Prince Branimir Street, formerly Baroš Street, was once one of the most industrially active streets in Zagreb. The railway line bordering it on the south ensured the transport of raw materials and finished goods, and by the late 19th and early 20th century, several factory complexes were established in the street and its immediate surroundings: the Paper Factory (1893), Penkala Factory (1910), the First Croatian Oil Factory (1925), and the Gaon Knitting and Hosiery Factory (1929).
In addition to production facilities, the first half of the 20th century saw the development of warehouses, a gasworks, and other industrial infrastructure in Branimirova. Nearby was also the city fairground (Sajmište), and the area saw the construction of Zagreb’s first workers’ housing settlements to accommodate the factory workforce.
Today, Branimirova is an integral part of Zagreb’s Lower Town (Donji grad), with a mixed residential and commercial character. Yet, traces of its industrial heritage remain visible and can still be read in the urban landscape.
The walking tour of Branimirova begins at the former Penkala factory building (renamed Nada Dimić in 1950), which, although now neglected and deteriorating, remains one of the most representative examples of early 20th-century industrial architecture in Zagreb.
- 6/9/2025, Saturday / 10:00–11:00
