Exhibition Viticulture and Winemaking in the Croatian Zagorje Opens at Veliki Tabor Castle – the First Joint Exhibition of All Five Museums of the Croatian Zagorje

Eleven curators, five museums and more than a year of research have come together in a unique exhibition exploring viticulture and winemaking as an integral part of the cultural heritage, history and identity of the Croatian Zagorje. Marking an important milestone in the 33-year history of the Museums of the Croatian Zagorje, the exhibition will remain open until 28 November 2027.

The exhibition Viticulture and Winemaking in the Croatian Zagorje has officially opened in the impressive setting of Veliki Tabor Castle, offering a comprehensive, interdisciplinary exploration of the centuries-old relationship between the people of the Croatian Zagorje and grapevines, vineyards and wine. This significant exhibition project marks the first time in the 33-year history of the Museums of the Croatian Zagorje that all five museums have joined forces in a shared research, curatorial and exhibition initiative.

The exhibition is the result of more than a year of intensive work by eleven curators, who have explored various aspects of viticulture and winemaking across eleven thematic sections, ranging from natural history and historical developments to ethnography, economics, social life and art. One of the project's particular strengths is that more than 90 per cent of the objects on display come from the collections of the Museums of the Croatian Zagorje, highlighting the richness and diversity of the museum holdings preserved across its five museums. The exhibition is accompanied by a comprehensive catalogue presenting the findings of the research and making a valuable scholarly and documentary contribution to our understanding of the region's viticultural heritage.

The opening ceremony was attended by Jurica Sabol, Director of the Museums of the Croatian Zagorje; Paul Lekaj, Head of Veliki Tabor Castle, exhibition curator and coordinator; Anuška Deranja Crnokić, Director of the Directorate for Archives, Libraries and Museums at the Ministry of Culture and Media and representative of the Minister of Culture and Media; and Dražen Šurbek, Mayor of the Municipality of Desinić. Numerous representatives of cultural and public institutions, museum professionals, authors, collaborators and heritage enthusiasts also attended, demonstrating their support for this important project.

A Historic Milestone in Collaboration Across the Museums of the Croatian Zagorje

Welcoming those gathered, Jurica Sabol, Director of the Museums of the Croatian Zagorje, emphasised that the exhibition represents the realisation of a long-standing ambition to strengthen ties between the museums through joint professional and exhibition work.

For the first time in the 33-year history of the Museums of the Croatian Zagorje, we are organising a joint exhibition. The reason behind this initiative was straightforward. We are currently undertaking a major investment programme: Oršić Castle is being renovated, the Krapina Neanderthal Museum is being extended, and the bastion tower here is undergoing restoration. We are active on many fronts, so I suggested that we try to create something together, Sabol explained.

Each museum approached the subject from its own perspective, bringing together the distinctive features of its collections, research interests and areas of expertise to create a coherent exhibition. This approach has made it possible to present viticulture and winemaking in a much broader context than their primary economic role.

Sabol particularly praised the dedication of everyone involved in preparing the exhibition, from research and the collection of materials to the professional documentation of objects, the development of exhibition content and the preparation of the catalogue. He also highlighted the collaboration with Kajkaviana from Donja Stubica and the Radboa Museum, both of which loaned objects for the exhibition.

An extensive catalogue has also been published to accompany the exhibition. I would particularly like to commend all the colleagues involved in its preparation, as well as the coordinator, who successfully brought together different ideas and requirements. I believe we have created something we can be proud of, Sabol said, expressing his satisfaction that visitors would have the opportunity to explore the rich viticultural and winemaking heritage of the Croatian Zagorje over the coming year.

Eleven Curators, Eleven Themes, One Shared Story

Paul Lekaj, Head of Veliki Tabor Castle and exhibition curator and coordinator, spoke about the exhibition's content and concept, emphasising that bringing it to fruition had been a demanding but exceptionally rewarding process of collaboration and coordination between different professional approaches.

Eleven subthemes, eleven curators, eleven different personalities, philosophies and approaches to work, five museums, but one goal – to create the first joint exhibition involving all the constituent museums in the history of the Museums of the Croatian Zagorje, Lekaj emphasised.

The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the rich and multifaceted history of viticulture, beginning with the biology and evolution of grapevines, the influence of soil, minerals and natural conditions on grape cultivation, and the historical development of vineyard production. It also explores vine diseases, pests and natural disasters that have affected viticulture and the lives of local communities over the centuries.

Particular attention is given to the economic and social significance of viticulture, changes in cultivation and winemaking technologies, the development of vineyard tools and grape varieties that have shaped the Croatian Zagorje. The exhibition also examines changes during the 20th century that affected wine production and people's relationship with vineyards as places of work, social gatherings and the passing down of family traditions.

Vineyards and traditional vineyard cottages, known as klijeti, occupy an important place in the exhibition as distinctive features of the cultural landscape of the Croatian Zagorje. They are not merely reminders of historical approaches to land management, but also places of gathering, social interaction, family customs and the transmission of knowledge between generations. Their preservation is particularly important at a time when the area devoted to grape cultivation is declining and traditional ways of life are gradually changing.

Alongside viticultural tools, traditional crafts and customs, the exhibition explores lesser-known artistic and cultural-historical dimensions of wine. Visitors can discover connections between the region's viticultural heritage and the work of Ljudevit Gaj and Antun Augustinčić, learn about the indigenous grape variety Sokol from Klanjec, and explore vinorel, a distinctive painting technique that uses wine as an artistic medium.

We wanted to demonstrate that viticulture in the Croatian Zagorje is not simply about producing grapes and wine, but represents a complex cultural heritage in which nature, human labour, knowledge, customs, art and local identity come together, Lekaj explained.

He expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and Media, Kajkaviana, the Radboa Museum, all collaborators and the colleagues involved in preparing the exhibition and its catalogue.

The Exhibition as a Contribution to Preserving and Passing On Cultural Heritage

The exhibition was officially opened by Anuška Deranja Crnokić, Director of the Directorate for Archives, Libraries and Museums at the Ministry of Culture and Media and representative of the Minister of Culture and Media. She emphasised the importance of the project for the preservation, research and contemporary interpretation of the cultural heritage of the Croatian Zagorje.

She drew particular attention to the significance of holding the opening shortly before St Martin's Day, a celebration deeply rooted in the traditions of northern Croatia. The traditional blessing of new wine, associated with St Martin's Day celebrations, forms part of the intangible cultural heritage inscribed in the Register of Cultural Property of the Republic of Croatia. Its preservation reflects the close relationship between viticulture, social life and local identity.

I believe this exhibition also contributes to preserving this tradition and passing it on to future generations, Deranja Crnokić stated.

She praised the exhibition's comprehensive approach, which brings together historical, natural history, ethnographic and artistic perspectives, enabling visitors to appreciate viticulture and winemaking as an important part of their shared heritage.

She stressed that the Ministry of Culture and Media places particular value on projects that encourage collaboration between museums, professionals and other cultural institutions, as such cooperation enables more thorough research and more effective presentation of complex heritage topics to the wider public.

It is important that joint projects such as this inspire not only colleagues within the Museums of the Croatian Zagorje, but also other museums to work together and strengthen cooperation between museums and institutions, she said.

She congratulated all the curators and museum professionals from the five museums on the successful completion of the exhibition, particularly coordinator Paul Lekaj and Director Jurica Sabol, highlighting their role in bringing the professional team together.

She expressed her confidence that the exhibition would attract numerous visitors thanks to its engaging subject, wealth of exhibits and diversity of approaches, while contributing to a better understanding of viticultural traditions as an important part of the cultural identity of the Croatian Zagorje. Following her address, she officially declared the exhibition open.

The opening ceremony was further enriched by a musical performance by Mirela Bačani Đunđek, which added to the special atmosphere of the occasion and symbolically connected the exhibition's theme with the rich traditions of the Croatian Zagorje.

More Than an Exhibition – Shared Heritage and a Look to the Future

The exhibition Viticulture and Winemaking in the Croatian Zagorje goes beyond the conventional presentation of historical objects and viticultural tools. It tells the story of the relationship between people and landscape, of knowledge passed down through generations over centuries, of customs that have shaped social life, and of wine as both a subject of artistic expression and a symbol of togetherness.

At the same time, the project represents an important step forward in the development of the Museums of the Croatian Zagorje. The first joint exhibition involving all five museums demonstrates how bringing together professional expertise, diverse museum collections and different research perspectives can result in rich, coherent exhibitions that offer audiences fresh insights into their heritage.

This is precisely where its particular significance lies: viticulture and winemaking are presented not only as important economic activities, but also as an integral part of the history, culture, traditions and identity of the Croatian Zagorje.

Through authentic museum objects, historical sources, works of art and a wide range of thematic sections, the exhibition invites visitors to discover just how deeply grapevines are rooted in the life, landscape and cultural memory of the Croatian Zagorje.

The exhibition will remain open to visitors until 28 November 2027.