Hrvatski prirodoslovni muzej

About the museum

The Hrvatski prirodoslovni muzej (Croatian Natural History Museum) is housed in a historic aristocratic palace on the ramparts of the Upper Town of Zagreb. Between 1797 and 1834 the first public theatre in Zagreb, the Amadeovo kazalište (Amadeo Theatre), named after Count Antun Amadeu de Varkony, was active here.

The origins of today’s collections go back to the period of the Croatian National Revival, when the Narodni muzej (National Museum) was founded in Opatička Street in 1846. The collections gradually expanded through the work of prominent naturalists and the first museum specialists, among them Spiridion Brusina, Gjuro Pilar and Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger.

Today the museum collects, preserves, researches and presents the natural heritage of Croatia; its collections hold more than 1.5 million specimens of minerals, rocks, fossils, plants and animals. Professional work takes place in the geological-palaeontological, zoological, mineralogical-petrographic, botanical and restoration-preparation departments. The museum is the parent institution for natural history museums in Croatia, has published the journal Natura Croatica since 1992, and since 2000 has held the summer programme Scena Amadeo in its atrium.

Highlights

• Collections of minerals, rocks, fossils, plants and animals
• Deep Space projections
• Amadeo Palace on the ramparts of the Upper Town
• Workshops for schools and families, and birthday parties at the museum
• Accessible exhibition spaces with a lift

Permanent exhibition

• Stalni postav Hrvatskoga prirodoslovnog muzeja – The display of the renovated museum presents the natural history collections – minerals, rocks, fossils, plants and animals – together with Deep Space projections.

Founded

1986

Operated by

Republika Hrvatska (javna ustanova)

Visitors per year

approx. 23,143

Admission & discounts

Free admission is also granted to Croatian veterans (with confirmation) and to members of the Hrvatsko muzejsko društvo and ICOM. Guided tours: individual €40, in a foreign language €50, for a group €30, for a group in a foreign language €40.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Visitors in wheelchairs can visit all exhibition spaces with the help of a lift and adapted access.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Birthday celebration for children aged 6 to 12 (up to 20 children, 2 to 2.5 hours) with an interactive guided tour, games and music; family ticket for parents with up to three children; educational workshops for schoolchildren.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Upper Town; because of its central location, arriving by public transport or planning parking before arrival is recommended.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Gift shop with books, scientific kits and products by Croatian artists; items left in the cloakroom are kept for up to 7 days.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Plan your visit