Green oasis of Zagreb

Botanical garden
Botanical garden stretches along the Mihanović street and makes the integral part of the Zagreb Green Horseshoe. It extends at a sufrace of around 4.7 ha and has ten thousand plant species from Croatia and the whole world including some endangered ones. The Faculty of Nature and Mathematics owns this garden, and Antun Heinz (1861 - 1919) was the founder. The first plants were planted in 1892, after some preparatory work. Already by the end of that year, the garden was completed: it got ponds, artificcial hills, bridges, and even some artificial caves. The majority of the garden is the park - arboretum. It was made in English garden style, and the flower floor in the central and west part of the garden shaped in historical style, with strictly symmetrical lines.

Ribnjak pond
Ribnjak is the park stretching along the east walls of Kaptol. It was named after the bishopric ponds that existed here until the 19th century. Then the whole area was transformed into an English type garden, with waterfalls, exotic plants and decorative statues. It was bishop Alagović who, in 1829, initiated the arrangement of the park. Ribnjak was to become the park of sculptures as well but the idea was never fully realised. At the moment it has only two monuments, Shame by Antun Augustinčić, and the monument to Croatian poet Ivan Goran Kovačić. Today, the park covers the area of almost 40 000 square meters and has thirty year old yew, old plant of Atlas cedar-tree, many magnolia trees and liquidambars. The street along the east side of the park Ribnjak bears the same name.

Maksimir park

Maksimir Park is situated in the eastern part of the town. It was open to public in 1794 and was the first public promenade in this part of the Europe. It was named after its founder, the Zagreb bishop Maksimilian Vrhovec (1752 - 1827) who, apart from the archbishop Haulik, took the credit for its arrangement.
Maksimir is arranged in the place of part of the oak woods in the middle of the 19th century. In the new park the paths were arranged surrounded by meadows and clearings full of decorative flowers and bushes. The park was enriched with monuments and various style buildings. The Swiss house, the Viewpoint, The Doorman hut and the Echo Pavilion have been preserved as well as several park sculptures.

Opatovina park

Six gardens, belonging to canon houses on Kaptol, stretched to the west Kaptol wall, and after the World War II they were transformed into the public promenade. The west Kaptol wall is well seen in this park. It is built of irregular stones, and it is 65-70 cm thick. In the north-west corner of the park there is the best preserved four side Kaptol tower, called the Priššlin tower. It belonged to house at number 15 on Kaptol. From the Priššlin tower, the north Kaptol wall stretches to the Kaptol street. During the summer the stage is put in the park where theatrical performances are held.

Nature park Medvednica

Medvednica - Nature Park is in close proximity to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Due to its numerous landscapes trails, mountain houses, historical monuments and recreational areas, the central part of this wooded mountain gives an impression of a spaicious city park. By walking down the educational trails, you can learn about some of almost one thousand recorded plant varieties, listen to the song of around a hundred bird types, and come across numerous insects and animals. The walk through the forest restores natural balance to life, and each moment spent in the Medvednica Nature Park enriches your existence. Welcome!


MEDVEDNICA IN WINTER

On arrival of the first cold winter days and snow flakes, the top of Medvednica - Sljeme - transforms into an attractive winter sports centre. Excelellent ski runs, ski lifts and cableways, stron lighting and snow making machines, have enabled the home ground of Janica and Ivica Kostelić, to be listed among the FIS skiing fields and Zagreb to become the only capital to host a World Championship Skiing race.

SIGHTS

BLIZNEC - the main entrance to the Medvednica Nature Park. The lower terminal of the Sljeme cableway, and start of the one-way road to the summit of Sljeme. There is an exceptionally educational trail from the parking to the Forestry museum "Sawmill Bliznec" modified for handicaped people. The Nature Park office building and the little chapel are located nearby.

SLJEME - at 1035 m, Medvednica's highest peak. The Sljeme road and mountaineering trails lead to the top. The summit is dominated by the TV tower, and a belvedere that overlooks Croatian Zagorje. On a walk around wide meadows, you can visit the Sljeme's chapel, children's educational trail, ski runs, Hotel Tomislavov Dom and Pansion Medvednica.

MEDVEDGRAD - medival fortress from the 13th century, deserted following an earthquake in 1590. Its reconstruction began in 1974. Of special interest are the gothic chapel, South tower and the Nation's altar. Impressive lookout over the city of Zagreb.

MINNER'S GARDEN - reconstruction of the silver-grey galenite mine, belonging to the Zrinski counts from the 17th century. In close proximity are mountain house of Grafičar on an idyllic clearing, St.Jakob's chapel and a belvedere overlooking Medvedgrad and Zagreb.

HUNJKA - spacious meadow with a superb view of Croatian Zagorje. From Hotel Janica and Rouch's forestry, you can visit Horvat's 500 steps, or take the road to mountain house Pačkovski.

QUEEN'S WELL - a popular excursion destination,  reached via an educational trail Miroslavac, which passes along the canyon of a forest stream. At the legendary Black Queen spring from the 15th century, there is a fish pond, forestry with a forest classroom and a restaurant.

VETERNICA - cave system that stretches below south-western Medvednica. 7100 metres of the canals have been explored, while the first 380 m are lit and open for guided tours. Attractions are cave decorations, bat colonies and traces of early men's residence, dating to some 42.000 years ago.

PONIKVE - region of swamy meadows, surrounded by wooded hills that contains a large number of rare and progected plant. An excellent starting poing for excursions to the cain of high cliffs, called Stone Wedding lookout, or to Sopot, at 9 metres in height, Medvednica's largest cascade.

MOUNTAIN'S MIRROR - a smooth, vertical cliff, training field for Alpinists and climbers is an attractive end point to a walk along a splendorous, open valley, from the village of Trnava to the Tisova Peč wooded gorge.

LIPA-GOR - the region of eastern Medvednica, with particularly beautiful lookouts over Posavina and Zagorje. Near the Lipa Mountain house, a belvedere and the chapel dedicated to Croatia's martyrs have been erected.


ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Tomislavov dom
is modern hotel, surrounded by foreste nerby to the summit of Medvednica. Ideal location for an active vacation, relaxation in the wellness programmes or organisation of business meetings.
Pansion Medvednica
newly refurbished board and lodging, with two restaurants and two seminar rooms. Ideal for the "School in nature" programmes for up to a hundred students, various seminars and banquets.
Hotel Janica
comfortable, intimate hotel, on a beautiful Hunjka meadow offers accommodation forsome sixty quests, with many entertainment and recreational activities.