Where the horizon is always golden
Slavonia
Echoes of Tradition
Where the Danube meets the sky, where vineyards grace impressionist landscapes, where mountains are steeped in legends, and the European Amazon thrives beneath the twilight sky – that’s where you’ll find the magic of eastern Croatia.
Situated on what used to be the shores of the Pannonian Sea, Slavonia boasts the most beautiful cathedral from Venice to Istanbul, horses as white as snow, castles of noble families, and the advanced culture of Vučedol.
Where to go?
Trails of the Pannonian Sea
The Golden Valley, as Romans called it, is the meeting point of the mighty Danube and the lovely Drava and Sava. Its embrace holds the splendours of nature that can be seen in the most beautiful sunflowers and the best grapevines.
A wealth of nature can be found in Kopački Rit Nature Park, a playground of the Danube and the Drava, where millions of colours and smells make up a magical world of water. The Croatian Amazon is one of the best-preserved wetlands of Europe, a mosaic of lakes, forests and meadows where the grand white-tailed eagle reigns supreme. Put on your exploring boots and sail away to the dreamy landscapes of Kopački Rit. Join the company of deer or wild boar on your walk or horse ride. The majestic oak forest in the northern part of the park stands guard outside Tikveš Castle, where noble families and the state elite from the time of the Habsburgs to Josip Broz Tito once relished the picturesque scenery.
Kopački rit
In Baranja in eastern Croatia, the water in Kopački Rit shapes unique mosaics and almost paints an even more beautiful scene every time. Lakes, channels, ponds, shoals, floodplain forests and wet meadows — this magical landscape between the Danube and the Drava is characterised by extraordinary biodiversity. In one of the largest fluvial wetland plains in Europe, more than 2700 species have found their home, and the zoological reserve is the most valuable part of this area. When Kopački Rit was declared a nature park in 1976, the importance of this remarkably preserved floodplain area was affirmed, and it has also been part of the List of Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance since 1993 as well as the world’s first UNESCO pentalateral biosphere reserve, Mura–Drava–Danube, since 2021.
Papuk
The forests of Papuk hide rich flora and fauna, its perimeter is home to the remains of medieval towns and its slopes boast picturesque Slavonian villages and vineyards. Papuk holds two titles for good reason — it was declared a nature park in 1999 and a geopark in 2007. It is unique for its remarkably rich geological history and is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful mountains in Slavonia. With magical landscapes and a peak at 953 metres above sea level, it regularly finds its way onto lists of weekend trip ideas. For those who don’t know where Papuk is, it is located in the east of Croatia, in the hilly part of Slavonia, known for its traditional wine and food offer, so it is a good choice if you like to combine an active holiday with some hedonism.
Lose yourself in this country estate and discover why they call Baranja the Mother of Wine. And if you want to explore a magical world of gators, surduks, and the finest wine, you can take a bike on the Danube trail or roam around the Baranja Mountain all the way to the villages of Kneževi Vinogradi and Zmajevac.
The numerous wine routes and wine cellars will show you why the Romans called this region the Golden Hill. For an experience of authentic Slavonia, visit the ethno-village in Karanac. Excellent wines pair beautifully with amazing food. Slavonia is well known for its hospitality – you will never go hungry in this region of Croatia. The tales of country life and rural tourism will unfold amidst the warmth of an open fire, sharing the stories of the countryside. For the full, immersive experience, try the local delicacies such as pork scratchings, dried bacon, kulen sausage, fiš paprikaš stew, and čobanac slow-cooked stew.
Even if you prefer a summer holiday, this region can still be the place for you. Cruising on a speedboat will allow you to discover all the Slavonian charms, and you can also relax on one of the many beaches on the riverbanks.
The beach in the village of Draž is known as the Maldives of Baranja, and on the banks of the Drava near Osijek, you will find the popular Copacabana beach. You can even spend hot summer days on an island. The Island of Vukovar is known for its relaxing atmosphere. During the Vukovar Film Festival, it becomes an open-air cinema where you can enjoy all the best movies. Another unique attraction can be found in Slavonski Brod, where you will find a street, Splavarska ulica, near the walls of the fortress Festung, where people live on water.
The fertile land of Slavonia attracted many noble families during its history, and you can find out more about their Game of Thrones if you visit any of the countless castles
A world will open up before you of luxurious homes of rulers, the residences of wealthy landowners, and elegant gardens that will take you back to the romantic era of horse-drawn carriages and grand balls. The beautiful Eltz Manor on the Danube today holds the Museum of Vukovar. You can also visit the castles Pejačević in Našice and Virovitica, which were the home of a prominent Slavonian noble family.
The Prandau-Normann Castle in Valpovo is famous for its chapel, which has one of the most beautiful pipe organs in Croatia. It was made in the 19th century by József Angster, who made almost a thousand pipe organs in his life.
His most famous work is the pipe organ in Budapest’s St Stephen’s Basilica. Another royal experience awaits you in Ilok, the easternmost town of Croatia. The Danube, castles, and wine are a winning combination of this town, where the view on the hill is commanded by Ilok Fortress which houses the Odescalchi castle within. The Ilok wine cellars produce the famous Traminer that was served for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. End your royal tour with a glass of wine on the country estate Principovac.
History echoes through the cities of Slavonia, ensuring you can’t escape its profound presence. Osijek will win you over with its citadel Tvrđa from the 18th century, the Co-cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, and its many gardens, parks and buildings built in the secessionist style. You will also find out exactly what Knoedl Time is all about. The Drava promenade is the perfect place to take a walk or ride a bike. If you want to make your experience of the Slavonian metropolis completely authentic, take a ride on the Kompa ferry.
The crowning jewel of the Danube is Vukovar, a city that mixes a baroque centre with modern murals and whose past scars have been replaced by 3D street art. Visit the Water Tower, which tells the story of a heroic city, the birthplace of a Nobel prize winner, Lavoslav Ružička, who you can meet as a hologram version of himself, and the spectacular Vučedol Culture Museum, which will open up a whole new world.
Many nations and civilisations have left their mark on this fertile ground, and the rich history of Vinkovci is over eight thousand years old. Croatia’s oldest continually inhabited settlement is located in the area of the ancient Cibalae, the birthplace of the Roman emperors and brothers Valens and Valentinian. The beautiful baroque historic centre is adorned with the motives of the Orion vessel, which shows the oldest Indo-European calendar.
This golden plain is also blessed with a rich natural heritage, evident in the presence of the gentle giant pedunculate oak. Its realm is the Spačva forest, one of the oldest European forests of the Slavonian oak – the tree that once provided the building material for the most elegant sailing ships. This dense vastness is home to many rivers and streams and a water oasis known as Otočki Virovi. Like Kopački Rit, this is also a haven of reeds and sedges, a home to storks and a playground for otters.
If you decide to head west, you will be met with the solemn red towers of the Cathedral Basilica of St Peter, the greatest symbol of Đakovo, a town that will charm you with its secessionist architecture and the noblest of animals.
The Lipizzaner horses combine the gracefulness of a ballerina with majestic strength. You can learn more about this fascinating animal in the Lipizzaner Stud Farm Đakovo and Lipik. The region of Slavonia is not only an endless plain, as you will learn if you visit the ancient hills where the Graševina grape variety from the Kutjevo wine cellars is grown. A former island of the Pannonian Sea is now known as Papuk Nature Park, one of UNESCO’s geoparks. It is a place of dense forests and dancing fairies, where you can see the dormant walls of the medieval Ružica Castle and hear the loud murmurs of Skakavac, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Slavonia.
What to eat?
Land of abundance, hospitality and happy people
Last, but by no means least, stroll along the wide lanes of a Slavonian village where clothing is adorned with especially sumptuous traditional weave and gold thread embroidery, while mouth-watering aromas of delectable home cured hams and heavenly kulen waft from tables, and the famous fish-paprikash gently bubbles in the pots. Welcome to Slavonia!