Palmotićeva ulica 33, Zagreb, Croatia
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Zagreb)
The largest church in Zagreb after the cathedral, a striking neo-Baroque basilica built in the early twentieth century in the Lower Town, serving as the Jesuit parish church and a center of devotion to the Sacred Heart.
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart stands on the edge of Zagreb's Lower Town, near the Botanical Garden, and its red-brick exterior and twin bell towers give it a presence that the surrounding apartment blocks cannot diminish. The Jesuits built it between 1902 and 1913, and the architect, Janko Holjac, drew on neo-Baroque and Romanesque elements to create something that feels both modern and rooted. The facade uses exposed red brick with stone trim, which gives it a warmth that plaster churches lack. Inside, the nave is broad and well-lit, with a barrel-vaulted ceiling painted in soft colors. The apse mosaic, depicting Christ displaying his Sacred Heart surrounded by saints, is the visual focal point. Side chapels hold altars dedicated to various Jesuit saints, including Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier. The church was damaged in the 2020 earthquake that shook Zagreb, and restoration work followed. The Jesuits run an active parish here with daily Masses, confessions, and devotional programs, and the church serves as a gathering point for the Sacred Heart devotion that remains strong in Croatian Catholicism. The neighborhood around it is residential and unpretentious — this is a church that belongs to its people, not to the tourist circuit.
Diocese: Archdiocese of Zagreb
Style: Neo-Baroque
What to See
The red-brick facade is best appreciated from across the street, where the twin towers and the central gable form a satisfying composition. Inside, the apse mosaic draws the eye immediately — the Sacred Heart image is large, colorful, and designed to be read from the back of the nave. The side chapels dedicated to Jesuit saints are worth visiting individually. The barrel-vaulted ceiling, painted in light tones, keeps the interior from feeling heavy. The church is often quiet during weekday afternoons, making it a good place for unhurried prayer.
Pilgrim Notes
The basilica is in Zagreb's Lower Town, about a fifteen-minute walk south from the main square (Ban Jelačić Square). The Botanical Garden is next door and makes a pleasant stop before or after visiting the church. Mass is offered daily, with confessions available on a regular schedule. Zagreb's cathedral, on the hill in the Upper Town, was also damaged in the 2020 earthquake and remains under restoration. The two churches together give a good picture of Croatian Catholicism, old and relatively new.