Application Maximir: Let's Get to Know the Oldest Park in Zagreb Together
High school students from Zagreb devised an application that takes you to the oldest park in Zagreb and reveals its history, beauty and recreational options.
As part of the educational Zagreb Culture of Tourism project, with which the Zagreb Tourist Board aims to stimulate high school students to think of the city in terms of tourism, students attending XVI grammar school created and realised the application Maximir with the help of their teachers. It is an audio – video guide through Maksimir Park and its attractions and curiosities. In addition to Croatian, the application is available in English, French, and Italian and provides an overview of facilities of the park and guides you while you discover treasures hidden in it. This application is also your companion on cycling routes that lead you to find out about attractions in Maksimir and its history. The designers of the application, high school students of the language grammar school in Zagreb who ponder tourism in their city, also introduce you to the Stadium of the football club Dinamo, located right next to the park. The application is also a guide through the Zoo located in the southern part of the park. The designers of the app also collaborated with a pastry shop in Zagreb to create Maksimir cake. Due to its typical colours and rosemary flavour, the cake brings to mind the forest in the park in its cross-section, while the taste is the perfect continuation of the story of Maksimir.
The application is available on Google Play platform and, as announced by its designers, it will continue to be upgraded.
Maksimir Park, located in the eastern part of the city, has been voted one of the most beautiful European city parks. It was established on the southern slopes of Medvednica Mountain in the late 18th century and the first half of the 19th century and the celebration of its opening to the public took place in 1794. It was named after its founder Maksimilijan Vrhovac, that is, the phrase in Croatian “Maksimilijanov mir” or the peace of Maksimilijan, which was abbreviated to Maksimir. Archbishop Juraj Haulik hired the best garden and park architects and gave it its final form.
Almost six decades ago, Maksimir was named a monument of the park design architecture and a Croatian cultural property. The Zoo, which was founded in 1925 and is the oldest zoo in south-eastern Europe, is located in the southern part of the park.
Famous for its landscape architecture and monuments, Maksimir Park is interesting to citizens and visitors of Zagreb in every season. This is where they find relief from summer heat, a possibility for recreation in beautiful ambience as well as catering options. There are also educational activities dedicated to the youngest citizens organised in the park. Owing to a beautiful ambience and comprehensive offer, today, as well as decades ago, Maksimir is Zagreb’s favourite promenade and recreational zone close to the city.