St. Mark's Church, Zagreb, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

St. Mark's Church is a Gothic parish church on St. Mark's Square in the Upper Town of Zagreb, Croatia. It dates back to the 13th century and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It is best known for its steep tiled roof, which carries the coats of arms of Zagreb and of the medieval Triune Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia.

The story behind it

The church stands in the old hilltop town of Gradec, and its origins go back to the 13th century. Over the centuries it was rebuilt and reshaped. The Gothic form you see today comes from the later Middle Ages, when the south portal was carved. That doorway is linked to the Parler workshop, a famous family of builders and sculptors. Its shallow niches hold 15 figures, among them the Madonna and Child and the apostles.

The colourful roof is much younger than the walls beneath it. It was added during a 19th-century restoration in which the architect Hermann Bollé played a leading part. The glazed tiles form two shields, one for the Triune Kingdom and one for the city of Zagreb. In the 20th century Croatian artists left their mark inside, including the sculptor Ivan Meštrović and the painter Jozo Kljaković.

What to look for

• Study the glazed roof tiles and find the two coats of arms, one for the historic Croatian lands and one for the city.
• Stand in front of the Gothic south portal and count the small statues set in niches around the doorway.
• Look at the steep pitch of the roof against the plain walls and tower, which shows how the church combines medieval stonework with a 19th-century finish.
• If the church is open, look for the work of Ivan Meštrović and Jozo Kljaković inside.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 30 minutes for the exterior and the square, and more if you can go inside. Check current opening hours, as the interior is not always open to visitors.
• Go in the morning for softer light on the roof and fewer people in photos.
• The square is surrounded by government buildings, so look around and enjoy the calm, but be aware that some areas may be closed off at times.
• You are in the heart of the Upper Town, so Lotrščak Tower, the Stone Gate and the Museum of Broken Relationships are all a short walk away.

See it on a quest

The Lost Love of Old Zagreb brings you to St. Mark's Church on foot as one stop of a longer route through the old town. The app tells you about the church when you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Zagreb essentials: easy itinerary is a relaxed way to place the church within the wider city. You walk from stop to stop, hear the story of each place as you reach it and solve a puzzle on the spot. There is no guide to follow, and one ticket covers the whole group.