Museum of Broken Relationships | Zagreb

Information

Landmark: Museum of Broken Relationships
City: Zagreb
Country: Croatia
Continent: Europe

Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb, Croatia, Europe

The Museum of Broken Relationships (Muzej prekinutih veza) is a permanent museum located in the historic Upper Town (Gornji Grad) of Zagreb, Croatia. It is dedicated to the study and display of failed relationships, featuring personal objects donated by anonymous individuals accompanied by brief synopses.

Visual Characteristics

The museum is housed in the Kulmer Palace, a beautiful Baroque-style building. The structure was built in several stages; the western part dates back to the mid-18th century (1760 and 1776), with later additions and extensions in the 19th century (1837 and 1897). The architecture features thick walls (approximately 60cm), white plastered surfaces, and dark wood-framed doors and windows, providing a stately and serious atmosphere that contrasts with the personal, everyday nature of the objects on display.

Location & Access Logistics

Address: Ćirilometodska ul. 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.

Access: It is located in the pedestrian-heavy Upper Town, just south of St. Mark’s Square.

Public Transport: Take the Zagreb Funicular from Tomićeva Street to the Upper Town, followed by a 2-minute walk. Alternatively, ZET bus line 150 connects the main Ban Jelačić Square to the Garaža Tuškanac stop near the museum.

Parking: The nearest major parking facility is the Tuškanac public garage (Garaža Tuškanac), approximately 0.5km away.

Historical Origin

The concept was created in 2006 by two Zagreb artists, film producer Olinka Vištica and sculptor Dražen Grubišić, following the end of their four-year romantic relationship. It began as a traveling exhibition that toured 33 cities in 21 countries. Due to its global popularity, it established its permanent home in Zagreb in 2010. In 2011, it received the Kenneth Hudson Award for European Museum of the Year for its innovative concept.

Key Highlights & Activities

The museum's collection consists of approximately 3,500 objects representing various types of failed relationships (romantic, platonic, and family).

Notable Exhibits: An axe used to chop up a former lover's furniture, a prosthetic leg, airline tickets, barf bags, and "love incense" that "doesn't work."

Activities: Reading the anonymous stories associated with each item. Visitors can also contribute their own items and stories to the collection or the virtual web museum.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Brokenships Café: A cozy on-site café offering coffee, wine, and cakes made by residents of a rehabilitation program. It features a summer terrace.

Museum Shop: Sells ironic and comforting souvenirs like "Bad Memories Erasers" and "Anti-stress Pencils."

Amenities: Restrooms are available inside the museum for visitors. Captions are provided in Croatian and English, with translation booklets available in several other languages. Cell signal is strong throughout the Upper Town area.

Best Time to Visit

Schedule: The museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (10:00 PM in summer).

Conditions: Photography is allowed but requires a steady hand due to the low, atmospheric lighting designed to evoke intimacy. The best time for weather is April through September for the terrace, while winter visits offer the comfort of the warm café.

Facts & Legends

The museum is the first of its kind in the world and has inspired a second permanent location in Los Angeles (currently seeking a new site). It is often cited as one of the most innovative and emotional museum projects in Europe, challenging the traditional idea of what a museum should be by focusing on personal human experience rather than historical artifacts.