The Hušnjakovo site was discovered by Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger, a geologist who identified the remains while looking for fossilized shells.
The museum houses one of the world's largest collections of Neanderthal remains, including bones showing signs of intentional fragmentation possibly related to ritual cannibalism.
The architect of the museum, Željko Kovačić, designed the structure to blend into the landscape by using earth-covered roofs.
The Neanderthal remains found here represent more than 70 distinct individuals.
The exhibit includes a full-scale reconstruction of a Neanderthal family living in a primitive hut, based on modern anthropological research.
The Krapina Neanderthal Museum is built into a hillside directly adjacent to the Hušnjakovo archaeological site, where over 800 fossil remains of Neanderthals were discovered in 1899. The facility is a semi-subterranean structure designed to mimic the appearance of a cave, utilizing natural stone and concrete architecture. Inside, the exhibition tracks the evolution of life from the Big Bang through the development of the solar system, earth, and biological life forms leading to Homo sapiens. The museum highlights the specific lifestyle, diet, and hunting practices of the Krapina Neanderthals who lived in the region approximately 125,000 years ago. Visitors follow a structured path that descends through time, passing life-sized hyper-realistic human and animal dioramas. Interactive technology and multimedia displays supplement the fossil casts and geological finds. The museum is one of the most visited in Croatia due to its location at a high-density paleontological site.
The central atrium featuring the life-sized Neanderthal family reconstruction.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the museum path is continuous and involves descending ramps.
Plan to spend time exploring the outdoor hiking trails at the Hušnjakovo site immediately outside the museum exit.
Bring a jacket even in summer as the interior climate is kept cool to preserve the structural integrity of the cave-like design.
Do not skip the outdoor portion of the site, as the physical caves where the original discovery was made are located just a short walk from the museum exit.
Closed on Mondays.
