Maksimir Park

History

Founded in 1787, Maksimir Park was the first large public park in South-Eastern Europe, and predates the majority of Europe's public park foundings. The park was opened in 1794 under the initiative of the man for whom it was named, Bishop Maksimilijan Vrhovac of Zagreb (1752–1827). At that time, the park was located on the outskirts of the city, while today the city's neighborhoods have largely enveloped it. It was formerly a dense forest of hornbeams (Carpinus betulus) and oaks (Quercus robur and Q. petraea). The remainder of the original forest survives as a girdle to the park, the area in total measuring above 1005 acre.

Landscaping

The landscaping was first conceived by Bishop Vrhovac in the baroque style. In 1839, Bishop Juraj Haulik (1788–1869), and others redesigned the park. Haulik's vision was very much in line with Biedermeierist notions, and romantic neoclassicism, with elements from historicism; and in emulation of the park at the Laxenburg estate of the Habsburgs.

The process of transforming Maksimir Park involved the felling of the forest interior, the grading of hills, the excavating of great holes for lakes, the laying of paths, and construction of bridges.

Others who were instrumental in the making of the park were sculptors Anton Dominik Fernkorn (1813–1878), and Josip Kassmann (1784–1856); master gardener Franjo Serafin Korbler (1812–1866); landscape architect Michael Sebastian Riedel (1763–1850); and architect Franz Schücht.

Schücht's contributions include, among others, Paviljon Jeka (The Pavilion of Echoes), a lookout known as the Kiosk, and a house called Švicarska kuća (The Swiss House).

Design

The park has several big meadows, numerous creeks, and five lakes, and is a habitat for various plant and animal species, such as the Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius), an endangered species in Europe.

Zagreb’s Zoo also forms part of the park’s territory, located in the southern part of Maksimir Park.

In addition to the park, the name Maksimir may also refer to one of Zagreb’s neighborhoods and NK Dinamo’s stadium, both of which are adjacent to the park.

Flora

Basidiomycetes include:

• Agaricus campestris
• Agaricus elevatus
• Agaricus fibrosolaceratus
• Amanita excelsa
• Amanita regalis
• Amanita rubescens
• Artomyces pyxidatus
• Boletus aereus
• Boletus purpurascens Rostk.
• Boletus strobilaceus
• Caloboletus radicans
• Cantharellus cibarius
• Calocybe gambosa
• Calymotta macrocystis Vouk et Pevalek
• Clavaria coriacea
• Clavulina coralloides
• Clitocybe hydrogramma
• Clitocybe infundibuliformis
• Collybiopsis peronata
• Coprinus comatus
• Cortinarius caperatus
• Entoloma politum
• Fomitopsis betulina
• Ganoderma lucidum
• Geastrum fimbriatum
• Gomphidius glutinosus
• Gymnopus androsaceus
• Gymnopus fusipes
• Handkea utriformis
• Hebeloma crustuliniforme
• Hebeloma fastibile
• Hericium cirrhatum
• Hygrocybe flammea
• Hypholoma fasciculare
• Inocybe fraudans
• Inocybe lacera
• Laccaria laccata
• Lactarius scrobiculatus
• Lactarius serifluus
• Lactarius torminosus
• Lactifluus piperatus
• Lactifluus volemus
• Lepista nuda
• Lycoperdon caudatum
• Lycoperdon decipiens
• Lycoperdon perlatum
• Marasmius achyropus (Pers.) Fr.
• Marasmius molyoides
• Marasmius rotula
• Mutinus caninus
• Mycena filopes
• Mycena inclinata
• Paxillus involutus
• Phallus impudicus
• Pleurotus ostreatus
• Polyporus alveolarius
• Pratella coruggis Pers.
• Pseudosperma rimosum
• Rickenella fibula
• Russula adusta
• Russula aeruginea
• Russula cyanoxantha
• Russula depallens
• Russula emetica
• Russula fragilis
• Russula ochroleuca
• Russula risigallina
• Russula sanguinaria
• Russula vesca
• Russula virescens
• Scleroderma bovista
• Suillus bovinus
• Suillus flavus
• Tricholoma lascivum
• Tricholoma luridum
• Tricholoma terreum
• Tylopilus felleus
• Volvariella volvacea
• Xerocomellus chrysenteron

Climate

Since records began in 1949, the highest temperature recorded at the local weather station at an elevation of 123 m was 40.4 C, on 5 July 1950. The coldest temperature was -31.4 C, on 15 February 1940.

Location and access

Maksimir is located in the eastern central part of the city.

ZET tram lines 4, 5, 7, 11 and 12 frequently connect the park to the rest of the city. A stop named Bukovačka is located at the main entrance into the park.

A less frequent bus route 226 from a nearby Svetice terminal connects to the Mirogoj cemetery and goes on to the Kaptol terminal in the old city centre.

Gallery

File:Map of Maksimir Park, Zagreb, 1846.jpg|An 1846 map of the park File:Prvo_jezero.jpg|Maksimir First lake and wooden Lace Bridge File:Maksimirski_perivoj_(8617931475).jpg|Maksimir Park in September File:Turtles in Maksimir.jpg|Turtles in the Maksimir lake File:Maksimir park.jpg|Maksimir

References

References

1. (2006). "The Oxford Companion to the Garden". [[Oxford University Press]].
2. "Park's History". park-maksimir.hr.
3. (2020). "The Architecture and Landscape of Health A Historical Perspective on Therapeutic Places 1790-1940". [[Taylor & Francis]].
4. "Vrhovčev i Haulikov Maksimir". Prostor : znanstveni časopis za arhitekturu i urbanizam, Vol. 10 No. 2(24), 2002..
5. "General Data". park-maksimir.hr.
6. (1916). "Prilog poznavanju bazidiomiceta sjeverne Hrvatske". Prirodoslovna istraivanja Hrvatske i Slavonije.
7. DHMZ. (2022-07-19). "Najviše izmjerene temperature zraka u Hrvatskoj za razdoblje od kada postoje mjerenja".
8. DHMZ. (2022-01-21). "Najniže izmjerene temperature zraka u Hrvatskoj za razdoblje od kada postoje mjerenja".
9. "Tram routes".
10. "Naziv linije: Kaptol - Remete - Svetice".