The Botanical Garden may not sound like the most exciting spot to visit in Zagreb, but it’s a lovely patch of greenery, and it’s on your way if you are exploring the so-called Green Horseshoe or Lenuci Horseshoe, a U-shaped system of green areas surrounding the very heart of downtown, conceived in the late 19th century as a basis for Zagreb's urban development.
The garden was founded in 1889, and since 1946, it's been a part of Zagreb’s Faculty of Science. In 1971, it became a protected monument of nature and culture. The arboretum is arranged freely (in English landscape style), while the flower parterre is strictly geometrical (in French style). But my personal favourites are a picturesque artificial lake and a section with indigenous Croatian plants – which are unusually numerous and diverse because Croatia, however small, stretches both into the Mediterranean and the continental zones.
It’s worth mentioning the art-nouveau head office house (former head gardener’s house), a valuable 19th-century exhibition pavilion, the greenhouse with exotic plants, a public toilet (a representative example of a public utility from the late 19th century) and the lovely little gazebo.
I love to come here to read a book and rest from the city noise, or to enjoy some of the special events organized in summer, like e. g. “Biljke i svirke” (“Plants and performing”) – when the whole garden becomes a music stage with official concerts as well as spontaneous performances of all who feel inspired to make music among the plants.
Find your way with 135 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
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Breadclub is an artisanal bakery in Zagreb. It sounds like an exaggeration, but believe me, everything is delicious here - it's always hard to choose...
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135 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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