"Precious Memories" a Zagreb Travel Page by KristaB

This story is personal and appropriately biased, because I was born and grew up there. Good things seem better, bad ones feel worse than they really are, as it's usually the case in love affairs, especially those from a distance.

First written record of Zagreb dates back to 1094, when Kaptol (church and the settlement surrounded by walls) was established upon act of Hungarian King Ladislas I Arpadovic. The city existed under Medvednica mountain since pre-historic times.
Many conquerors passed through: Romans, Visigoths, Alans, Huns, Avars, and after them Slavic tribe of Croats arrived at the beginning of 7th century.
In 1241 the Croatian and Hungarian King Bela IV was rescued from Kaptol, after hordes of Tatars destroyed the city walls. As an act of gratitude, he proclaimed Gradec (city outside Kaptol walls) a Free Royal Town, as stated in "Golden Bula" document.
Zagreb became a capitol of Croatia in 1776, after a devastating fire destroyed Varazdin, former capitol.
But Zagreb was struck by disaster, too - in 1880 devastating earthquake actually accelerated the progress of the city through rebuilding and modernization.

Today, it is a large city with all attributes that go along - positive and not so positive ones. Among those positive ones, I am most fond of the variety of educational and cultural institutions and events. So, if you are interested in arts and culture, there is plenty to see in Zagreb. From theaters and museums to street singers and amateur performances.

Interesting feature in Zagreb's cultural life is a tradition of
MODERN BALLET (more at:
http://www.culturenet.hr/v1/new/panorama/ples/suvremeni.asp)
introduced in 1932 by Ana Maletic, student of Rudolf Laban. Since 1983, the Week of Modern Dance builds its reputation as one of Europe's most interesting dance festivals.
More about cultural events in Zagreb and Croatia here:
http://www.culturenet.hr/v1/new/