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must-visit in ZagrebSquare & Landmark

Ban Josip Jelačić

📍 Trg bana Josipa Jelacica, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ban Josip Jelačić
1 photos
4.3/ 5.0
★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location
Croatia, Zagreb
Category
Square & Landmark
Duration
15-30 minutes
Address
Trg bana Josipa Jelacica, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Coordinates
45.8127, 15.9779

Introduction

The statue of Josip Jelacic stands at the centre of Zagreb's Ban Jelacic Square, sculpted by the Austrian Anton Dominik Fernkorn and unveiled on 19 October 1866 - installed by the Austrian authorities over the protests of the Zagreb city council. The bronze shows the ban (viceroy) on the white horse Emir, a warhorse given to Jelacic by Mahmud-beg Basic of Bihac that served as Fernkorn's model, his right arm extended holding a drawn sabre; the pedestal carries a 'Ban Jelacic 1848' plaque at the front and the Croatian coat of arms at the back. Originally facing north toward Hungary, the statue was removed in 1947 by Yugoslavia's communist authorities, who called Jelacic a 'servant of foreign interests', and spent decades hidden in a gallery cellar by its curator; it returned to the square on 16 October 1990, Jelacic's birthday, turned to face south. The statue gives Zagreb its most common meeting code - 'under the horse's tail' - and is the usual foreground for photographs of the square.

✨ Highlights

1
Fernkorn's 1866 Work
Sculpted by Austrian Anton Dominik Fernkorn and unveiled on 19 October 1866, the city's most widespread symbol.
2
Emir and the Drawn Sabre
Jelacic rides the white horse Emir, a gift from Basic of Bihac and the sculptor's model, right arm extended with a drawn sabre.
3
The 1848 Pedestal
A 'Ban Jelacic 1848' plaque at the front and the Croatian coat of arms at the back bind the ban to the revolutions on one base.
4
North to South
Originally facing Hungary, the statue was removed by the communists in 1947 and hidden in a cellar; it returned on Jelacic's birthday in 1990, turned south.
5
Under the Horse's Tail
'Under the horse's tail' is Zagreb's most common meeting code, and it points at this very statue.
6
The Square's Foreground
Centred in the square among the tram loop, it is the standard foreground for shots of the square, the Mandusevac fountain and the old-town skyline.

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration：15-30 minutes: 10 for the statue itself, extending to an hour with the square, the Mandusevac fountain and the market to the north
→Best time：7-9am brings commuters and fewer people for photos; evening lighting for night shots; the Christmas market is liveliest but most crowded
→Worth it?：Yes - almost Zagreb's 'zero kilometre' marker and right at the centre of every route; but if you have already seen the square, five minutes at the statue is enough
→Watch out：Trams run through the square with stops and rails, so stay out of the track for photos; the fountain and pedestal are not for climbing; pickpockets work the market crowds, so wear your pack in front
→Combine with：Dolac morning market 2 minutes north, Tkalciceva street climbing north to the Upper Town (St Mark's, the Stone Gate), the Ilica shopping street west and Praska street south
→Opening Hours：On a 24-hour pedestrian square, visible at any time; a different scene under the night lighting
→Transportation：Trams 1, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 17 by day and 31, 32, 34 at night cross the square; 2 minutes on foot from Dolac market

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
AdultFree

Entirely free with no ticket; the square is a pedestrian zone

💡 Tips

• The local meeting point 'under the horse's tail' is right below this statue.
• 7-9am is quiet for photos; evening brings the lighting.
• The statue faced north originally, and was turned south on its 1990 return.
• Trams run through the square, so stay out of the track for photos.
• Dolac morning market is 2 minutes north, worth combining.
• This is the same site as Ban Jelacic Square - one entry is enough.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Ban Josip Jelačić?

On a 24-hour pedestrian square, visible at any time; a different scene under the night lighting

How much is the admission for Ban Josip Jelačić?

Adult: Free; Entirely free with no ticket; the square is a pedestrian zone

Any practical tips for visiting Ban Josip Jelačić?

The local meeting point 'under the horse's tail' is right below this statue. 7-9am is quiet for photos; evening brings the lighting.

How long should I spend at Ban Josip Jelačić?

A typical visit takes 15-30 minutes.

The statue is on a 24-hour pedestrian square with trams running through - stay out of the track; it is lit at night, and the surrounding blocks are residential, so keep noise down. Compiled October 2026.