Traditional toys, the treasure of our Zagorje: ‘Every is unique. There are no measures, everything came from your head … ‘
Among the green slopes of Hrvatsko Zagorje in Tuhlje, a unique place that connects children’s play, art and rich Zagorje tradition – a park of traditional toys. The newly opened thematic park, located near Tuhelj Terme, is already attracted to attention as a new tourist attraction of this area, and is symbolically opened on April 29 – on the International Day of the Game.
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04:00
Open first park of traditional toys
– The traditional wooden toys of the Croatian Zagorje was the best -selling product in the souvenir shop we had in Terme Tuhelj, but in 2019 the corona started, so suppliers could no longer deliver them to us. Then everything stopped, so I came up with one idea – I’ll make them alone – Goran Lendrec from Donja Stubica told us.
Tuhelj: OPEN FIRST PARK OF TRADITIONAL TO TOODS |
After a decade of work spent in the police, in 2019 he quit. He tidied his own small workshop at home, bought machines and, little by little, started making traditional wooden toys. Towards with wood until then, Goran says, he had no. He placed his unique toys to a souvenir shop where they later met the director of the Zagorje Tourist Board, Tatjana Petranovic-Capar. She, Goran says, gave them a proposal to turn her small wooden toys into – big.
– I refused at first because it was too big for me, but she was persistent, so in a few months she asked me again and told me ‘Come on, so he couldn’t’. Still, I thought a little. In principle, it was a challenge to make me and said ajde, he can, just to see if I can do it at all – he says.
Tuhelj: OPEN FIRST PARK OF TRADITIONAL TO TOODS |
Given that in the workshop, however, he did not have much room to create a toy, in collaboration with Woodmood, they started working in their hall. Without them, he says, this would not be possible. And that’s how it came about, he tells us. The workmanship itself went on several stages, used a pine tree and fir tree, and making large wooden masterpieces, which revive the old childhood toys – Konjic with a car, a train, a plane and even a gingerbread heart, lasted about a year for a total of about a year. Children can enjoy the game of Križić-Rocks, swings and educational elements that promote local identity. Particular attention is drawn to the interactive puzzle with the motives of Zagorje and the Tourist Board logo.
– Every toy is unique. There are no drafts, projects, measures, serial production. All this came from the head, from the first, on the spot. And this is the result of everything – Goran tells us. ON plane he made in a natural sizeand who was a real attraction at the Rudy meetings in Gornja Stubica, we wrote two years ago. The children were delighted.
Open Park of Traditional Toys in Tuhelj |
– It took me a total of about 270 hours to make it. It is in natural size, measuring four times four meters, and two kids fit. I made the plane without any draft, slowly, I folded part by part. It was not complicated, but it was demanding to perform. But I worked everything with my soul, so from the thick one, so it didn’t seem overly difficult – Goran, who is otherwise involved in catering, then told 24 Hours. And I painted her catering houses that he goes to festivals and fairs in Zagorje.
After the plane, he threw himself on making a train as much as seven meters long. The traditional trains of the train is only about 50 centimeters long, so making in these dimensions is impressive and requires great effort and time. That is why, Goran says, this park is not just a common playground, but also an art installation. It is a carefully designed space that celebrates the centuries -old tradition of making wooden toys, the skill that UNESCO has recognized and included in its list of intangible cultural heritage.
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01:07
Open Park of Traditional Toys in Tuhelj
Wooden toys, whose production in Zagorje has been transmitted to generations back since the 19th century, are made by hand by men shaping wood, while usually women paint toys with characteristic colors – red, blue, white, green and yellow, and floral and geometric decorations. It is this unique symbiosis of skills and aesthetics that makes Zagorje toys an invaluable part of Croatian cultural heritage. I can never be two completely identical because each is handmade.
« Water -based colors, odorless, are eco -friendly and not harmful, » he said, adding that he received a lot of praise for the toys. Still, he is glad they were able to finish it and that I could say that they made the first park of traditional toys here – he says proudly.
Tuhelj: OPEN FIRST PARK OF TRADITIONAL TO TOODS |
Behind the project is the Zagorje Tourist Board in cooperation with the Municipality of Tuhelj and with the support of the Fund for the Associated Tourist Board. The project of the Park of Traditional Toys has been developing over four years, and the costs of almost 74,000 euros were shared by the municipality of Tuhelj and the Croatian National Tourist Board.
– We thought this was not just a game space, but a strong message about the preservation of identity and cultural heritage – said the opening of Park Tatjana Petranovic Capar, Director of the Zagorje Tourist Board.
Tuhelj: OPEN FIRST PARK OF TRADITIONAL TO TOODS |
The park is located next to the Alley of the famous Zagorers and Zagorje, and the Labyrinth Park is already arranged in its vicinity. All of these locations will soon be connected by the « Health Trail », a promenade that will extend from the rotor near Tuhelj Tuhelj to Horvat, thus creating a rounded tourist and recreational whole.
Mayor Tuhlja, Mladen Hercigonja, emphasized at the opening that the aim of this project was not only to create additional content for visitors, but also to preserve and promote the intangible cultural heritage of Hrvatsko Zagorje. Krapina-Zagorje County Mayor Zeljko Kolar emphasized the importance of investing in projects like this.
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– We give children roots and wings. Through the game we teach them to appreciate the tradition, and at the same time we offer them space for creativity, socializing and development – he added.
The art of making wooden toys developed in this region in the 19th century, in the area of Laz, Stubica, Tugonica or Marija Bistrica itself and stayed to this day. From very simple toys played, the range was expanded so that in some periods they made about one hundred and twenty different toys. Park of traditional toys in Tuhlje, therefore, is not just a place for a children’s game – it is a living monument to the heritage, the place of meeting the past and the future. The place where we return through the wooden toy to the roots, but also open the door to new generations to be proud to carry them further.
