Why to choose Slavonia ?

Slavonia

Slavonia and Baranja, the plains of eastern Croatia, bordered by the rivers Drava, Danube, Sava and Ilova, even though it may look less attractive as a tourist destination than the Adriatic part of the country, it is a real oasis for tourists who would like to, for a short time, exchange the city hustle and bustle with quiet greenery and a relaxed stay in primeval nature.
Of course, Slavonia and Baranja abounds with cultural and historical heritage, unique continental architecture, churches, fortresses, castles, thermal springs and health resorts based on thermal mineral waters. In recent years, this eastern Croatian region which in the strategy for economic development, along with agriculture also has given tourism a leading role, has invested much into the renovation of existing and construction of new, mostly, small family hotels, health and recreational complexes, construction of road infrastructure and environmental protection.

Natural heritage

Kopački rit
Without a doubt, the most attractive tourist destination in Slavonia and Baranja is the well known Nature Park Kopački Rit. It is a vast flooded area on the right bank of the Danube in a huge corner created by the Drava and Danube . More than 2,000 biological species reside in it, of which many rare and endangered species at a world and European level. Among these are 291 bird species and 44 fish species. In 1993 Kopački rit was listed among the list of internationally significant wetlands. The employees of the Public institution Nature Park Kopački rit take tourists on tours of the wetlands in specially constructed tourist boats with professional guides.

A visit to the Tikveš castles within the Nature Park in the hundred year old oak forest is also recommended, a favourite gathering place of many statesmen and famous personalities of times gone by, whose spirit even today rules over this area. After war time devastation, the Tikveš Castle complex has been renovated and is now the European environment centre in which a variety of programmes centred around friendly relationships with nature take place. Here too is the bio-ecological station intended for research and environmental protection and rooms with accommodation with a total of 26 beds.
In the restaurant which operates in the Tikveš complex, tourists can taste many fish, fish-soup and carp and wild game specialties. And for desert, there are homemade Slavonian cakes - poppy seed or walnut strudel. Also nearby is the restaurant "Kormoran" which also offers fish and wild game specialties. The forests of Kopački rit and all of Baranja are under the management of the Public Company Hrvatske Šume that organise deer and wild boar hunting. There are about five to seven thousand wild deer in the Kopački rit and here the most trophied deer in Europe have been shot.

Papuk
Since 1999, Slavonia and Baranja also have another Nature Park Papuk (www.pp-papuk.hr). This is a Slavonian mountain range with numerous natural pearls, hundred year old forests and mountain lakes and streams.

Cultural heritage

Slavonia and Baranja abounds with especially rich architectural heritage - castles and fortresses. A special place belongs to a castle with a wine cellar in Kutjevo which was part of the one time Jesuit estate. The castle in Donji Miholjac was constructed at the beginning of the last century in hunter's style and represents a unique facility of its kind in Croatia and this part of Europe . The castle in Bilje which was left by Eugen Savojski was constructed in Vienna style. The Counts of Pejačević left their castle in Virovitica, Našice and Osijek as inheritance for new generations. In the one in Našice, which is one of the most beautiful, the diva of Croatian music Dora Pejačević composed music and a memorial room for her is open for visitors.
Here too is the baroque castle of the Counts Noraman-Prandau in Valpovo with it park
The castle of the powerful family Eltz in Vukovar has only begun to be renovated after great war time devastation in the Homeland war, however even in the state it is now it still actively lives gathering together museum treasures of its region, special archaeological remains of Vučedol culture which is exalted by the Vučedol dove. The castle of the family Odescalchi in Ilok should also not be missed including its wine cellar and next to which are the most preserved authentic Turkish remains - Turkish domed burial sites and Turkish baths
Slavonia also has in its heritage holds two exceptionally worthy baroque fortresses: in Osijek and Slavonski Brod. (The Osijek Fortress represents a successful blend of military and civil administration and sacral architecture. In its central square is dominated by the building of the General-barracks from 1726 with the most magnificent baroque stone portal in Croatia and votive monument to the plague which along with the one in Požega, is the only such votive monument of its kind in Croatia . The Brod fortress, built during the Hapsburg Empire even today, renovated, lives in its original shape. This is the largest fortress in its time with the largest central building whose system of forts ins Slavonia ensured uninterrupted peace for a whole two and a half centuries. (HTZ)