The village was officially opened as a memorial museum in 1953 to showcase the socio-economic conditions of Zagorje village life.
Many houses on display are built using the 'hrast' (oak) timber construction method common in the late 19th century.
The interior displays feature original peasant furniture, agricultural tools, and domestic appliances used by local families before modernization.
The village includes a functioning old school building that highlights the educational history of rural Croatia.
The museum serves as a protected cultural site, classified as a monument of rural architecture.
Some buildings are repurposed to host seasonal workshops where traditional artisanal techniques are passed down to visitors.
The 'Old Village' in Kumrovec is Croatia's largest open-air ethnographic museum, preserving the rural architecture and traditional lifestyle of the Zagorje region from the turn of the 20th century. It consists of over 40 restored buildings, including original peasant houses, granaries, and workshops arranged in their authentic landscape setting. The site serves as the birthplace of Josip Broz Tito, and his ancestral home remains preserved as the centerpiece of the exhibit. Visitors can observe demonstrations of traditional crafts such as pottery, weaving, and blacksmithing during scheduled events. The village layout reflects the historic social structure of the local farming community, featuring both 'gornje' (upper) and 'donje' (lower) village clusters. It is managed by the Museums of Hrvatsko Zagorje.
The central square overlooking the traditional wooden houses with the hills of the Sutla valley in the background.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the village features uneven gravel paths and grass surfaces.
Visit the secondary exhibition buildings on the outskirts of the main cluster to see specialized blacksmith and pottery workshops.
Check the museum's events calendar before visiting to time your trip with live craft demonstrations.
Do not overlook the smaller, less-visited outbuildings on the periphery, which provide deeper context into historical domestic life.
Closed on Mondays during the winter season.
Respect the historical interiors by not touching artifacts or sitting on antique furniture; refrain from smoking on the museum grounds.
