Catching Witches in Zagreb's Upper Town

Stories of witches riding and flying on brooms seem too far-fetched to be believed. The racing brooms in Harry Portter's "The Chambers of Secrets" further reinforced that this is something that only happens in fairy tales. But when the tourist guide in Zagreb pointed out a mace on top of an old building and elaborated its significance, I realized that people at one time did believe that witches flew on brooms.

Zagreb has a history of supposed witchery. Many women had been accused of practising witchery and tortured for being witches. According to legend, mace was installed at the highest point of the roof to catch witches. When witches fly on brooms over buildings, their dresses or capes would be stuck on the spikes of the mace!

Look closely at the spikes on the mace  which was installed 

to catch witches flying on brooms!

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This building is reckoned to be the oldest in the old town called Gradec which is part of the Upper Town of the city of Zagreb. Earlier, we took the Zagreb funicular from the Lower Town to reach the Upper Town. This cable car built in 1890 is acknowledged to be the shortest cable car in the world. The Lotrscak Tower greeted us immediately upon our disembarkation from the train. This Tower built in the 13th century used to guard the southern gate of Gradec wall. Since 1 January 1877, a cannon placed at the fourth floor was fired daily at 12.00 midday to give sign of the exact noon. The guide told us about an incident when a lady tourist who was not warned before hand about this had a shock of her life when the cannon was fired!

Toward the Funicular Station at the Lower Town.

Zagreb Funicular.

Lower Town viewed from Upper Town.

Lotrscak Tower.

St. Mark Square - the centre of political power houses the Parliament, the Prime Minister Office and St. Mark Church in a U-shaped formation.

St. Mark Church.

Prime Minister Office.

Parliament