Zagreb through the centuries, Zagreb

Favorite thing: Well, if you really want some history on Zagreb, read a book! I will mention that the word Zagreb literally means, "behind the hill" since the city is at the foot of Mount Medvednica. The city was once controlled by Hungary and Niksa told me that technically, the city was really two separate municipalities with Kaptol and Gradec having a historical rivalry.

Zagreb was part of the Habsburg Empire which was primarily centered in Vienna and Budapest. Then in the 19th century, Zagreb finally started to get a sense of itself . Some Croatian nationalism began to build and a cultural scene began to develop. In the early 20th century, with the creation of Yugoslavia, power shifted to Belgrade and it wasn't until after WWII that Zagreb become the seat of government for the republic of Croatia.

Fortunately, the city escaped any heavy physical damage from the war in the 1990s, although there was a rocket attack in Gradec in 1991.

Favorite thing: Square of Ban Josip Jellacic (1801-1859)...defends Croatia against attemps of Hungarian occupation and unites all Croatian Provinces. Before 1848, Josip Jellacic served as a regimental colonel for seven years along the Croatian military frontier. Described by contemporaries as poetic and humane, he was a consummate professional military officer. A Croatian nationalist favoring the Illyrian movement, he received the support of the Croatian national party. Regardless of his shifting political motives, he was a military officer and personally loyal to his emperor throughout his career.

In March 1848, with the revolutionary fever taking hold in Zagreb, the Croatian Diet declared Josip Jellacic Ban of Croatia. On March 23, on the advice of Baron Franjo Kulmer, Emperor Ferdinand V promoted Jellacic to Lieutenant-Field Marshal and confirmed his appointment as the Ban of Croatia.

Favorite thing: ...learn a little bit of zagreb's history...
So, let's start now!
Today's Zagreb has grown out of two medieval settlements that developed on neighbouring hills for cenuries:Kaptol & Gradec.
The first mention of the city dates from 1094, while in 1242 neighbouring Grades was proclaimed a free and royal city by Hungarian king Bela IV.
During the Turkish onslaughts on Europe, between 14th and 18th centuries Zagreb was an important border fortress...
Kaptol & Gradec and the surrounding settlements were administratively combined into the integrated city of Zagreb in 1850.

Favorite thing: Some brief history...
The first written mention of the city dates from 1094, when a diocese was founded on Kaptol, while in 1242, neighbouring Gradec was proclaimed a free and royal city.
The Baroque reconstruction of the city in the 17th and 18th centuries changed the appearance of the city. The old wooden houses were demolished, opulent palaces, monasteries and churches were built.
The many trade fairs, the revenues from landed estates and the offerings of the many craft workshops greatly contributed to the wealth of the city.
When Kaptol, Gradec and the surrounding settlements were administratively combined into the integrated city of Zagreb in 1850, the development accelerated still more. The disastrous earthquake of 1880 sparked off the reconstruction and modernisation of many shabby neighbourhoods and buildings.
So, today it looks marvellous, and is a plce you will enjoy visiting!