of the central government, administrative bodies and almost all government ministries.

Demographics

Tkalčićeva street in the historic part of ZagrebSee also: Demographics of Zagreb
Zagreb is the largest city in Croatia, and is the only Croatian city whose metropolitan population exceeds one million people. Most people live in the city proper. There are 1,088,841 people in the Zagreb metropolitan area, which includes the smaller cities of Samobor, Velika Gorica and Zaprešić. While the official 2001 census states that the population of Zagreb itself is 779,145, the official estimation for 2006 is 784,900.[2] The majority of its citizens are Croats making up 91.94% of the city's population (2001 census). The same census records 40,066 residents belonging to ethnic minorities. Such ethnic minorities comprise: 18,811 Serbs (2.41%), 6,204 Bosniaks (0.80%), 4,030 Muslims by nationality (0.52%), 3,389 Albanians (0.43%), 3,225 Slovenians (0.41%), 1,946 Roma (0.25%), 1,131 Montenegrins (0.17%), 1,315 Macedonians (0.17%), together with other smaller minor ethnic communities.[3]

Climate
The climate of Zagreb is continental, with four separate seasons. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cold. The average temperature in winter is 1°C (34°F) and the average temperature in summer is 20°C (68°F). The end of May, particularly, gets very warm, with temperatures rising above 30°C (86°F). Snowfall is common in the winter months, from December to March, and rain and fog are common in autumn (October to December).[4]

Climate Table Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Rainfall (mm) 52 48 56 68 83 95 79 79 79 93 86 67
Rainfall (Inches) 2.1 1.9 2.2 2.7 3.3 3.7 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.7 3.4 2.6
Average low (°C) -3 -3 1 5 9 13 14 14 11 6 2 -1
Average high (°C) 3 5 11 15 20 23 25 25 22 15 8 3
Average low (°F) 25 27 34 41 48 55 58 57 51 43 35 29
Average high (°F) 37 41 52 58 68 74 78 77 71 59 47 38

Origin of name

St. Mark's ChurchSee also: Names of European cities in different languages
The modern name Zagreb likely comes from the Croatian word "zagrabiti", which cannot exactly be translated into English directly; its meaning could best be expressed by saying, "to scoop up" or "scoop out". There are several legends about the origins of the name of Zagreb. According to one legend, a lady was thirsty and she took water from a lake (now the fountain) Manduševac in Zagreb. While she was taking the water, other people shouted, "Zagrebi Mando, zagrebi!" which means, "Take it, Manda, take it!". Another legend says that a Croatian ban (viceroy) was moving with his army through a deserted region and the soldiers were struck by thirst. In his anger, the ban thrust his sabre into the ground, at which point water began to pour out, and he ordered the soldiers to scrape the soil, or zagreb in Croatian, in order to get to the water.

The verb zagreb in the sense of digging is also believed to have something to do with the name of the city as the city lay behind a water-filled hole (graba). This theory is supported by some scientists.

There is also an interesting theory that Zagreb may mean a place behind a hill ("za breg"), i.e. behind the Sava river's bank, and then the name just changed into Zagreb. This theory is supported by the fact that Sava had once flowed nearer to the centre of the city. At today's Ban Jelačić square in the very centre of Zagreb, pieces of what was once a wooden boat have been unearthed.

Some scientists believe that the name Zagreb is not of Slavic origin, just as the name Croat (Croatian: Hrvat) is believed not to be of that origin. However, if the name does derive from Slavic origins, then possibly the most acceptable explanation is the city za grebom, i.e. "behind the tomb". The tomb could be the one in Držićeva Avenue or one of many other still undiscovered tombs near Grič or Kaptol.

The name used in Austria for a long time was Agram, while Germany sticks to the Croatian name.

History

Plan of Gradec and Kaptol in 12th century
Burza square in 1930sMain article: History of Zagreb
See also: History of Croatia

[edit] Early Zagreb
The history of Zagreb dates as far back as 1094 when the Hungarian King Ladislaus founded a diocese. Alongside the bishop's see the canonical settlement Kaptol developed north of the Cathedral, as did the fortified settlement Gradec on the neighbouring hill. Today the latter is Zagreb's Upper Town (Gornji Grad) and is one of the best preserved urban nuclei in Croatia. Both settlements came under Tatar attack in 1242. As a sign of gratitude for offering him a safe haven from the Tatar the Croatian and Hungarian King Bela IV bestowed Gradec with a Golden Bull, which offered its citizens exemption from county rule and autonomy, as well as its own judicial system. According to legend, Bela left Gradec a cannon, under the condition that it be fired every day so that it did not rust. Since 1 January 1877 the cannon is fired from the Lotrščak Tower on Grič to mark midday.

The main square of the Gornji Grad is dominated by the Gothic church of St. Mark's. It was built at the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century and a late Baroque bell tower was added later.

Fighting ensued between the Zagreb diocese and the free sovereign town of Gradec for land and mills. Sometimes also for political reasons. The term Zagreb was used for these two separate boroughs in the 16th century. Zagreb was then seen as the political centre and the capital of Croatia and Slavonia. In 1850 the town was united under its first mayor - Josip Kaufman.[5]

17th and 18th century

Ban Jelačić Square in 1880.It was not until the 17th century and Nikola Frankopan that Zagreb was chosen as the seat of the Croatian viceroys in 1621. At the invitation of the Croatian Parliament the Jesuits came to Zagreb and built the first grammar school, the St. Catherine's Church and monastery. In 1669 they founded an academy where philosophy, theology and law were taught.

During the 17th and 18th centuries Zagreb was badly devastated by fire and the plague. In 1776 the royal council (government) moved from Varaždin to Zagreb and during the reign of Joseph II Zagreb became the headquarters of the Varaždin and Karlovac general command.[6]

19th to early 20th century

Zagreb CathedralIn the 19th century Zagreb was the center of the Croatian National Revival and saw the erection of important cultural and historic institutions.

The first railway line to connect Zagreb with Zidani Most and Sisak was opened in 1862 and in 1863 Zagreb received a gasworks. The Zagreb waterworks was opened in 1878 and the first horse-drawn tramcar was used in 1891. The construction of the railway lines enabled the old suburbs to merge gradually into Donji Grad, characterized by a regular block pattern that prevails in Central European cities. This bustling core hosts many imposing buildings, monuments, and parks as well as a multitude of museums, theaters and cinemas. An electric power plant was erected in 1907 and development flourished 1880-1914 after the earthquake in Zagreb when the town received the characteristic layout it has today.

Working class quarters emerged between the railway and the Sava, whereas the construction of residential quarters on the hills of the southern slopes of Medvednica was completed between the two World Wars.

From 1921 - 1931 the population of Zagreb went up by 70 percent — the largest demographic boom in the history of Zagreb. In 1926 the first radio station in the region began broadcasting out of Zagreb, and in 1947 the Zagreb Fair was opened.[7]

Modern Zagreb
The area between the railway and the Sava river witnessed a new construction boom after World War II. After the mid-1950s, construction of new residential areas south of the Sava river began, resulting in Novi Zagreb (New Zagreb). The city also expanded westward and eastward, incorporating Dubrava, Podsused, Jarun, Blato, and other settlements.

The cargo railway hub and the international airport Pleso were built south of the Sava river. The largest industrial zone (Žitnjak) in the southeast represents an extension of the industrial zones on the eastern outskirts of the city, between the river Sava and Prigorje region.

In 1987 Zagreb hosted the Universiade.

In 1991, it became the capital of the country following secession from Second Yugoslavia. During the 1991-1995 Croatian War of Independence, it was a scene of some sporadic fighting surrounding its JNA army barracks, but escaped major damage. In May 1995, it was targeted by Serb rocket artillery in the Zagreb rocket attack that killed seven civilians.

Urbanized lines of settlements connect Zagreb with the centres in its surroundings: Sesvete, Zaprešić, Samobor, Dugo Selo and Velika Gorica. Sesvete is the closest one to become a part of the conurbation and is in fact already included in the City of Zagreb.

Economy

HOTO Tower and Zagrepčanka in the background
Eurotower, a recently built skyscraperMost important branches of industry are: production of electric machines and devices, chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, food and drink processing. Zagreb is international trade and business center, and the transport crossroad of Central and East Europe.[9]

The city of Zagreb has the highest nominal GDP per capita in Croatia ($ 14,480, compared to the 2004 Croatian average of $ 8,024)[10] (according to IMF, the EU average GDP per capita was 29,476 USD).

As of October 2007, the average monthly net salary in Zagreb was 5,828 kuna, about $1,136 in 2008 (Croatian average is 4,871 kuna, about $949 in 2007) .[11] In 2006 the average unemployment rate in Zagreb was around 8.6%.[1]

34% of companies in Croatia have headquarters in Zagreb, and 38.4% of Croatian workforce works in Zagreb, including almost all banks, utility and public transport companies.

Companies in Zagreb create 52% of total turnover and 60% of total profit of Croatia in 2006 as well as 37% of Croatian export.[12]

Cityscape
The most important recent high-rise constructions are:

Almeria Tower
Center Črnomerec (construction starts in 2008)
Neboder
Sky Office Tower (construction starts in 2008)
Tower 123 (construction starts in 2008)
Cibona Tower
Eurotower
HOTO Tower
Mamutica
Zagrepčanka
Zagreb TV Tower
Zagrebtower

Metropolitan administration

Croatian National Bank (HNB)According to the Constitution, the city of Zagreb, as the capital of Croatia, has special status. As such, Zagreb performs self-governing public affairs of both city and county.

City administration bodies: city assembly as representative body, mayor and city government as executive body.

Members of the city assembly are elected at direct elections. Members of the city assembly elect the mayor and members of the city government by majority vote.

City government has 11 members elected on mayor's proposal by the city assembly by majority vote. The mayor is the head of city government and has two deputies.

Organization of city administrative bodies is composed of 12 city offices, 3 city bureaus and 3 city services. They are responsible to the mayor and the city government.

Local self-government is organized in 17 city districts represented by City District Councils. Residents of districts elect members of Councils.[13]

City districts
The major city districts ("gradske četvrti" in Croatian):[14]

No. District Area (km²) Population (2001) Population density
1. Donji Grad 3 45,108 14956.2
2. Gornji Grad - Medveščak 10 36,384 3593.5
3. Trnje 7 45,267 6146.2
4. Maksimir 14 49,750 3467.1
5. Peščenica - Žitnjak 35 58,283 1651.3
6. Novi Zagreb - istok 17 65,301 3947.1
7. Novi Zagreb - zapad 63 48,981 782.5
8. Trešnjevka - sjever 6 55,358 9498.6
9. Trešnjevka - jug 10 67,162 6828.1
10. Črnomerec 24 38,762 1593.4
11. Gornja Dubrava 40 61,388 1524.1
12. Donja Dubrava 11 35,944 3321.1
13. Stenjevec 12 41,257 3387.3
14. Podsused - Vrapče 36 42,360 1175.1
15. Podsljeme 60 17,744 295.2
16. Sesvete 165 59,212 358.3
17. Brezovica 127 10,884 85.4
TOTAL 641 779,145 1214.9

[edit] City government
See also: List of mayors of Zagreb
The current mayor of Zagreb is Milan Bandić (SDP).

The city assembly is composed of 51 representatives, presided by Tatjana Holjevac (ind. rep.), coming from the following political parties:

Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) 19
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) 7
Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) 6
Croatian People's Party-Liberal Democrats (HNS) 4
Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU) 3
Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) 3
Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) 1
Democratic Centre (DC) 1
Independent 7
Based on the results of elections held in 2005.[15]

Transport

"Glavni kolodvor" - Central railway station on King Tomislav Square.
[edit] Highways
See also: Transport_in_Croatia#Highways_and_expressways
Zagreb is the hub of five major Croatian highways. Until a few years ago all Croatian highways either started or ended in Zagreb.

The highways A1 and A6 start at Lučko interchange and concur until the Bosiljevo interchange. The former leads to Rijeka and forms a part of the Corridor Vb while the latter connects Zagreb and Split (as of September 2007 Šestanovac). Further extension of A1 up to Dubrovnik is in construction. Both highways are tolled.

Highway A3 (formerly named Bratstvo i jedinstvo) was the showpiece of Croatia in the SFRY. It is the oldest Croatian highway. A3 forms a part of the Corridor X. The highway starts at the Bregana border crossing, bypasses Zagreb forming a big part of the Zagreb bypass and ends at Lipovac near the Bajakovo border crossing. It continues in Southeast Europe in the direction of Near East. This highway is tolled except for a stretch between Bobovica and Ivanja Reka interchanges.

Highway A2 is a branch of the Corridor X. It connects Zagreb and the frequently congested Macelj border crossing forming a continuous highway-level link between Zagreb and Western Europe except for the Slovenian part, which is still just a primary route.

Forming a part of the Corridor Vb, highway A4 starts in Zagreb forming the northeastern wing of the Zagreb bypass and leads to Hungary until the Goričan broder crossing. It is the least used highway around Zagreb.

The railway running along the Sutla river and the Zagorje main road (Zagreb - Maribor - Vienna), as well as traffic connections with the Pannonian region and Hungary (the Zagorje railroad, the roads and railway to Varaždin - Čakovec and Koprivnica) are linked with truck routes.

The southern railway connection to Split operates on a line via the Lika region (renovated in 2004 to allow for a five-hour journey); a faster line along the Una river valley is currently in use only up to the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The railway and the highway A3 along the Sava river that extends to Slavonia (towards Slavonski Brod, Vinkovci, Osijek and Vukovar) are some of the busiest traffic corridors in the country.[16]

Roads

Zagrebačka AvenueThe city has road network with several main arteries up to six lanes wide and Zagreb bypass, a full-profile four-lane highway encircling most of the city. There is congestion in the city center and parking problem at rush hour. The parking problem is supposed to be somewhat alleviated by the construction of new underground multi-storey parking lots (Importanne Centre, Importanne Gallery, Lang Square, Tuškanac, Kvaternik Square, Klaić Street).

Bridges
As of 2007, Zagreb has seven road traffic bridges across the river Sava. In downstream order, these are:

Podsused bridge (Podsusedski most) (1982): a not widely known two-lane bridge connecting Zagreb to its close exurbs by old road to Samobor, and the fastest route to Bestovje and Strmec. It carries Franjo Tuđman street. It is also designed to carry Zagreb-Samobor commuter train (not yet constructed).
Jankomir bridge (Jankomirski most) (1958, 2006): a modern, recently upgraded four-lane bridge connecting Ljubljanska Avenue to Jankomir interchange and Zagreb bypass. It carries Ljubljanska avenue
Adriatic bridge (Jadranski most) (1981): being the most widely known bridge in Zagreb, it's a six-lane bridge connecting parts of Western Zagreb north and south of Sava. The bridge spans from Savska street in the north to Western traffic circle in the south. It also carries tram tracks
Sava bridge (Savski most) (1938): Anecdotically, the official name is New Sava bridge, but it is the oldest existing bridge over Sava; closed for motor vehicles upon construction of Adriatic bridge. Known between experts due to some construction details.[17]
Freedom bridge (Most slobode) (1959): a four-lane bridge. It carries Većeslav Holjevac avenue
Youth bridge (Most mladosti) (1974): a six-lane bridge with tram tracks, connects east Novi Zagreb to districts Peščenica, Donja Dubrava and Maksimir. It carries Marin Držić avenue
Homeland bridge (Domovinski most): built in spring 2007, this bridge is the last bridge built on Sava to date; it links Peščenica to Pleso and Velika Gorica. It is four-lane bridge with two bicycle and two pedestrian lanes and space for tram tracks. It carries Radnička street and state route D38 spanning from the intersection with Petruševec quay to the Kosnica highway interchange. Implementation of tram tracks is in the planning stage.
There are two rail traffic bridges across Sava, near Sava bridge and near Mičevec.

Public transportation
Public transportation in the city is organized in two layers: the inner parts of the city are mostly covered by trams and the outer suburbs are linked with buses. The public transportation company, ZET (Zagrebački električni tramvaj, Zagreb Electric Tram), operating trams all inner bus lines and the most of the suburban lines, is subsidized by the city council.

The funicular (uspinjača) in the historic part of the city is a tourist attraction. Taxis are readily available, but very expensive.

As of 1992, the state rail operator HŽ (Hrvatske željeznice, Croatian Railways) has been developing a network of suburban trains in metropolitan Zagreb area.

Tram network
Main article: ZET

ZET low floor tram on line 6Zagreb has an extensive tram network with 15 day and 4 night lines covering much of the inner- and middle-suburbs of the city. Trams commenced on September 5, 1891 and have been in continual service since. Trams usually travel at speeds of 25-50 km/h (15-30 mph), but slow considerably during rush hour. The network is unique as it operates mostly at the curb.

An ambitious program is currently underway to replace old trams with the new and modern ones built mostly in Zagreb by companies Končar elektroindustrija and, to a lesser extent, by TŽV Gredelj. Dubbed "TMK 2200", 70 trams have been delivered in 2005-2007 period, and delivery of additional 70 trams is contracted and already started.[18]

Suburban rail network
See also: Croatian Railways and Samoborček
In 2005, suburban rail services were increased to a 15-minute frequency serving the middle and outer suburbs of Zagreb, primarily in the east-west direction and to the southern districts. This has enhanced commuting opportunity.

A new link to the nearby town of Samobor has been announced and is due to start operations in 2009. This link will be standard-gauge and tie in with normal Croatian Railways operations (the previous narrow-gauge line to Samobor was closed in the 1970s).

Air traffic
Main article: Zagreb Airport
Zagreb Airport (IATA: ZAG, ICAO: LDZA), known as 'Pleso Airport' is the main Croatian international airport, situated 14 km south-west from Zagreb in the suburb of Pleso. The airport is also a main Croatian airbase featuring helicopters, as well as military and freight transport aircraft. New terminal is planned for 2011 to replace the current inadequate building, with construction commencing in 2008.[19]

Zagreb has a second, smaller airport, Lučko (ICAO: LDZL). It is home to sports airplanes and the Croatian special police, as well as a military helicopter airbase. Lučko was once the main airport for Zagreb.

A third, small grass airfield, Buševec, is located just outside Velika Gorica. It is primarily used for sports purposes.

Education
There are 136 primary schools and 100 secondary schools including 30 gymnasiums.[20][21] There are 5 public higher education institution and 9 private professional higher education schools.[22]

Zagreb Classical Gymnasium

Classical Gymnasium in Zagreb.Main article: Classical Gymnasium in Zagreb
Zagreb is the home of the oldest secondary school in Croatia and the southeastern part of Europe - the Zagreb Classical Gymnasium (Klasična gimnazija). It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1607 and has operated continuously ever since.

The school was bombed on May 2, 1995 during the bombing of Zagreb in the Croatian war of independence.

University
Main article: Zagreb University

Zagreb University (Rectorate and Law school building).The University of Zagreb (1669) is the oldest and one of the largest universities in South-Eastern Europe. Ever since its foundation, the University has been continually growing and developing and now consists of 29 faculties, three art academies and the Centre for Croatian Studies.

Cultural sites

[edit] Museums
Zagreb's numerous museums reflect the history, art and culture not only of Zagreb and Croatia, but also of Europe and the world. Around thirty collections in museums and galleries comprise more than 3.6 million various exhibits, excluding church and private collections.

Archeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum (19 Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square) collections, today consisting of nearly 400,000 varied artifacts and monuments, have been gathered over the years from many different sources. These holdings include evidence of Croatian presence in the area.[23] The most famous are the Egyptian collection, the Zagreb mummy and bandages with the oldest Etruscan inscription in the world (Liber Linteus Zagrabiensis), as well as the numismatic collection.

Croatian Natural History Museum

The Croatian Natural History Museum (1 Demetrova Street) holds the world's most extensive collection of Neanderthal remains found at one site.[neutrality disputed][24] These are the remains, stone weapons and tools of prehistoric Krapina man. The holdings of the Croatian Natural History Museum comprise more than 250,000 specimens distributed among various different collections.

Technical Museum

The Technical Museum (18 Savska Street) was founded in 1954 and it maintains the oldest preserved machine in the area, dating from 1830, which is still operational. The museum exhibits numerous historic aircraft, cars, machinery and equipment. There are some distinct sections in the museum: the Planetarium, the Apisarium, the Mine (model of mines for coal, iron and non-ferrous metals, about 300 m long), and the Nikola Tesla study.[25]

Museum of the City of Zagreb

The Museum of the City of Zagreb (20 Opatička Street) was established in 1907 by the Association of the Braća Hrvatskog Zmaja. It is located in a restored monumental complex (Popov toranj, the Observatory, Zakmardi Granary) of the former Convent of the Poor Clares, of 1650.[26] The Museum deals with topics from the cultural, artistic, economic and political history of the city spanning from Roman finds to the modern period. The holdings comprise 75,000 items arranged systematically into collections of artistic and mundane objects characteristic of the city and its history.

Arts and Crafts Museum

The Arts and Crafts Museum (10 Marshal Tito Square) was founded in 1880 with the intention of preserving the works of art and craft against the new predominance of industrial products. With its 160,000 exhibits, the Arts and Crafts Museum is a national-level museum for artistic production and the history of material culture in Croatia.[27]

Ethnographic Museum

The Ethnographic Museum (14 Ivan Mažuranić Square) was founded in 1919. It lies in the fine Secession building of the one-time Trades Hall of 1903. The ample holdings of about 80,000 items cover the ethnographic heritage of Croatia, classified in the three cultural zones: the Pannonian, Dinaric and Adriatic.[28]

Mimara Museum

Mimara Museum at nightMain article: Mimara Museum
The museum called the "Art Collection of Ante and Wiltrud Topić Mimara" or, for short, the Mimara Museum (5 Roosevelt Square), was founded with a donation from Ante "Mimara" Topić and opened to the public in 1987. It is located in a late 19th century neo-Renaissance palace.[29] The holdings comprise 3,750 works of art of various techniques and materials, and different cultures and civilisations.

Croatian Naive Art Museum

The Croatian Naive Art Museum (3 Ćirilometodska Street) is considered to be the first museum of naive art in the world.[citation needed] The museum keeps works of Croatian naive expression of the 20th century. It is located in the 18th century Raffay Palace in the Upper City (Gornji Grad). The museum holdings consist of 1500 works of art - paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints, mainly by Croatians but also by other well-known world artists.[30] From time to time, the museum organises topics and retrospective exhibitions by naive artists, expert meetings and educational workshops and playrooms.

Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art was founded in 1954 and a rich collection of Croatian and foreign contemporary visual art has been collected throughout the decades. The Museum (2 St. Catherine's Square) is located in a space within the Kulmer Palace in the Upper City (Gornji Grad). A new Museum building in Novi Zagreb has been under construction since 2003.[31] The Museum's permanent art collection will be presented to the public when it moves into its new building planned for 2007.

Other museums and galleries

Valuable historical collections are also found in the Croatian School Museum, the Croatian Hunting Museum, the Croatian Sports Museum, the Croatian Post and Telecommunications Museum, the HAZU (Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts) Glyptotheque (collection of monuments), and the HAZU Graphics Cabinet.

The Strossmayer's Old Masters Gallery (11 Zrinski Square) offers permanent holdings presenting European paintings from the 14th to 19th centuries,[32] and the Ivan Meštrović Studio, (8 Mletačka Street) with sculptures, drawings, lithography portfolios and other items, was a donation of this great artist to his homeland The Museum and Gallery Centre (4 Jesuit Square) introduces on various occasions the Croatian and foreign cultural and artistic heritage. The Art Pavilion (22 King Tomislav Square) by Viennese architects Hellmer and Fellmer who were the most famous designers of theatres in Central Europe is a neo-classical exhibition complex and one of the landmarks of the city centre. The exhibitions are also held in the impressive Meštrović building on Hrvatskih Velikana Square — the Home of Croatian Fine Artists. The World Centre "Wonder of Croatian Naïve Art" (12 Ban Jelačić Square) exhibits masterpieces of Croatian naive art as well as the works of a new generation of artists. The Modern Gallery (1 Hebrangova Street) comprises all relevant fine artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Other cultural sites and events

Croatian National Theatre (HNK)There are about 20 permanent or seasonal theaters and stages. The Croatian National Theater was built in 1895 and opened by emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. The most renowned concert hall is named "Vatroslav Lisinski", after the composer of the first Croatian opera was built in 1973.

Animafest, the World Festival of Animated Films, takes place every even-numbered year, and the Music Bienniale, the international festival of avant-garde music, every odd-numbered year. The Festival of the Zagreb Philharmonic and the flowers exhibition Floraart (end of May or beginning of June), the Old-timer Rally, the Week of Contemporary Dance, as well as Eurokaz, the international festival of contemporary theater (in June) represent annual events. In the summer, theater performances and concerts, mostly in the Upper Town, are organized either indoors or outdoors. The stage on Opatovina hosts the Zagreb Histrionic Summer theater events.

Zagreb is also the host of Zagrebfest, the oldest Croatian pop-music festival, as well as of several traditional international sports events and tournaments. The Day of the City of Zagreb on the (16th of November) is celebrated every year with special festivities, especially on the Jarun lake near the southwestern part of the city.

Religious organizations
The Archdiocese of Zagreb is a metropolitan see of the Catholic Church in Croatia, serving as its religious center. The current Archbishop is Josip Cardinal Bozanić.

Zagreb is also the Episcopal see of the Metropolitan of Zagreb, Ljubljana and all of Italy of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The current Metropolitan is Jovan.

Islamic religious organization of Croatia has the see in Zagreb. Current president is Mufti Ševko Omerbašić.

Surroundings
The wider Zagreb area has been continuously inhabited since the prehistoric period, as witnessed by archaeological findings in the Veternica cave from the Paleolithic and excavation of the remains of the Roman Andautonia near the present village of Ščitarjevo.

The picturesque former villages on the slopes of Medvednica, Šestine, Gračani and Remete, maintain their rich traditions, including folk costumes, Šestine umbrellas, and gingerbread products.

The Medvednica Mountain (Zagrebačka gora), with its highest peak Sljeme (1,033 m), provides a panoramic view of metropolitan Zagreb, the Sava and the Kupa valleys, and the region of Hrvatsko Zagorje. In mid-January 2005, Sljeme held its first World Ski Championship tournament.

From the summit, weather permitting, the vista reaches as far as Velebit Range along Croatia's rocky northern coast, as well as the snow-capped peaks of the towering Julian Alps in neighbouring Slovenia. There are several lodging villages, offering accommodation and restaurants for hikers. Skiers visit Sljeme, which has four ski-runs, three ski-lifts and a chairlift.

Old Medvedgrad, the recently restored medieval burg built in the 13th century, represents a special attraction of Medvednica hill. It overlooks the western part of the city and also has the Shrine of the Homeland, a memorial with an eternal flame, where Croatia pays reverence to all its heroes fallen for homeland in its history, customarily on national holidays. Travel agencies organize guided excursions to the surroundings as well as sightseeing in Zagreb itself.

Tourism

Hotel Esplanade/RegentZagreb is an important tourist center, not only in terms of passengers travelling from Western and Central Europe to the Adriatic Sea, but also as a travel destination itself. Since the end of the war, it has attracted around half a million visitors annually, mainly from Austria, Germany and Italy. However, the city has even greater potential as many tourists that visit Croatia skip Zagreb in order to visit the beaches along the Croatian Adriatic coast and old historic Renaissance cities such as Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar.

The historical part of the city to the north of Ban Jelačić Square is comprised of the Upper Town and Kaptol, a medieval urban complex of churches, palaces, museums, galleries and government buildings that are popular with tourists on sightseeing tours. The old town's streets and squares can be reached on foot, starting from Jelačić Square, the central part and the heart of Zagreb, or by a funicular on nearby Tomićeva Street.

Souvenirs and gastronomy
Numerous shops, boutiques, store houses and shopping centres offer a variety of quality clothing. Zagreb's offerings include crystal, china and ceramics, wicker or straw baskets, and top-quality Croatian wines and gastronomic products.

Zagreb souvenirs:

the tie or cravat, an accessory named after Croats who wore characteristic scarves around their necks in the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century
the ball-point pen, a tool developed from the inventions by Slavoljub Eduard Penkala, who was a citizen of Zagreb
Many Zagreb restaurants offer various specialities of national and international cuisine. Domestic products which deserve to be tasted include turkey, duck or goose with mlinci (a kind of pasta), štrukli (cottage cheese strudel), sir i vrhnje (cottage cheese with cream), kremšnite (custard slices in flaky pastry), and orehnjača (traditional walnut roll).

Recreation and sports

Sport centers

A look at the Zrinjevac park in the city centerThere are several sports and recreational centers in Zagreb. Recreational Sports Centre Jarun, situated on Jarun Lake in the southwest of the city, has fine shingle beaches, a world-class regatta course, a jogging lane around the lake, several restaurants, many night clubs and a discotheque. Its sports and recreation opportunities include swimming, sunbathing, waterskiing, angling and other water sports, but also beach volleyball, football, basketball, handball, table tennis, and miniature golf.

Dom Sportova (Home of sports) features six halls. The largest two can accommodate 4,000 and 12,000 people. This center is used for basketball, handball, volleyball, hockey, gymnastics, tennis, and many others. It is also used for concerts.

Zagreb Arena is going to be finished by the end of 2008. The construction started in July 2007. It's going to have 16.300 seats and it will be used for many sports and events.

The Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall seats 5,400. Alongside it is the 94 m glass Cibona Tower.

Sports Park Mladost, situated along the embankment of the Sava river, has an Olympic-size swimming pool, smaller indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sunbathing terrace, 16 tennis courts as well as basketball, volleyball, handball, football and field hockey courts. A volleyball sports hall is within the park. Sports and Recreational Centre Šalata, only a couple hundred metres from the city centre, is most attractive for tennis players. It comprises a big tennis court and eight smaller ones, two of which are covered by the so-called "balloon", and another two equipped with lights. The Centre also has swimming pools, basketball courts, football fields, a gym and fitness centre, and a four-lane bowling alley. Outdoor ice skating is a popular winter recreation at Šalata. There are also several fine restaurants within and near the Centre.

Tennis Centre Maksimir, in the part of the city called Ravnice to the east of the centre, consists of two sports blocks. The first comprises a tennis centre situated in a large tennis hall with four courts. There are 22 outdoor tennis courts with lights. The other block offers multipurpose sports facilities: apart from tennis courts, there are handball, basketball, indoor football grounds, as well as track and field facilities, a bocci ball alley and table tennis opportunities.

Recreational swimmers can enjoy a smaller-size indoor swimming pool in Daničićeva Street, and a newly opened indoor Olympic-sized pool at Utrina sports centre in Novi Zagreb. Skaters can skate in the skating rink on Trg Sportova (Sports Square) and on the lake Jarun Skaters' park. Hippodrome Zagreb offers recreational horseback riding opportunities, while horse races are held every weekend during the warmer part of the year.

The 40,000 seat Maksimir Stadium, currently under renovation, is located in the eastern part of the city. When completed, it will seat 55,000 spectators, and sport a fully retractable roof. It will finally serve Zagreb somewhat more appropriately. The stadium is part of the immense Svetice recreational and sports complex (SRC Svetice), south of the heavily wooded Maksimir Park. The complex covers an area of 276,440 m². It is part of a significant Green Zone, which passes from Medvednica Mountains in the north towards the south. SRC Svetice, together with Maksimir Park, creates an ideal connection of areas which are assigned to sport, recreation and leisure.

The latest larger recreational facility is Bundek, a group of two small lakes near the Sava in Novi Zagreb, surrounded by a partly forested park. The location had been used prior to the 1970s, but then went to neglect until 2006 when it was renovated.

Notable clubs from Zagreb
Club Leagues Venue Established
NK Dinamo Zagreb Croatian First Football League Maksimir Stadium 1911 Građanski, Formed in 1945
NK Zagreb Croatian First Football League Stadium Kranjčevićeva 1903
NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac Croatian Second Football League Stadion u Sigetu 1975
KK Cibona Euroleague, NLB League (regional) and A1 Basketball League (national) Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall 1946
KK Zagreb NLB League (regional) and A1 Basketball League (national) Športska Dvorana Trnsko 1970
KK Cedevita A1 Basketball League Športska Dvorana Sutinska Vrela 1991
RK Zagreb Croatian First Handball League Dom Sportova 1922
HAVK Mladost Croatian First Water polo League PVC Mladost na Savi 1946
AOK Mladost Croatian 1A Volleyball League Dom Odbojke 1945

Zagreb is officially twinned with the following towns and cities:[33]

Mainz, Germany (1967)
St. Petersburg, Russia (1968)
Tromsø, Norway (1971)
Kyoto, Japan (1972)
Kraków, Poland (1975)
Lisbon, Portugal (1977)
Pittsburgh, U.S. (1980)
Shanghai, China (1980)
Budapest, Hungary (1994)
Vienna, Austria (1994)
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2001)
Ljubljana, Slovenia (2001)
Podgorica, Montenegro (2006)