Description of the attraction
The City Museum of Zagreb was founded in 1907. In its ninetieth year of existence, in 1997, the Museum opened its sixth permanent exhibition, which was held for the first time in a renovated and appropriate room using modern technology. The exhibition presented the past of the city of Zagreb from the prehistory, traces of which were recently discovered under the building of the museum itself, to the present day.
The combination of thematic and chronological approaches, as well as the application of modern museological and technological principles, have increased the visitor's interest in the City Museum of Zagreb today. The permanent exhibition provides a portrait of the city in all its aspects, covering politics, church, history, economics and business, urban planning and architecture, history of art and literature, entertainment and everyday life. A variety of themes and exhibits, ranging from rare items to garden supplies, from artistic to popular, give the museum a special charm. Through its thematic sequence, the exhibition takes the visitor into the rich life of Zagreb and demonstrates the changes in its urban landscape.
The building that now houses the museum was once a monastery of the Clarice women (1650), and is itself a historical monument of great importance. During the renovation of the premises (1989-1997), archaeologists carried out additional excavations, which brought new information. Therefore, the permanent exhibition begins with an interpretation of the archaeological finds, which are presented in the very place where they were found. The museum presents prehistoric settlements built in the 7th century BC, i.e. in the early Iron Age, as well as the home and workshop of the late Iron Age culture.
The museum presents forty-five themes in an interesting, consistent and documented manner. Each period is illustrated with characteristic objects, which gives the visitor a vivid portrait of Zagreb, starting with the legend of the origin of the city's name, telling about the life of Medieval Hradec, various symbols of the city, and ending with the story of the Church of St. Mark.
The museum has restored the shops and shop windows of Ilica, recreating the feeling of everyday life in this most important shopping street of the 19th century. Particular attention is paid to the Green Horseshoe urban planning program with models of the most important buildings taken from the Zagreb plan, creating a typical atmosphere from the late 19th century.
The 20th century is characterized by characteristic records that tell about the most important and interesting events characteristic of this period, including life in Zagreb during the First and Second World Wars, and the fear and uncertainty that the city experienced in 1945.
The City Museum of Zagreb was nominated for the title of "European Museum of the Year" in 2000.
