Museums in Croatia you simply have to visit

Croatia has already been recognized in the world as a place rich in sites of natural beauty, as well as cultural heritage, and this cultural heritage is preserved in the numerous museums across the country. Museum culture has been cultivated in Croatia for many years, and almost every town or city has some form of museum. This blog brings you an overview of some museums that are definitely worth visiting so that you could get to know the rich cultural heritage, and also some interesting scientific discoveries.
The Vučedol Culture Museum
Located close to the Vučedol archaeological site near Vukovar, this museum is an imperative stop for all those interested in the early history of humankind. It is dedicated to the preservation, research, and presentation of the Vučedol culture which, after it emerged on the area of the Dunav-Sava-Drava interfluve, spread over a wider European area. In addition to the permanent exhibition, which includes artefacts found at the site and reconstructions which help bring to life the way of life of early Indo-Europeans from the Eneolithic era (third millennium BC), visitors can enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounds the museum, as well as its innovative architecture which makes it accessible to everyone.
Trakošćan Castle
The Trakošćan Castle is located in the northwest Croatia, and it is an object of cultural heritage which consists of the castle, the gardens, and the forest park with a lake. The oldest parts of the castle originate from the 13th century, and the castle got its present-day appearance in the 19th century when the dilapidated fort was reconstructed into a residential castle. Items dating from a long period, from the 15th to the 19th century, are kept in the castle, and the rooms of the museum have been decorated as the original interior units. The visitors are able to visit both the rooms which were used for entertaining, as well as the private areas of the castle, and the old dungeon and utility rooms. In addition to the opulent historical interiors, the visitors can enjoy a walk through the well-maintained forest park, which is an important legacy of landscape architecture. And all of this is just one hour drive away from Zagreb.
Large Carnivores Visitor Center
Somewhat different from the typical museum, the Large Carnivores Visitor Center is dedicated to the three magnificent animals which inhabit the area of Gorski kotar: the bear, the lynx., and the wolf. Besides teaching its visitors about Gorski kotar’s large carnivores, the aim of this centre is to work on maintaining the fragile balance in the beautiful ecosystem of this sparsely populated mountain area that is enveloped in woods. If you start craving fresh air and the wilderness, make sure to head to Stara Sušica in Gorski kotar.
Museum of Ancient Glass
Over 5 000 archaeological artifacts of ancient glass items, of which 1 500 are part of the permanent exhibition, are kept in this museum located in Zadar. What makes this museum special are the demonstrations of glassblowing and other glassmaking techniques where the visitors can see how these beautiful items are made. Besides that, the museum has a gift shop with a very wide offer where you can buy the products created in the museum’s glass workshop. The products include replicas of the museum exhibits, as well as original pieces by the glassmakers.
This short overview brought you some of the museums we think are interesting, but the real offer is much larger. From interactive museums such as the Zagreb 80’s museum, to the ethnological and artisanal museums, such as the Olive Oil Museum on the island Brač, all the way to the art galleries, such as the Museum of contemporary art in Istria, everyone can find something interesting in Croatia’s rich museum offer.