Zagreb Cathedral to reopen after nearly five years of post-earthquake renovation

After almost five years of intensive restoration work, the Zagreb Cathedral is set to reopen its doors to the public. The iconic landmark was severely damaged in the 2020 earthquake, prompting a large-scale renovation to repair and reinforce its structure.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and several cabinet ministers toured the site on Friday, praising the progress made so far.

“The Zagreb Cathedral renovation project, which will continue in the coming years, is now entering a new phase,” Plenković said. “This is not just a symbol of the capital, of Croatia and its identity, but also of the entire post-earthquake reconstruction effort.” He added that the next stage of work would focus on the exterior of the late-19th-century neo-Gothic building.

Zagreb Archbishop Dražen Kutleša confirmed that the Cathedral will once again host worshippers for Midnight Mass this Christmas.

“Midnight Mass will be held at the Zagreb Cathedral, and in the future all major liturgical events will return to our cathedral,” he said.

Stjepan Lakušić, rector of the University of Zagreb, emphasized the scale of the structural work completed so far. “We secured all of the Cathedral’s vaults, including those supporting the towers. For the first time ever, the Cathedral is stronger than it was before in terms of mechanical resistance and stability,” he said.

The reopening marks a major milestone in Zagreb’s ongoing efforts to repair the widespread damage caused by the 2020 quake.