By Stanko Zovak / George Dulcich

The new Medvedgrad Visitor Center opened last weekend in Medvednica Nature Park in the Croatian capital. The historic Medvednica Fortress above Zagreb and three buildings in the complex were reconstructed as part of the € 5 million project.

The new visitor center was created within the walls of Medvedgrad and this week we made a tour of it organized by Medvednica Nature Park.

Getting There

• Public transport / on foot:
  Črnomerec – Lukšići – bus no. 128, then walk from Lukšići to Medvedgrad via Himper on the asphalt road – about an hour’s walk
  Mihaljevac – Britanski trg – bus no. 102 to Šestine Church, then walk on hiking trail no. 12 (from Lagvić to Medvedgrad) – about an hour’s walk
• By car:
  From Lukšići via Himper. From Himper to Medvedgrad leads a one-way tarmac road. The return route from Medvedgrad to Šestine passes through Kraljičin zdenac, also on a one-way paved road. REMARK: The roads to and from Medvedgrad are one-way roads

The fortress is really impressive from the outside and offers a breathtaking view of the nature of Medvednica, especially at this time of year with the beautiful fall colors. There is also a breathtaking view of the city of Zagreb under the fortress.

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

The fortress looks like what you would expect from a medieval fortress from the outside, but on the inside it is fantastic and modern. The designers of the exhibits did a great job and were actually with us on the tour to see everything in action.

They designed everything with “interactive” as the main goal. It was great to see the dynamics of keeping the fortress as it was in the 13th century (“It was built in 1254, after the catastrophic invasion of the Tatars who had attacked and devastated this area”), in contrast to the modern exhibits and unique technology to enable an interactive and hands-on visitor experience.

(Photo: George Dulcich)

Inside the south tower it was decorated to look like a forest and with the push of a button by a number of different animals this animal would be thrown onto the walls and move through them.

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

The tower has stayed true to the local ecosystems of Medvednica by showing animals that used to live on the mountain and providing interactive information about them. Climbing further up the tower there was some interesting information about the local herbs and plants that grow on Medvednica.

(Photo: George Dulcich)

There was also a cookbook that used local herbs and it lets you print out any recipe you like with just the push of a button. They had another feature that has a camera that looks at your face and shows it on the screen and is supposed to tell you your fate, but it wasn’t working that day.

Georges dulcich

There was also a crow model speaking some dialogue in the local Kajkavian dialect which made everyone laugh. You could also go to the roof of the tower, where there were amazing views with lookout points. In the basement of the tower was information about bats, as well as a giant bat body in which you put your head and appear upside down in the mirror to mimic a hanging bat. in a cave. There was also a large exhibit of rocks that kids can move sections of the large rolling boulder to reveal information.

(Photo: George Dulcich)

Next was the Theater of Shadows which used a projection screen in a dark room (where the servants lived) which showed a few minutes about the legend of the Black Queen or Crna Kraljica who was a seemingly evil nobleman from Medvedgrad who always wore black. , had black hair and a crow as a pet.

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

In the next room you could see what people were eating at that time and what they were eating with. You can also view old recipes there.

There is also a permanent museum exhibition, “The Secrets of the Ancient Mountain”, which consists of a medieval pantry and shadow theater.

In the main part of the building there is the souvenir shop and a room with more information about Medvedgrad. There is a fortress mode where video is projected when you press a button. It tells the story of the fortress, when it was built, collapsed and rebuilt, all with the projection showing visuals of the model throughout. There was also an interactive timeline where you move a screen along the wall and you see different information throughout the years on the screen depending on where you move it.

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

Within the Visitor Center there is a space where various programs, workshops and events can take place on site.

Overall it was really impressive because everything was so interactive. There was either a button, something to open, move, or something to look at and listen to. I’m sure the kids would love it. In terms of innovation, the exhibit was comparable to any modern museum you would see in Los Angeles or New York for example.

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

(Photo: George Dulcich)

I was really impressed with the use of technology and the very unique designs of interactive exhibits. Also, everything is in both Croatian and English, even the listening portions, so it’s good for tourists.

George and I posing with Crna Kraljica

There was more than enough historical information and interesting things for adults to learn, and plenty of interactive exhibits for kids to entertain and learn.

More details about the tour can be found on the official site.