Any curious tourist will certainly find attractions in the Croatian capital Zagreb to their liking. The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the Kaptol Hill is a must-see, regardless of religion. Because he concentrated in himself architecture, art, history and the present. Everything that lives and that is important for the Croatian people.
Kaptol hill in Zagreb - a haven of churchmen
Until 1851, when the Croatian statesman Ban Josip Jelačić united the two small settlements into a single city, their inhabitants periodically quarreled for eight centuries. At times, the enmity reached serious skirmishes. The place of battles was often the bridge across the Bear River, which was nicknamed "bloody". This bridge simultaneously connected and separated the settlements of the two adjacent hills of Kaptola and Hradec. Hradec was inhabited by artisans, and Kaptol was inhabited by churchmen.
Main Catholic Cathedral of Croatia
On the Kaptol square of the same name with the hill stands the most notable symbol of Zagreb - the Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saints Stephen and Vladislav. It is decorated with two tall Gothic towers. They easily rise up high and give it an airy look. The cathedral just asks for a tourist's camera and looks spectacular from the second hill - Hradec, which is higher than Kaptol.
By the way, an elegant image of the cathedral was placed on a 1000 kuna banknote in 1993. It serves as a background for the monument to King Tomislav I.
The vicissitudes of the fate of the cathedral
The share of the cathedral got a difficult one. At the end of the 11th century, after the founding of the Bishop of Zagreb, construction began. But in 1242, the corps of Mongol conquerors led by the commander Kadan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, burned Zagreb and destroyed the building. The cathedral had to be rebuilt anew. Bishop Timothy supervised the construction.
At the end of the 15th century, the Ottomans invaded Croatia. This event influenced the appearance of the temple. Around it, defensive walls with towers were erected to defend the cathedral from the troops of the Turkish sultan. The remains of the fortifications are considered to be very well preserved European Renaissance defenses from the 16th century. In the 18th century, the fortress wall was rebuilt for the residence of the bishop of Zagreb.
In 1880, there was another disaster - the strongest earthquake. Part of the structure was seriously damaged. The way the cathedral looks today is the result of the restoration, which was led by the Austrian architect Hermann Bolle. The reconstruction project also belongs to the Austrian architect Friedrich von Schmidt.
Why the Croatian people adore the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Zagreb
The cathedral has value not only as the main religious building of Catholics. It contains relics that are significant for the Croatian people. For example, a marble slab with memorable milestones in the country's history carved on it: the date of the baptism of the Croats, the events associated with the creation of statehood. In the cathedral are buried revered saints and heroes who fought against the Ottomans, as well as fighters for the liberation of Croatia from the Habsburg Empire.
The interior of the cathedral is decorated with statues. Multi-colored light streams inside it through huge stained-glass windows. Natural lighting is complemented by huge, luxurious chandeliers. Organ music rises to high vaults and is carried away somewhere in the sky.
Fountain of the virgin mary
The sculptural fountain of the Virgin Mary rises on the square in front of the cathedral. At the top of the column is the figure of the Mother of God, shining with gilding. And at the foot there are four angels. They embody Christian values: Chastity, Obedience, Hope and Faith. The author is the same Austrian sculptor Anton Fernkorn, who created the equestrian statue of the famous ruler of Croatia, Ban Jelacic.
How to get to the cathedral if you are without a guide
Finding the cathedral is easy. If you stand with your back to the tram tracks on the main Zagreb square, Jelacic Platz, you can go to Bakachevu Street from its right edge. And walk along it to the medieval Kaptol square. The entrance for tourists to the cathedral is free.
