About Zagreb

About Zagreb

Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia and by population the largest one. Historically, Zagreb originated from two villages on the nearby hills – Gradec and Kaptol, who are the core of today's Zagreb's Old Town.

Zagreb is an administrative, economic, cultural, commercial and scientific heart of Croatia. The documentary evidence on the origin of Zagreb are related to the establishment of the diocese on Kaptol in the year 1094. Another important event was in 1242 when King Bela the 4th released a "Zlatna Bula" – the document by which Gradec became a free royal town. In 1557 Zagreb was for the first time mentioned as the capital city of Croatia. In the mid 19th century parts of Zagreb were connected in a single village as the begining of a modern central European city. Finally in 1991 Croatian Parliament decided to separate from Jugoslavia and Zagreb became the capital of newly independent European state.

In 1991 when Zagreb became a capital city, political and administrative center of the Croatia he alsobecame centre of the business, academic, culture, art and entertainment. Zagreb is a city of green parks and promenades with numerous resorts in the beautiful surroundings.

According to the last census from 2001 Zagreb has 779.145 inhabitants (415.153 women and 363.992 men). The wider metropolitan area has more than one million inhabitants and an average age of residents is 39,7 years.

According to the majority of inhabitants most residents are ethnic Croats (92%) and the most significant minority groups are Serbs, Slovenes, Bosniacs (Bosnian Muslims) and Albanians. According to the religion most locals declare as the Catholics (87%), and other major religious communities are Orthodox communities, the Islamic community (2%), Jehovah's Witnesses, Evangelical Church, the Adventist Church,the Baptist Church and the Jewish community. About 4% of citizens declare as the agnostics, and 3,5% as atheists.

Zagreb is a big sports center with many professional and amateur sports clubs. From football clubs, except GNK Dinamo, we must highlight NK Zagreb, NK Lokomotiva, NK Croatia Sesvete, NK Hrvatski dragovoljac, the basketball teams of great importance KKCibona, KK Zagreb, KK Cedevita, and handball teams RK Medveščak and RK Zagreb. After many years, in 2009 Zagreb became popular by winter sports attraction – ice hockey team KHL Medveščak. We also need to mention waterpolo clubs Mladost and Medveščak, athletics clubs and many others.