Wander Zagreb: a detailed guide to Croatia’s capital

A bit of context

Zagreb is the capital and largest city of Croatia. Located between the banks of the Sava River and the slopes of Mount Medvednica, it is 120 meters above sea level. A crossroads between Central Europe and the Adriatic Sea, Zagreb is home to industry, scientific institutions, national administrative bodies and ministries.

Although human presence in the area dates back to the Neolithic period, the name Zagreb was first recorded in the 11th century (1094). In that year, the Hungarian King Ladislaus I (László I in Hungarian) founded a diocese on Mount Kaptol. An independent secular community was established on a nearby hill called Gradec. Both towns suffered during the Mongol invasion of 1242; when the Mongols withdrew, King Bela IV (Béla IV in Hungarian) proclaimed Gradec an autonomous royal town in order to attract foreign craftsmen.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the two communities competed economically and politically. Finally, in the 17th century, the two medieval hills, Gradec and Kaptol, merged into one community, Zagreb. Today they form the cultural center of the modern city. The Catholic diocese of Kaptol became that of Zagreb. During Austro-Hungarian times, the city was called by its German name, Agram. Gradually, the city grew and incorporated surrounding communities.