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Eastern Croatia has not but reached its full tourism potential – and it isn’t as a result of it doesn’t have something to supply vacationers; that’s for certain – belief me! This space simply by no means will get the eye of mainstream promoting of Croatia.
I spent one week touring a small a part of Slavonia with the Croatian Nationwide Vacationer Board within the fall of 2018. I wrote a submit of issues to do in Slavonia and primarily based on what I noticed and skilled, I can affirm this area doesn’t get sufficient consideration! And that was simply from what I used to be capable of expertise in 7 days.
And now, after studying what Senka has written under, I say once more – head east! Though this a part of Croatia doesn’t have the Adriatic Sea and its luscious seashores, you’ll not be disenchanted.
In truth, you could prefer it extra. For it prices a lot much less to remain in and expertise this a part of Croatia. I discovered the folks overwhelmingly pleasant and heat – and dare I say all that Kulen and rakija addictive!
Now, please take pleasure in this submit written by Senka Vlahovic. She was born in and lived most of her life in Slavonia. Senka is your finest journey agent for the world; you’ll be able to join together with her through her web site Boho Journey Artwork – and inform her we despatched you.
She will be able to e book you every thing under – and a lot extra!
The east of Croatia may be very well-known and beloved in Croatia, and but, in some way unknown and form of hidden from the remainder of the world.
We normally say that it’s unfair that it’s no more populated with vacationers, however, because it seems, that’s precisely what makes it much more engaging – in our submit coronavirus occasions.
The area I’m speaking about known as Slavonia.
It’s positioned within the north-east of Croatia. It consists of three historical-geographical areas:
- Slavonia, Baranja, and Srijem
- 5 counties Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem, Brod-Posavina, Požega-Slavonia and
- Virovitica-Podravina.
It’s interwoven and bordered by three massive rivers Sava, Drava and Danube, and plenty of smaller ones. It’s various in its pure magnificence, from golden plains, over forests, wetlands, lakes, rivers to hills and mountains.
Slavonia is extensive, and it isn’t overcrowded. It has lovely baroque cities with castles and conventional picturesque villages, vineyards, golden fields, and meadows…
Land like Slavonia has all the time been engaging for a lot of conquerors, just like the Celts, Romans, Osmans, Hungarians, Austrians. All of them influenced the attention-grabbing historical past of Slavonia, wealthy tradition, and variety in gastronomy.
Earlier than we go any additional, let me inform you WHY you must go to Slavonia and what’s TO SEE and DO after which I’ll inform you the place you are able to do it and the place to remain.
Nature Parks
Two nature parks may be discovered on this a part of Croatia.
Kopački Rit
Nature Park Kopački Rit is the oldest nature park in Croatia. On the Ramsar Conference on the “Safety of Swamp or Wetland Habitats” in 1993, Kopački Rit nature park was included within the Listing of Internationally Necessary Swamps, particularly as a habitat for swamp-dwelling birds and waterfowl.
Kopački Rit is located in Osijek-Baranja county, on the confluence of the Danube and the Drava rivers, making it the right place for all chicken lovers and birdwatchers.
Nature Park Papuk
As soon as an island within the historical Pannonian Sea, at the moment Nature Park Papuk which is the primary Geopark in Croatia and part of the UNESCO World Geopark Community. It covers most of Papuk Mountain and Krndija partly. 95% of Papuk’s floor is roofed by wealthy, inexperienced forests by which run greater than 100 creeks.
It’s wealthy in geological range, metamorphic rocks date again to the Pre-Cambrian, greater than 540 million years in the past. The Papuk UNESCO World Geopark is positioned in two counties, Požega-Slavonia and Virovitca-Podravina counties.
Nature Websites
Different nature websites which can be value a point out are protected landscapes of Pitomača, the biggest oak forest in Croatia and one of many largest in Europe – Spačva close to Županja and the Prašnik the jungle/virgin forest/ old-growth forest of Slavonian oak close to Okučani.
Metropolis Parks And Gardens
A contact of nature in cities of Eastern Slavonia. Baroque parks and decorative gardens of Slavonia have been constructed together with the primary Slavonian castles within the first half of the 18th century. Since then, castles and manors have been constructed round Eastern Croatia.
Monuments of park structure, gardens, forest, and metropolis parks may be loved all through Slavonia. The metropolis parks in Slavonian cities have been embellished like many different inexperienced oases of European cities at occasions of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
The Central metropolis of Slavonia – Osijek known as the greenest metropolis in Croatia as a result of all if its greenery.
Slavonian Castles And Manors
After Slavonia was liberated from the Ottoman Empire on the flip of the 17th and 18th centuries, the development of castles, manors, and couriers started all over the place.
The most necessary castles have been created firstly of the 19th century, ie on the transition from baroque to post-baroque types reminiscent of classicism, historicism, and secession.
They are often present in:
- Donji Miholjac
- Našice, Valpovo
- Virovitica
- Vukovar
- Ilok
- Kutjevo and extra
As for sacral structure amongst many church buildings, probably the most well-known are the cathedral in Đakovo and the co-cathedral in Osijek. Navy structure as forts from the 18th century may be present in Slavonski Brod and Osijek.
The most necessary archaeological treasures are positioned in Vinkovci and Vukovar. The Museum of the Vučedol tradition in Vukovar presents the prehistoric cultural phenomenon of the neolithic interval from 3000 BCE. Vinkovci is the city that has been constantly inhabited for the reason that sixth millennium BC, for greater than 8000 years.
Tales of business heritage together with railway heritage from the interval between the 19th to the start of the 20th century in Slavonia may be present in Industrial Heritage Museum within the city of Belišće, the Everlasting Railway exhibition on railway station in Vinkovci, the Baranja Pustare – agricultural settlements, the biggest water mill in Croatia on the River Drava in Osijek, and so forth.
Additionally, Slavonia may be very wealthy in conventional tradition, particularly in folklore, people costumes, and music. The Bećarac, a kind of vocal-instrumental people music from Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem has been on the UNESCO Consultant Listing of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for the reason that 12 months 2011 in addition to Spring procession of Ljelje – kraljice (queens) from Gorjani inscribed in 2009.
People costumes, conventional music devices, and different objects may be seen within the ethnological departments of native museums.
What Not To Miss In Slavonia
Right here is my listing of must-see sights, and experiences on this space.
Eat Slavonian Meals
Exploring Slavonian delicacies. The geographical place – fertile soil, forests, and enormous rivers give Slavonia the right predisposition for a variety of meals. An in depth historical past that introduced many various cultures and culinary customs have been blended and merged into scrumptious and wealthy Slavonian delicacies.
Wine Tasting
You merely should do a wine tasting in one of many largest wine-growing areas in Croatia – Slavonia and Croatian Danube area with its 13 wine sub-regions.
A centuries-long custom of rising wine goes again to Roman occasions when the area of Požega was named Vallis Aurea, that means Golden Valley. One other a part of Eastern Croatia, Baranja, carries a reputation which suggests the Mom of wine. The Odescalchi dukes constructed cellars in Ilok within the 17th century. The Kutjevo cellar tells some 800 years-old tales. These previous cellars are nonetheless in use at the moment. White grapes dominate picturesque landscapes of Slavonia, Baranja and Syrmia.
Craft Beers
Exploring Slavonian craft beers. The custom of brewing in Slavonia is a few 5000 years previous, it dates again to the Neolithic interval, the time of the Vučedol tradition. Roman Emperor Valens, born in Cibalae – Vinkovci at the moment, beloved the beer a lot that he was given the nickname Sabaiarius, that means beer drinker or beer stomach.
The first Slavonian breweries have been established within the 17th century within the metropolis of Osijek – the hometown of the primary Croatian beer. At this time Slavonia continues to develop its tradition of beer as a house of breweries and pubs, being an ideal vacation spot for any beer lover.
Sightseeing And Theme Excursions
Let native guides inform you the tales hidden behind buildings and monuments. Residing historical past packages and guided excursions will assist you to see issues round you from one other perspective.
Visiting Native Museums, Galleries. Exhibitions & Theatres.
The place you’ll be able to earn extra about native historical past and artwork.
Visiting Household Run Farms (OPG)
These are often known as OPG’s and right here you will get an perception into native conventional life
Strolling And Mountaineering
Spend your days strolling and mountaineering by the rivers, on the hills and mountains
Horse Using
All animal lovers have the chance to spend their vacation actively and discover out why the Slavonian folks have all the time been significantly connected to horses.
Throughout an lively vacation in Slavonia, horse driving takes an necessary place, it supplies an unforgettable expertise of discovering the Slavonian landscapes within the firm of gorgeous and noble animals – horses.
The most well-known stud farms are positioned in Lipik and Đakovo. State Stud Farm Đakovo of the Lipizzaner breed was based in 1506.
Driving In Horse-Drawn Carriage
Take a horse-drawn carriage trip, both nation Model or city-style “Fijaker”.
Cycle
The prospects for biking in Slavonia are virtually infinite because of its undulating lanes, roads, mountain trails, and delightful websites.
Biking in Slavonia provides cyclists alternatives to discover shady woodlands, fairly countryside, heritage websites and to comply with river waterways, wine roads, and infinite fields.
A number of very well-known biking trails go by this area: the Drava Route, EuroVelo 13 – the Iron Curtain Route, and the European Amazon Route, Danube bike path – which is a part of Eurovelo 6.
Chicken Watching
Kopački rit nature park is house to over 290 completely different species of chicken and virtually eighty p.c of the entire ornamentation of Croatia in its entirety residing there. You can too go birdwatching to “Middle for birdwatching” in Nijemci and Dravska Priča in Noskovci.
Parachuting And Leisure Flying
For all lovers of flying actions, but additionally those that haven’t tried it, and want to, Slavonia abounds in flying, paragliding, aero and aviation golf equipment.
Swimming
Take a swim in native rivers, lakes, ponds, and swimming swimming pools. The water just isn’t blue, it’s not clear, it’s not salty and it’s more durable to drift… however it could actually positively be an important expertise.
Relying in your preferences and needs, you’ll be able to select between city seashores reminiscent of Poloj alongside the Sava river in Slavonski Brod or Copacabana in Osijek alongside the Drava river or river island Ada in Vukovar on Danube river. You’ll be able to go for a swim in native lakes like Borovik and Orahovica.
A particular place to go to is the Bizovac spa, positioned 18 km from the town of Osijek. Well being tourism began to develop right here within the ‘1960s when scorching water was found as a substitute of the oil they have been drilling and searching for. The water right here is wealthy in minerals and good for the pores and skin, coronary heart, bones, and joints points.
Even Extra Enjoyable
As you’ll be able to see the chances are infinite, I may go on and on. Different issues you’ll be able to attempt within the space to keep away from the crowds are:
- Paintball: If you happen to like taking pictures I might somewhat suggest paintball than searching
- Adrenaline Parks: Strive those in Zlatna Greda and Cerna
- Boat Excursions: With a number of rivers, there are many decisions
- Canoeing: Take the household on native rivers and lakes
- Cooking lessons, embroidery and knitting lessons, pottery workshop or images, even graffiti workshops as all these issues are deeply linked to the standard and trendy way of life in Slavonia.
As we don’t understand how issues will develop concerning the current state of affairs with coronavirus and the way it will have an effect on group gatherings on conventional manifestation, occasions, and festivals I didn’t put any on the listing – however Slavonia is stuffed with occasions as Slavonians are heat and prefer to socialize, sing and dance – have a good time life!
So, how lengthy until we see you within the Slavonia area?
A really particular because of Samir Kurtagic who kindly shared all of those pictures with us to make use of. You’ll be able to see extra of his work or join with him right here.
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