Maksimir Park

Maksimir was opened to the public at the end of the eighteenth century, which makes it one of the earliest public parks laid out in this part of Europe. It was designed in the English landscape manner: winding paths, artificial lakes, planned viewpoints and buildings placed as incidents rather than monuments. Much of the ground is still genuine oak woodland rather than lawn, so it feels more like managed forest than a city garden. Five lakes run through the lower part, a wooden pavilion known as the Echo sits among the trees, and a lookout building on a rise gives the intended long view. The city zoo occupies one corner and charges separately.

History

Maksimir was founded in 1787 and opened to the public in 1794 by Maksimilijan Vrhovac, Bishop of Zagreb, after whom it is named; it was laid out on the southern slopes of Medvednica by clearing native forest of oak and hornbeam, in a style shaped by the English landscape garden. It was the first large public park in south-eastern Europe and one of the earliest anywhere, at a time when landscaped parks were mostly private grounds of noble estates, and it was counted among the finest achievements of park design in the Habsburg lands. At its founding it lay outside the city, which has since grown round it; it covers about 316 hectares, with remnants of the original forest kept as a belt and five artificial lakes. The Zagreb Zoo opened in the park on 27 June 1925, on the initiative of the engineer Mijo Filipović with the support of the mayor Vjekoslav Heinzel; it was the first in south-eastern Europe and now keeps 383 species (Wikipedia, Maksimir Park).

What you'll find

• The five lakes - a chain of artificial ponds in the lower park, with a walking route around them.
• The Echo pavilion - a wooden pavilion set in the woods as a designed feature of the original landscape plan.
• The oak woodland - mature forest across most of the park, with paths cut through it.
• Zagreb Zoo - the city zoo occupying one section of the park, with its own entrance and ticket.

When to go

April to October, with May and October the most rewarding for the woodland. Weekday mornings are quiet; weekends bring families, runners and football on the meadows. Winter is bare but the park stays open and used. The zoo has shorter hours in the cold months, so check before making it the main plan.

Practical notes

Parts of the park have been under long running restoration and some pavilions are fenced off or in poor condition. Paths turn muddy after rain. The lakes are shallow and can look stagnant in high summer. The zoo is old fashioned and cramped in places, which some visitors find uncomfortable. There is little signage explaining the historic layout.

Nearby

Zagreb's upper town is fifteen minutes by tram, and Medvednica rises on the northern edge of the city.

Key facts