Zagreb Cathedral restoration could continue until 2030 as final heritage phase starts

Zagreb cathedral (Photo: Private album)

ZAGREB, 24 August – The restoration of Croatia’s earthquake-damaged cultural heritage is entering its final phase, with hundreds of projects completed and some of the country’s most significant historic buildings now approaching the end of major reconstruction works.

Tomislav Petrinec, acting head of the Ministry of Culture and Media’s Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, told HRT that more than €1.7 billion had so far been spent on the restoration programme, which has involved more than 500 projects.

The programme covers a wide range of buildings, including state and local government buildings, public cultural institutions, religious buildings and properties belonging to the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU).

Petrinec described the restoration as a historic undertaking, particularly in central Croatia, stressing that the approach went beyond simply repairing façades or damaged parts of buildings.

Instead, the aim was to carry out comprehensive restoration and structural strengthening, improving the long-term resilience of the buildings.

Of the 291 buildings undergoing structural restoration through the EU Solidarity Fund, 283 have been completed, leaving eight of the most complex projects still under way.

Among them are Zagreb Cathedral and Sisak Cathedral, as well as the Croatian Parliament building and Vranyczany-Dobrinović Palace.

The scale and complexity of the remaining work mean that some of these projects will take considerably longer to complete.

Zagreb Cathedral restoration could last until 2030

The Zagreb Cathedral, one of Croatia’s most recognisable landmarks, remains one of the most demanding restoration projects.

The cathedral was severely damaged in the 22 March 2020 Zagreb earthquake, which struck the historic centre of the capital. Emergency conservation and stabilisation measures began immediately after the earthquake, with the wider restoration process continuing for more than six years.

According to Petrinec, the first stage of the cathedral’s structural restoration, involving repairs and strengthening from the inside, has now been completed.

(Photo: Private album)

The next stage will involve strengthening the exterior, followed by the restoration of the cathedral’s towers.

Petrinec said 2030 is currently considered the earliest realistic completion date for the full restoration.

The work is particularly complex because of the cathedral’s architectural characteristics and the need to combine structural engineering with detailed conservation and restoration.

The exterior appearance is not expected to visibly change as a result of the structural work. Inside, further restoration work remains, including the return of the final layer of painted decoration that had to be removed during the works.

The cathedral has already partially returned to use. Liturgical celebrations have been held there since Christmas 2025, although the wider restoration project continues.

The Ministry of Culture said in July that the cathedral remains among the most complex and demanding heritage restoration projects in Croatia, with the objective of making it safe for worshippers and visitors while improving its resilience to future disasters.

The wider reconstruction programme follows the two major earthquakes that struck central Croatia in 2020 – the Zagreb earthquake in March and the Petrinja earthquake in December.

The scale of the work extends well beyond individual historic buildings. Previous official figures show that the restoration programme has also covered schools, hospitals, cultural institutions, roads, bridges, tram infrastructure, water networks and other public assets.

With most of the major heritage projects now completed, attention is increasingly turning to the final and most technically demanding sites – while ensuring that the restored buildings can be properly maintained for decades to come.