Welcome to Osijek! Get to know the town and it s countryside located in the middle of the mighty Danube

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1 Welcome to Osijek! Get to know the town and it s countryside located in the middle of the mighty Danube

2 Osijek - history The city was named by the Croats as the word oseka means "tide" - a place where the water level is lower and thus more suitable for settlement and today it has about inhabitants. German version of the cities name is Esseg and Hungarian is Eszek. In ancient times here was in the Celtic and Roman city of Mursa. For the first time in the history the name of the city was written in the Hungarian version Eszek, in In the Middle Ages at the time of the Croatian-Hungarian kingdom, Osijek lived as a wealthy merchant and craft town, and then in the summer of 1526 the powerful soldiers of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire took over the city. Since the end of the 17th century Osijek was returned to Croatia within the Habsburg (Austro- Hungarian) Empire. Large fortifications along the Drava River were built and the city was remodelled in Baroque style. The first official brewery in Croatia began operating. In the 19th century, Osijek experiencing great economic and cultural boom. Building of the Croatian National Theatre was erected and the first tram in the wider region was introduced to traffic in After the Second World War great social and economic changes happened. The second half of the 20th century turned Osijek into an important industrial centre once again. Sadly it s growth came to a stop in 1991 as the communist state of Yugoslavia collapsed thru horrors of war. Struggles of the post communist era can still be felt but with the Croatian entrance to the European Union in 2013, Osijek is bound to see better days.

3 Osijek the centre for your travel plans to the middle Danube region Budapest 260 km Zagreb 280 km Beograd 250 km Sarajevo 285 km

4 Welcome to Osijek! Osijek is with its inhabitants and after the capital Zagreb, Rijeka and Split, the fourth largest city in Croatia. It is cultural, educational and business center of Slavonia and Baranja region. When you get yourself settled in one of the bike-friendly hotels you should get to know the main sights of the city: the baroque old town-fortress Tvrđa, the St Peter and Paul's Cathedral (with its 90 meters high neo-gothic tower it is the second highest church in south-eastern Europe), parks that stretch thru the city centre (Osijek has 17 parks and 30 km of bike routes), the promenade along the Drava River with the Kompa ferry which can take you to the ZOO. Take a minute to relax and try the local beer Osječko, brewed since the late 17th century. As a true cyclist you should also taste the black radler (black shandy), produced only here. For lunch treat yourself with a local gastronomical treat (wild game roast, chobanatz - kind of goulash; Fish-paprikash - spicy fish stew; Kulen - traditional sausage; cottage cheese or poppy seed strudel) and - wine. This region is a well-known wine country that stretches along this part of the Danube from Baranya to the Erdut region. The third oldest vinery in Croatia is located here and it dates back to Pinot, Chardonnay, Merlot and Blaufränkisch are amongst the best known wines and the premium quality Grasevina (Welschriesling) is the pride and joy of the local wine producers. Only 10 kilometres from the city centre you can find beautiful untouched nature in the Kopački rit Nature Park. After the Danube delta it is Europe s largest natural marshland. If you re going further south-east be sure not to miss the Erudt village with the medieval tower guarding the Danube and enjoy your way towards Vukovar and Ilok.

5 A walk thru Osijek - sights Watergates and the city walls from the early 18th century Holly Trinity Square and the plague column General s headquarters the Seat of the J. J. Strossmayer University Baroque churches of St. Michael and The Elevation of the Holy Cross City quarter with Art Nuevo palaces Parks between the old town and the city centre (city has 17 in total) The Co-cathedral of St. Peter and Paul The suspension bridge and the Drava promenade

6 A day in Osijek culture and activities Museum of Slavonia, Archaeological museum Museum of fine arts Waldinger gallery Gloria Maris a permanent exhibition of sea life and shells from the Pannonian sea A visit to the typical Croatian gingerbread craft (Croatian: Licitar; German: Lebkuchen) Blažeković (UNESCO) A ride in the old tram from 1926 A visit to the ZOO and a ride on the Drava river in the ferry Kompa A visit to the Drava beach and swimming pools Copacabana Kopika Swimming pools Gradski vrt (City gardens) Walks, cycling along the Drava river or thru the city (35 km of bike paths)

7 Fun and shopping / Events in Osijek Cinema: Urania / Cinestar / Cineplexx Croatian National Theatre (HNK) Children s theatre of Branko Mihaljević Shopping malls Porta Nova and Avenue Mall Cafés along the Drava promenade Pubs and nightclubs in the Tvrđa old town Beer festival: Dani prvog hrvatskog piva Cycling and boarding: Pannonian Challenge State finals in preparing fish paprikash stew UFO-Urban fest Osijek Wine festivals Children s festival: Zemlja bez granica Christmas events and fairs: Advent in Osijek

8 Often chosen accommodation in Osijek Hotel Waldinger ****: Hotel Osijek ****: Hotel Zoo: **** Hotel Vila Ariston ***: Hotel Silver***: Hotel Millenium ***: Hotel Drava ***: Hotel Central **: Pansion Fitea: Pansion Strossmayer: Sobe Maksimilian: Hostel Tufna:

9 Popular restaurants TRADITIONAL Kod Ruže Slavonska Kuća Nacionalni restoran Hotel Waldinger Kompa Oberlunch bar Alas Stara Magda, zdrava hrana Galija Kod Javora INTERNATIONAL Bischof Restoran hotela Waldinger Rustika Lumiere Zimska Luka Hotel Osijek Oliva Karaka Lipov hlad Kopika Zoo Hotel restoran Mc Donald s restoran Mc Donald s drive in

10 Tourist agencies in Osijek Kompas Zagreb d.d. Atlas d.d. Cetratour Hobby Tours Ora Tours Ortran Panturist App turizam Zračna Luka Osijek Zlatna Greda Allesta Eurotouring Kuna Putovanja Ok Tours Putujte s Nama Star Line Tour guides in Osijek and the region Obrt Putovanja Slavonijom, Udruga turističkih vodiča Osijek, Udruga za poljepšanje grada Moj Osijek, 031/

11 Turistička zajednica grada Osijeka (City of Osijek tourist board) Adresa: Županijska ul. 2, Osijek Web: Tel: 00385/31/ Direktor: Saša Uranjek, Associate: Mislav Pavošević, We are looking forward to your future visits!