Did you know that Bakačeva ulica was once an important main road? It was a route used to get to the fairground at Kaptol Square. And road traffic from the east to the city centre took place via Vlaška ulica and Bakačeva ulica. A rapid development of the city implied its expansion, an increase in the population and greater traffic congestion, which were resolved by construction of Ulica Augusta Cesarca.
Nikola Noble Hreljanović, “Butcher’s shops at Potok”, colour lithograph, circa 1920
Gregorić Butcher’s Shop, detail of painting
The story of Cesarčeva ulica begins with Emilij Laszowski, the first director of the Zagreb City Museum and his interesting and significant discovery. A lover of antiquities and heritage, even before founding the Zagreb City Museum, Laszowski discovered documents in 1892 at the Gregorić butcher shop in Splavnica, which specified a need for making way for a new street. In the study, along with a plan for regulation of Vlaška ulica, surveyor Ivan Stipanović wrote the following: The enclosed plan shows a road in the street called Vlaška, it being opened for the oncoming from Sesvete to the Square of the thirtieth customs and to the Kaptol Gate. As this road is always, but especially during the fairs, not only troublesome but also hazardous, I believe this is known throughout the kingdom. Suffice to say that this road should be repaired at greater expense, or alternatively, should be diverted elsewhere…”
After a series of planned traffic regulations, including opening of a tram line from Jelačić Square to Mirogoj in 1911, 1929 regulation plan envisioned construction of a new street that would connect Jelačić Square and Vlaška ulica. The plan was adopted, the street was constructed, and houses at numbers 2, 4, and 6 on the eastern side of Bakačeva ulica were demolished. The new street was only named later, in 1947, after the Croatian writer and publicist August Cesarac. Nowadays, it is a pedestrian zone, which, connecting with Vlaška ulica ends at European Square, which was officially named in 2017.
(D. B.)
View from Ban Josip Jelačić Square onto Bakačeva ulica and the Cathedral; circa 1906.
In front of the Cathedral stands partially demolished Bakačeva kula.
View from Jelačić Square to Bakačeva ulica. On the eastern side of the street, there is a house where the City Savings Bank building now stands. Renowned Zagreb ironmongers Mervar and Hodniković, a predecessor of Zanap and later Ferimport, had advertising space at number 4; around 1920.
Sellers and customers in the Mervar and Hodniković ironmongery in the 1920s at Bakačeva ulica 2.
View from the Square to Bakačeva ulica, 1931.
View of the eastern side of Bakačeva ulica, the City Café, and Bakačeva ulica numbers 2, 4, and 6. Mervar and Hodniković ironmongery moved to Petrinjska ulica, and the house at number 2 is about to be demolished; circa 1935.
Demolition of the house at Bakačeva ulica 2; around 1935
View of the eastern side of Bakačeva ulica and Ban Josip Jelačić Square and demolition of houses at Bakačeva ulica numbers 4 and 6; around 1940.
View of Bakačeva ulica and demolition of houses at numbers 4 and 6 due to creation of a new street, photographer Alfred Albini, 1941.
View of Bakačeva ulica and demolition of houses at numbers 4 and 6; photographer Alfred Albini; 1941
View of Bakačeva ulica after demolition of houses at numbers 4 and 6; photographer Milan Stahuljak; 1941
View of demolished houses on Bakačeva ulica, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Cathedral, photographer Vladimir Guteša, around 1941.
South side of Ulica Augusta Cesarca; photographer Marijan Szabo, 1947
Cesarac Street, photographer Vladimir Guteša, 14 October 1959
SOURCES:
- Knežević, Snješka. Gradonačelnik Bandić, dakle, sad se dohvatio i Bakačeve. https://www.telegram.hr/price/gradonacelnik-bandic-dakle-sad-se-dohvatio-i-bakaceve-o-slabo-poznatoj-povijesti-te-ulice-za-telegram-pise-snjeska-knezevic/ (accessed on 20 May 2020).
- Laszowski, Emilij. 1941. Prilog poviesti regulacije Bakačeve i Vlaške ulice. Zagreb: revija Društva Zagrepčana. 1/2. 211-214.
- Premerl, Nada. 2005. Potok u srcu Zagreba: Uz potok Medveščak – od izvora do ušća. Muzej grada Zagreba. Zagreb.
- Šimpraga, Saša. 2011. Zagreb, javni prostor. Porfirogenet. Zagreb.
- Ulčnik, Ivan. 1941. Stari Jelačićev trg. Zagreb: revija Društva Zagrepčana. 10/11. 219-237.
- Zagrebački leksikon: A-LJ. 2006. Eds. Bilić, Josip; Ivanković, Hrvoje. Leksikografski zavod Miroslav Krleža – Masmedia, Zagreb.