Changing of the Guards of the Kravat Regiment, Zagreb, Croatia

While in Zagreb, we were lucky enough to witness the Changing of the Guards of the Kravat Regiment in St. Marks Square.
It was pure luck on our part that we managed to be at the right place, and at the right time.
We were wandering away from St. Marks Square when we heard the horses hooves clip-clopping across the cobbles. We wandered over to where the noise was coming from to see what was going on. The ‘soldiers’ and a few horses were making their way up towards St. Marks Square.
We ran, yes ran, up the hill to the square to get in a good position for taking photos and video. It was well worth the strain on our travel fatigued bodies as we thoroughly enjoyed watching this exhibition.

It was really cool to see the ‘soldiers’ march up the cobbles in to St. Marks Square
accompanied by the armourer, trumpeter, drummer, standard-bearer and commander, who could wake the dead with his seriously deep and loud voice shouting commands at his men.
It was quite an impressive display, although I’m not sure the ‘soldiers’ were enjoying it as much as us sightseers. They all looked quite fed up and irritable, maybe they were hot and bothered as it was a lovely warm sunny day. And no doubt the fact that they perform the same ritual several times a day must make it quite a monotonous chore for them. We saw them again a little while after our first sighting, this time we were happily sitting in the shade supping beer, I’m sure several of the ‘soldiers’ looked at us enviously. ;o

Video of the Changing of the Guards of the Kravat Regiment, Zagreb, Croatia

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Croatian light calvary within the French Royal Army was known for its military skills and great heroism throughout the thirty year war in the 17th century (1618-48). But the Croatian light calvary was also known for a particular item of clothing, a picturesque scarf worn around their necks. The knotted neck ties were named after the ethnic name of the Croats (old German Krabatten or old French Cravattes), cravat.
In 1664 a Croatian regiment called the Royal Cravattes was formed within the units of the French Royal Army.
Ad now, several centuries later, tourists can see the Changing of the Guards of the
Royal Kravats, a unit inspired by the famous Croatian historical regiment.