Sights

MAIN ENTRANCE (PORTAL)

The original main entrance (portal) to Park Maksimir was built in 1841. The entrance had two quadratic pillions between which was a drive way in the park. Next to these pillions used to be two smaller colons next to which were entrances for pedestrians. Large stone vases were placed on the large pillions, and on the small ones, small vases. Large single door used to close the pedestrian entrances, and the driveway with double overlapping doors. Doors were made of cast iron with spear-like endings. This entrance represented a classicistic object.

/ Main entrance, source: photo L.Schwoisser from 1864 /

In 1867 a new portal was placed where classicistic symbols were modernized with neo-gothic forms. Portal is formed of four pillars connected with a massive doorframe, which ends with stepwise elevated wall framed with curly ornament. A sign JURJEVAC used to stand in the middle of this elevation. Two sculptures of goddesses from Roman mythology were placed on the large pillions. Flora, goddess of flowers; and Pomona, goddess of fruit and trees. This portal was damaged in an earthquake in 1880 when the arched doorway was destroyed.

/ Entrance portal, source: photo I. Standl from 1871 /

After the earthquake the portal got a new appearance because it did not have arched doorway. In 1913 this portal was torn down in a storm when a large oak tree fell on it.

/ Entrance portal after the earthquake, 1880. /

In 1914 pillions were restored and the doorway was renovated, but now instead of the sign Jurjevac, verses from Ivan Gundulić's Dubravka were carved in:

Oj dubravo slavna ti si
U uresu slobodnome
Lijepa ti si mojim očima
Draga ti si srcu mome.
U veseloj ovoj sjeni
Od česti svih tvojih grana
Povesti je milo meni
Do najdražih mojih dana.

This portal remained the same until today.

 
/ Entrance portal, source: archive PIM /