November 10, 2021 - As part of the project Great Croatians of Zagorje, the first talking bench has been installed in Veliko Trgovišće, where locals and tourists can learn more about the history of the birthplace of the first Croatian president.

Only thirty kilometers away from our dear Zagreb in Veliko Trgovišće, better known as the birthplace of the first Croatian president, the first in a row was set up: a bench that talks as part of the project Croatian Greats of Zagorje, writes Jelena Holenko for Turističke Priče.

Photo: Jelena Holenko/Turističke Priče

The Tourist Board of the Tuhelj, Klanjec, and Trgovišće areas has launched an initiative to mark sites related to Croatian greats from this area that have left great significance in Croatian history. These are the initiator of the Peasant Revolt back in 1573, Ambroz Broz, better known as Matija Gubec, Antun Mihanović - creator of the Croatian anthem Lijepa naša who spent the last years of his life in Klanjec, the first Croatian president Franjo Tuđman, sculptor Antun Augustinčić, Josip Broz Tito, Veronika Desinička and others.

In honor of the first Croatian president, a rest area with a tourist map and an interactive talking bench has been arranged in the immediate vicinity of his birthplace. The first talking bench is of an educational character and by pressing a button, you can choose and listen to the story of Veliko Trgovišće and its history, or the story of Croatian greats and Dr. Franjo Tuđman who grew up in this place "among the green hills of Zagorje".

Bust of President Dr. Franjo Tuđman erected in his hometown of Veliko Trgovišće. (Photo: Marin Tironi/PIXSELL)

Other such interactive benches will be set up next to the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Memorial School also in Veliko Trgovišće, in Tuheljske Toplice, in Dubrovnik… and maybe the story of Zagorje and the greats of this region inspires you to get to know the Zagorje region and the benefits it provides!

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

Veliko Trgovišće is a little place in the continental Croatian county of Krapina-Zagorje. If it wasn't for independent Croatia's very first president Franjo Tuđman having been born there, it would certainly be even less known than it is now, as this unassuming little Zagorje municipality has a mere 5,000 inhabitants and is very rarely talked about in the media.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 15th of May, 2019, RTL Direct went directly to this small municipality to try and see just what it has to offer. They found out that Veliko Trgovišće is no stranger to the production of tablecloths, napkins and linens which travel from Veliko Trgovišće to London restaurants and even to Las Vegas casinos.

Finka has been working there for 37 years and she's one of eighty people working in this village's textile factory, and she states that people in Zagorje will ''never remain hungry'' when discussing what it's like to live in this very rural and little known part of Zagorje.

That same factory moved ten years ago from the Croatian capital of Zagreb, taking part of its workers with it.

"The Trgovišće Factory is the largest garment manufacturer, it exports to 25 countries all over the world, from England and Switzerland, to exotic destinations like Dubai,'' stated Dražen Kolarek, finance manager at the factory.

Mate Rimac and his company, otherwise one of the most successful companies in the whole of Croatia, Rimac Automobili, is also on his way to this little Croatian county, and you can read his entire interview here.

This Croatian municipality has a few successful businesses, unemployment there is at less than an enviable three percent, the first Croatian president was born there, and they also want the status of a city there. That ''city'' status will likely be obtained because, as Veliko Trgovišće's Robert Greblički has already stated, this little Croatian municipality meets all of the necessary prerequisites.

"The first president was born here, we're raising the number of people living here, we're developing entrepreneurship, so I think that we can copy Sveta Nedjela in time," Greblički added.

As soon as this completely unassuming little Croatian municipality gains its city status, it can truly become, as its name suggests: Big (Veliko).

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