Only thirty kilometers away from our dear Zagreb in Veliko Trgovišće, better known as the birthplace of the first Croatian president, the first in a row was set up: a bench that talks as part of the project Croatian Greats of Zagorje, writes Jelena Holenko for Turističke Priče.
Photo: Jelena Holenko/Turističke Priče
The Tourist Board of the Tuhelj, Klanjec, and Trgovišće areas has launched an initiative to mark sites related to Croatian greats from this area that have left great significance in Croatian history. These are the initiator of the Peasant Revolt back in 1573, Ambroz Broz, better known as Matija Gubec, Antun Mihanović – creator of the Croatian anthem Lijepa naša who spent the last years of his life in Klanjec, the first Croatian president Franjo Tuđman, sculptor Antun Augustinčić, Josip Broz Tito, Veronika Desinička and others.
In honor of the first Croatian president, a rest area with a tourist map and an interactive talking bench has been arranged in the immediate vicinity of his birthplace. The first talking bench is of an educational character and by pressing a button, you can choose and listen to the story of Veliko Trgovišće and its history, or the story of Croatian greats and Dr. Franjo Tuđman who grew up in this place “among the green hills of Zagorje”.
Bust of President Dr. Franjo Tuđman erected in his hometown of Veliko Trgovišće. (Photo: Marin Tironi/PIXSELL)
Other such interactive benches will be set up next to the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Memorial School also in Veliko Trgovišće, in Tuheljske Toplice, in Dubrovnik… and maybe the story of Zagorje and the greats of this region inspires you to get to know the Zagorje region and the benefits it provides!
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