9 August 2022 - GRIC TUNNEL - CROATIA

 

GRIC TUNNEL

 - CROATIA -

G'day folks,

A World War II evacuation tunnel turned into a history display of Croatian state and people. 

 

 This pedestrian tunnel in the city of Zagreb runs underneath the historic neighborhood of Grič. Built during World War II, the tunnel was originally intended to serve as a bomb shelter and transport link through the hill of Gornji Grad. It measures 350 meters long and up to 5.5 meters wide, connecting Mesnička and Stjepan Radić Streets. Construction began in 1943 and finished 1944. The tunnel was harshly criticized for its expense, and many argued that it was not necessary. Work continued nevertheless, though changes were made to the project. The original plans included a large underground hall to be placed in the center. But in the end, that feature went unrealized, and only an east-west transport corridor was finished.

 

 

After the end of World War II, the tunnel was remodeled and the planned central hall was added. It was used as a warehouse for a food company but was soon forgotten and largely abandoned. It attracted unhoused people and others seeking temporary shelter.

Interest in reviving the tunnel started in the 1990s, when energetic rave parties were held inside. Proposals for the remodeled tunnel included a “museum of senses” and a lift that would allow people to reach the neighborhood above without climbing the steep hill. 

But instead in 2016, the remodeled tunnel opened to public as a cultural center. You can literally walk through the history of Croatia and Zagreb and familiarize yourself with different historical events by information displays and objects. The tunnel is structured to different compartments that are arranged to various displays about culture, everyday life and science. Curators have used different image and light effects and interesting sound options.

The central underground hall has been turned into a Rain Room where visitors walk under water drops (umbrellas are provided by the Tunnel) and images of famous persons of Croatia are displayed. Another interesting exhibit is a Tesla machine that uses sound and electicity and fires out a lightning effect analogous to a Tesla coil.

 

4 August 2022 - THE MUSEUM OF MUSHROOMS - CROATIA

 

THE MUSEUM OF 

MUSHROOMS

 - CROATIA -

G'day folks,

This is the only museum in the world dedicated solely to mushrooms. 

Situated on the second floor of an office building overlooking Bana Jelacica square, the Museum of Mushrooms displays over 1,500 freeze-dried, preserved mushrooms in three large rooms.

Most of the collection was obtained by professor Romano Bozac, a mycologist who studied and wrote on mushrooms for over 50 years. Organized by similar types of mushrooms, each well-preserved example is labeled with a tag that indicates edibility.

The informative and friendly caretaker is always happy to talk mushrooms and point out unique specimens.

 

11 May 2022 - FROGGYLAND - CROATIA

 

FROGGYLAND 

- CROATIA -

G'day folks,

Here you will find a wonderfully strange collection of 500+ stuffed frogs doing people things. 

What would it look like if frogs were carpenters? What about if they went to school, played tennis, or ran a circus? You can find out at the strange, delightful Froggyland museum in Croatia.

The collection of anthropomorphic amphibians at Froggyland consists of 507 stuffed frogs arranged in 21 cases. These dioramas were the life’s work of 20th century Hungarian taxidermist Ference Mere, who devoted 10 years to stuffing and meticulously arranging the frogs. When he completed the project in 1920, there were around 1,000 of them. The frogs displayed at Froggyland passed from owner to owner until finally making it to Croatia and getting their own museum.

 Mere’s project may sound eccentric, but his work is truly remarkable. He used an advanced taxidermy technique in which the frogs were stuffed with cork through the mouth. This time-consuming process left the frogs entirely whole, lacking any external incisions. The varied dioramas - a blacksmith shop, a music lesson, a day on the lake - present everyday life scenarios down to the smallest detail. A photographer holds a tiny camera. A painter has been given a little easel and paintbrush. In the classroom scene, one frog raises two fingers to indicate that it is about to speak. The final result is an absolutely ribbet-ing example of creative taxidermy. (And those who just can’t get enough can hop on over to The Frog Museum afterwards.)

 

Clancy's comment: A friend recently had a garage sale of her 3,000 frog-associated ornaments. Yes, 3,000!

I'm ...

 

 

5 May 2022 - THE HIDDEN SECRETS OF VIS ISLAND, CROATIA

 

THE HIDDEN SECRETS OF 

VIS ISLAND, CROATIA

G'day folks,

Formerly Yugoslavia's "forbidden island," this sleepy little city still holds the abandoned remains of military strongholds. 

While the Croatian island of Vis, the furthest from the mainland, has been inhabited for centuries it was not until the mid-20th century that it reached a pinnacle of strategic importance, a time that is still remembered by the handful of abandoned and repurposed military installations throughout the now quiet island.

 

While had been inhabited for hundreds of years previous, it was during World War II that Vis came under the control of Yugoslavian leader Josip Broz Tito, who began establishing new military fortifications around the island. The site had been the home of previous military bases as well, but it was not until Tito took the island for Yugoslavia that most of the major remaining structures were created. After WWII ended the island officially went to Yugoslavia and their army made it their central naval base, installing such features as an imposing concrete submarine dock that led right into the island hills, and long tunnels that ran under the surface. However when the island reverted to Croatian control in the early 1990’s, most of the structures were simply abandoned.

Since the military use of the Vis installations ceased, many of the remaining structures were repurposed for civilian needs, while others simply remained empty. Today, Vis is a sleepy island that actually makes a fair amount of revenue from tourists eager to see the disregarded Cold War-era installations, as well as some of the islands more ancient features such as the classical artifacts displayed in the island’s central museum (itself housed in a disused base).

 

Clancy's comment: What a charming place for an author.

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30 July 2019 - FAIRYTALE CASTLE GOING TO RUIN IN CROATIA

FAIRYTALE CASTLE 

GOING TO RUIN IN CROATIA

G'day folks,

Here is another wonderful edifice that is going to rack and ruin. This Croatian fairytale castle is slowly falling apart thanks to years of neglect. 

Sitting atop a tall hill in northern Croatia, Trakošćan Castle looks like a castle out of a fairytale, proudly peeking its spires out above the tree line, but on closer inspection the signs of neglect have started to mar the centuries-old fortification.

Originally built in the 13th century, the large manse was not the product of some lord’s need for a grand home but was instead created as a defensive fortification. Despite its martial background, its position on top of a verdant forest hill has given it a distinctly romantic appeal. Down the centuries the castle has been added to and rebuilt a number of times giving it a bit of a varied design sense, but losing none of its beauty. While the original owner of the castle is unknown, the estate was passed down among a series of Croatian nobles before finally being turned over to the Croatian government in the 1950s.    

In 1953 Trakošćan Castle was opened to the public as a museum housing a number of historical displays about the area, the castle, and Croatian  history in general. A man-made lake was also built at the foot of the hill making the view from the castle all the more spectacular.

 In recent years the grounds have been neglected and signs of wear and age are beginning to appear. Despite this, if you have to choose just one to visit while you are visiting Croatia, you can’t beat Trakošćan Castle for sheer storybook looks.   

Clancy's comment: What  a shame. It looks extraordinary.

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20 July 2019 - BRESTOVAC SANATORIUM IN ZAGREB FINDS A NEW USE

 BRESTOVAC SANATORIUM 

IN ZAGREB FINDS A NEW USE

G'day folks,

Once a state-of-the-art tuberculosis treatment spa, these ruins are now ruled by paintball players. Hidden in the woods of Zagreb, Croatia, the remains of an old tuberculosis hospital have crumbled away into a haunting ruin. From sanatorium to military hospital to paintball arena, the Brestovac Sanatorium has lived a number of lives.

 

First built in 1909, at the time of its creation, the hospital was one of the finest tuberculosis care facilities in all of Europe. Nestled in the calming mountain woods, it gave its patients a beautiful spot in which to relax and recuperate. But it was not just the scenery that led to the creation of the sanatorium. As the story goes it was actually love that led to the founding of the Brestovac facility.

As the tale goes, Croatian doctor Milivoj Dezman fell in love with a beautiful theater actress known as Lady Sram. Dezman lived for his lady love, so when she came down with tuberculosis, he convinced the city founders to build a hospital to treat the disease, making sure that it was one of the best to accommodate his lover, who was one of the first patients. Sadly Lady Sram is said to have died in 1913, leaving Dezman to operate the hospital for years after.

The sanitarium was used as a military hospital in both of the World Wars, but 1968, the facility had fallen into disrepair, and eventually it was simply abandoned, leaving the main building and a number of other structures to slowly decay into haunting ruins.

Today the site is open for any explorers who want to check out the mouldering hospital remains, but they seem to be used pretty frequently by paintballers who are indiscriminate in their targets, so watch your back.   

Clancy's comment: How often do we find beautiful old buildings that have been abandoned? Too often.

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