Zagreb’s Lotrščak Tower
Written by neha
While I’ve mentioned the Lotrščak Tower in passing before, I’m going to share a little more about one of my favourite landmarks in Zagreb today.
The 13th century Lotrščak Tower is a resident of Zagreb’s Upper Town. Back then it was meant to stand guard at the town gate against bandits and impending attacks. In addition, the tower bell also functioned as a communication device; it would ring out each evening announcing the closing of the town gates. It would also ring in warning against fires, floods and storms
The original tower structure was three floors tall. In the 19th century an additional floor was added and a cannon (that the tower is known for today) was placed on the top floor. Anyone who has been to Zagreb will recognise this cannon (it even has a name – Grič cannon). The cannon is fired everyday at the stroke of noon; a tradition since 1877. The crackling sound can be heard across the city centre. The first time I heard the cannon, I though an accident had taken place!
While there are several legends associated with the practice of the 12 o clock shot (the most common story involves attacking Turks being scared off by a well aimed cannon shot and dispersing as a result), the cannon is used by Churches (and locals) to synchronise their watches.
For a small fee (10 Kuna) you can climb the tower, get a closer look of the cannon and head to the roof for a 360 degree view of the city. The best part about making the climb is the chance to get a clear shot of the St. Mark’s Church located just a few paces away.
Best of Zagreb Tips
You’ll find lot of ideas for things to do in Zagreb in our Best of Zagreb collation post.
More Tips for Things to Do in Croatia
We’ve lots more tips on what to do in Croatia on Europe a la Carte.
While I don’t remember the Lotrščak Tower (which is too bad), I do remember truly enjoying our time in Zagreb when we visited back in 2003. It had a really enjoyable town center, a top-notch history museum, and a great trolley system.
I also remember having the hardest time finding decent affordable accommodations! I wonder if that has changed in the years since we were there.
Micheal the tower is in the Upper Town. If you saw the St. Mark’s Church or the Stone Gate, you may have crossed the tower.
[...] my blog, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Last week I wrote about the Lotrščak Tower in Zagreb. Today, I’m writing about another local landmark situated just a few paces from the [...]