2 3 4 5 6 7 10 8 9 11 12 13 14 45
15 18 19 20 old forts and fortresses at the tops of mountains, romantic castles, fortresses and palaces, gorgeous churches and valuable museums. Central Croatia comprises a series of small historical regions - the hilly <strong>Croatian</strong> Zagorje region in the north of Zagreb, Međimurje between the rivers Mura and Drava, the plains of Podravina along the river Drava, and Posavina along the river Sava, Banovina in the rocky south, and also Prigorje, Moslavina, Turopolje and Žumberak. Therefore, the <strong>Croatian</strong> capital, Zagreb, in the centre of this region, offers its citizens a number of different contents in its surroundings. Since in its distant past, the centre of the <strong>Croatian</strong> state was in its coastal area, the most valuable <strong>cultural</strong> monuments in central Croatia refer to the late Middle Ages and Modern Age, although it also has many prehistoric and ancient monuments. The densely populated <strong>Croatian</strong> Zagorje, known for its beautiful hills, such as “Vinogorje”, the vineyard hill, holds a special place in Central Croatia (1). To the picturesque rural landscape contribute many votive crucifixes that can be seen along the way. (14) <strong>Croatian</strong> Zagorje is also known as the birthplace of many famous Croats. The most famous among them was Josip Broz Tito, leader of the anti-fascist movement and longtime president of the Socialist Yugoslavia, born in the village of Kumrovec. There is now a unique outdoor ethno-museum in the village, which consists of a series of original country houses in which the way of life of people in the past is presented (11). One of them is the birth house of Josip Broz, with a statue of him in front of it (3). Also from the <strong>Croatian</strong> Zagorje is the leader of the <strong>Croatian</strong> national revival in the 19th century and the first president of the independent <strong>Croatian</strong> state, Franjo Tuđman. It is in the capital of the <strong>Croatian</strong> Zagorje, Krapina, that the most important paleonthological site in Croatia can be found - the site of the Krapina Neanderthal man. Next to the discovery site is the Krapina Neaderthal Museum (10), which opened in 2010. According to many, it is the most attractive <strong>Croatian</strong> museum, depicting the evolution of man, from prehistoric times to today. Next to the museum, in the park on the hill, is a collection of statues of the Neanderthal man (7) and of animals by which he was surrounded. The importance of this site was depicted on the cover of the "National Geographic" magazine in January 1996. To central Croatia, unfortunately, are linked the most terrible events and places of the <strong>Croatian</strong> past. One of these places is Jasenovac in Posavina, next to which in the Second World War was the notorious Ustasha concentration camp. 46