Many know Croatia for its football team and pristine beaches, but fewer realise that it was also the inventor of the necktie. First embellishing the uniforms of daring Croatian cavalrymen during the Thirty Years' War, the item quickly became a fashion craze across Europe and a staple of formal attire.
The history of the garment and the legendary horsemen who wore it is preserved today in the Cravat Regiment. These re-enactors assemble at Markov trg in Zagreb's historic Upper Town at noon every Sunday and act out a changing of the guard ceremony, just as their predecessors would have done for hundreds of years. The regiment then parades through the city centre in their traditional soldier's garb.
This piece of living history can be seen every Sunday in the Croatian capital from April until October.
To learn more about the history of the Croatian necktie, along with the Cravat Regiment's schedule and parade route, see their Croatian-only website.
Where: Markov trg, Zagreb. When: Apr-Oct, every Sunday at noon.