Science Park

The Science Park in Oroslavje is an outdoor, hands-on exhibition of science, in the small town of Oroslavje in Hrvatsko Zagorje, in northwestern Croatia, about thirty-five kilometres from Zagreb. It was created as a place where visitors of all ages can experiment with physics, astronomy, geography and psychology by touching and trying out the exhibits instead of reading about them, and it has become a popular excursion for school groups and families.

The idea of a science park is simple. Instead of a museum with glass cases, it provides a series of large, durable installations placed in a park, where each one demonstrates a principle in a way that people can experience directly. Visitors walk from exhibit to exhibit, pushing, pulling, listening and looking, and learn through play. The approach has been used in many countries, and it is especially effective for children, who remember what they have done better than what they have been told. Outdoors, the exhibits are part of a public space, so the park also works as a pleasant place to spend an afternoon.

Spread across the grounds are around thirty exhibits. Among the best known is a maze of mirrors, in which reflections multiply and confuse the sense of direction, giving a lesson in optics as well as a bit of fun. Another is a set of sound mirrors, large concave dishes placed at a distance from each other, so that a whisper into one can be heard clearly at the other, even across a wide space, which demonstrates how sound waves are reflected and focused. A human sundial shows how the sun’s movement marks the time, and visitors become the gnomon, the part of the dial that casts the shadow, by standing at the right spot. Others deal with forces, balance, perspective and optical illusions, and each is accompanied by a short explanation in clear language.

While the exhibits are the draw, the park is close to the centre of Oroslavje, which makes it easy to combine with other places in the town. The Donje Oroslavje Castle and the Vraniczany park, the Domahovo Valley and the Hipodrom Oroslavje Stables are all nearby, and a day in Oroslavje can include a mix of science, nature and horses. The surrounding region, Zagorje, offers castles, vineyards and thermal baths, so the park can be one stop on a family trip.

Opening times and ticket prices change with the season, so check or contact the park before visiting. Because it is outdoors, it is best on dry days in spring, summer and autumn, and a visit takes one to two hours. It suits children, parents, teachers and curious adults, and the activities are easy for visitors of different ages and languages.