Lotrščak Tower

Lotrščak Tower is a stone tower on the southern edge of Gradec, the Upper Town of Zagreb, standing above the point where the old town meets the lower city. It was built in the thirteenth century as part of the defences of the walled settlement, and it is among Zagreb’s best-known landmarks and one of Croatia’s favourite viewpoints, best known today for the cannon that fires from its top every day at noon.

The tower guarded the southern gate of Gradec, the main entrance from the direction of the lower town and the road south. Gradec was a free royal town on a hill, surrounded by walls and towers, and Lotrščak was one of its strongest points. The name has an interesting explanation. It is thought to derive from the Latin Campana latrunculorum, the bell of the thieves, referring to a bell that was rung in the evening to warn that the gates were about to close and that anyone outside would have to stay out until morning. The bell and the tower gave their name to the district, and the name has stayed in the language.

The noon cannon is the tower’s modern claim to fame. The tradition began in the late nineteenth century, when a cannon was fired to help people set their clocks, and it has continued ever since. Every day at twelve o’clock a shot rings out across the city, startling tourists and reminding locals of the time. It is a good moment to be on the Strossmayer Promenade, the leafy walk along the edge of the Upper Town, or on the terraces below.

Climbing the tower’s internal staircase leads to the top, where an open gallery gives a panorama over the red roofs of the lower town, the cathedral spires and the modern districts that spread south toward the Sava. The view is a rewarding contrast between old and new, and on a clear day it reaches to the hills beyond. Inside, small displays tell the history of the tower and the fortifications, and at times the tower hosts exhibitions. Because the stairs are narrow and steep, the climb takes a little effort, and the space at the top is small, so it can be crowded at midday.

The tower sits right beside the lower station of the funicular, the short cable railway that connects the lower and upper towns and is among the shortest public transport lines in the world. From here it is a few minutes’ walk to the Church of St. Catherine, the Gric Tunnel, Ban Jelačić Square and the Dolac Market. The tower is generally open from Tuesday to Sunday, with a later start on Sundays and a closure on Mondays, so check before going.

It suits history lovers, photographers and anyone who likes a good view.