The museum won the award thanks to the excellent modern presentation of its pre-historic, archaeological and anthropological topics, and in particular, because it has the status of an unavoidable cultural-tourism destination in Europe with more than 100,000 visitors a year from around the globe, the ministry said in a press release.
The reasoning for the award notes the creative methods of working with children and young people and cooperation with the local community, where the museum is the generator of the main cultural events and an example of good practice of sustainable cultural tourism in the area.
Thanks to this award the museum has confirmed its European dimension and recognisability. This is proof that the culture of the Krapina Neanderthal has become a brand of global proportions, the ministry said.
Other finalists in the same category included the Nerezinac Lugger – sailing interpretation centre of the maritime heritage of the island of Lošinj and the Zenica City Museum in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Two other Croatian museums were among ECTN finalists in other categories - Rab Archaeological (T)races and the Museum of Chocolate in Zagreb.
ECTN is a pan-European network of destinations, authorities, NGOs and research institutes for Sustainable Cultural Tourism development and promotion across Europe.