Kumrovec

Kumrovec is a village in central Croatia, part of Krapina-Zagorje county. It sits on the Sutla river, along the Croatian-Slovenian border. The Kumrovec municipality has 1,854 residents (2001), but the village itself has only 304 people. [http://www.tz-zagorje.hr/en/krapina-zagorje-county/odredista/kumrovec.html]

Kumrovec's claim to fame is that it was the birth place of marshal Josip Broz Tito (1892-1980), the president of former Yugoslavia. The birth house of Tito (built in 1860 as the first brickwork house in the village) features the Memorial Museum of Marshal Tito, opened in 1953. The Museum is also important for the local folklore. Next to the house is the bronze standing statue of Marshal Tito (made by A. Augustincic, 1948). The old part of Kumrovec comprises the Ethnological Museum with 18 village houses, displaying permanent exhibitions of artefacts related to the life and work of Zagorje peasants in the 19th/20th century.

The village is small but was of great popularity in the former Yugoslavia. Anyone who passed or stayed in Kumrovec had to visit the house where Tito was born.

Today the major attraction of Kumrovec is the Ethnological Museum Staro Selo (Old Village) Kumrovec with very well preserved village houses from the turn of 19th/20th century. The reconstruction and redecoration of these houses started in 1977. So far 40-odd houses and other farm-stead facilities have been restored, which makes Staro Selo the most attractive place of this kind in Croatia. Visitors may see permanent ethnological exhibitions such as the Zagorje-style Wedding, the Life of Newly-weds, From Hemp to Linen, Blacksmith's Crafts, Cart-wright's Craft, Pottery, From Grain to Bread, etc.

External links

* [http://www.kumrovec.hr/ Official site]