Museum of Arts and Crafts

The Museum of Arts and Crafts, Muzej za umjetnost i obrt, is the oldest museum of applied arts in Croatia and one of the major cultural institutions of Zagreb. It stands in the Lower Town, on the square directly opposite the Croatian National Theatre, in a grand neo-Renaissance building designed by the architect Hermann Bollé and completed in the early 1890s. The museum itself was founded in 1880 on the initiative of Izidor Kršnjavi, an art historian, painter and politician who wanted to raise the standards of craft and design in Croatia and to give craftspeople and the public models of quality, in the spirit of similar museums in Vienna and London. The purpose-built home, with its arcaded façade, large halls and decorated interior, was one of the first buildings in the city designed to be a museum.

The collection is vast, with well over a hundred thousand objects, and it covers the history of applied art from the Middle Ages to the present day. The permanent exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the styles of European art, from Gothic and Renaissance to Baroque, Rococo, Classicism and Historicism, and on to Art Nouveau, Art Deco and modern design. It includes furniture, ceramics, glass, silver, jewellery, textiles, clocks, musical instruments, toys, photographs and posters, as well as a rich display of Croatian craft traditions. Highlights include carved altars and sculptures from Gothic and Baroque churches, richly decorated furniture, historic rooms and examples of the Zagreb Secession and modern graphic design. The museum is a good place to see how everyday objects, from a chair to a teapot, have been shaped by taste, technology and social life, and it shows how the Croatian lands took part in European artistic movements.

Visitors should plan enough time. A visit typically takes between an hour and a half and three hours, depending on interest, and the galleries are best explored at a leisurely pace. Temporary exhibitions on fashion, design, photography and other topics are held regularly, and they are often among the most popular events in the city. The museum is closed on Mondays and open most other days, but the hours differ between sources and seasons, so it is wise to check the museum's website for current times and admission prices. The building also houses a library and a shop with books and design objects, and a café is a pleasant place to rest.

The museum is within walking distance of other attractions in Zagreb. The Archaeological Museum, the Art Pavilion, the Croatian Natural History Museum, the Church of St. Catherine, Ban Jelačić Square and the Dolac Market are all within reach, and the green horseshoe of parks in the Lower Town, including the Botanical Garden, lies nearby. Bundek Park offers a larger green space on the other side of the Sava.

The museum suits lovers of design, history and art, and travellers who want to understand Croatian cultural life. Visit on a weekday, and allow time for a temporary exhibition.