Croatia has unique historic sites, sunny beaches and crystal clear water, but did you know this beautiful European country houses some of the most innovative museums around?
Let’s take a look at seven interesting museums that will challenge your perception of the concept of museums! In addition, most of these are excellent to visit with children of any age!
1. FroggyLand, Split
FroggyLand, a museum dedicated to frogs, presents a collection of 507 stuffed frogs arranged in 21 everyday human situations. Frogs being at class, at the circus, visiting a dentist – you name it, it’s there! The exhibition was created between 1910 and 1920 and is the biggest collection of stuffed frogs in the world. What will amaze you is the attention to detail that Hungarian taxidermist Ferenc Mere put into the project. The museum is located in the center of Split and it will be a fresh experience for sure. I was pleasantly surprised when I visited and had a lot of fun.
Taking picture is not allowed at FroggyLand, so here’s a photo of the entrance : )
2. Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb
The Museum of Broken Relationships, or brokenships, is a public space where anyone can donate items of their broken relationship/s and share their story. It offers a chance to overcome a relationship by creating art and exhibiting objects with emotional legacy. The project started as a travelling exhibition and now presents items from all over the world. Back in 2010 the museum was awarded the EMYA Kenneth Hudson Award as the most innovative and daring museum project in Europe.
This is the one museum on the list that is probably not the best to visit with toddlers or kids since it houses ordinary objects with stories behind which are not that curios to look at. Most of the stories are sad, too. Still, I am sure any teenager will appreciate the place.
Would you donate an item to the Museum of Broken Relations?
3. Museum of Angels, Varaždin
Varaždin, famous for being “the town where angels sleep” is home to the Museum of Angels since 2011. This one of a kind, rare museum was curated by local artist Željko Prstec as a place where art work inspired by angels is collected. His art is actually dedicated to angels, too. The museum works all year long and is a must-see if you happen to be nearby.
4. MuseumS of Illusions, Zagreb and Zadar
The Museum of Illusions is a space dedicated to trick your mind of what you see and what is possible. Sounds intriguing, right? Well, soon after the first two museums of illusions opened doors in Zagreb and Zadar, the brand became a franchise business and now there are many similar museums across the world. There is even one in my hometown, Sofia. Although similar, each museum of illusions has a different exhibition, so the experience is also different every time. Taking pictures is allowed and highly recommended.
5. 80s Museum, Zagreb
The 80s Museum is a colorful museum that will take you back in the 1980s in Zagreb. Located in what used to be an apartment, this is not the typical museum where one looks at an exhibit and walks away. You’ll be able to sit down, touch the exhibit, try clothes on, and even have a drink here. Taking photos is a must! One travels in time and forgets about the time here! Two hours flied so fast when we visited!
Anna with one of the exhibits at the 80s Museum
6. Love stories Museum, Dubrovnik
The Love Stories Museum is an interesting museum that collects and displays unique personal love stories and items of great sentimental value donated from around the world. It opened doors in 2018 and is situated in a typical three-floor Dalmatian house very close to the center of Dubrovnik. To me, the museum feels like the opposite of the Museum of the Broken Relationships.
The Love wall at the Love Stories Museum
7. PEEK&POKE, Rijeka
PEEK&POKE, a computer museum in Rijeka, is one of the few permanent displays of vintage computing technology in Europe. The idea started back in 2007 as an educational and a non-profit project by two collectors of old computers. Today PEEK&POKE covers not only computers but all technology that deals with data processing, data transmission and data storage. It features more than 1000 computer exhibits and visitors are allowed to touch most of them!
Did I miss a cool and innovative museum in Croatia you visited?
Let me know and I will add it to the list!
Meanwhile, check these 5 crazy facts about Croatia : )