The museum originated as a traveling art project before finding a permanent home in Zagreb in 2010.
Every single object on display, including letters, clothing, and furniture, was donated by members of the public.
The collection includes highly unusual items, such as a prosthetic leg and an axe used to destroy furniture during a breakup.
The founders, Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić, were former partners who created the project to handle their own emotional closure.
It received the European Museum of the Year Award's 'Kenneth Hudson Award' for being the most innovative and daring museum in Europe.
Donors can submit their stories and objects anonymously, making the museum a global archive of human intimacy.
The museum operates a second permanent location in Los Angeles, though the Zagreb site remains the original.
The narrative cards are written by the donors themselves, preserving the original tone of their personal accounts.
The Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb is a unique institution featuring a crowd-sourced collection of personal objects donated by individuals from around the world to commemorate the end of their romantic relationships. Each exhibit is accompanied by an anonymous narrative provided by the donor, detailing the story behind the item and the context of the breakup. The museum originated from a traveling exhibition founded by Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić, who chose to preserve mementos after their own split. The collection includes diverse items ranging from everyday household objects to eccentric relics of failed romances. It serves as a space for collective emotional catharsis and reflects the universal nature of human heartbreak. The museum is housed within the historic Kulmer Palace in Zagreb's Upper Town district. In 2011, it received the Kenneth Hudson Award for the most innovative museum in Europe.
The central courtyard area outside the entrance offers a clear, historic backdrop of the palace walls.
Read the handwritten narratives in their entirety to fully grasp the emotional depth of the exhibits.
Visit during the weekday mornings to avoid crowds, as the museum's intimate gallery spaces can feel cramped during peak hours.
Leave yourself enough time to process the stories, as they can be emotionally heavy.
Do not treat the exhibits as purely 'quirky' or 'funny'; they represent real, often painful, life events for the donors.
Open daily throughout the year, including weekends and public holidays, though holiday hours may vary.
Quiet contemplation is expected; avoid loud conversations as the content is personal and sensitive.
