Two of the greatest rivers in Europe meet in Osijek-Baranja. This is the Danube delta nature route. Visit the Kopački Rit marshes which is a huge wetland area. You can take a boat through narrow canals full of white water lilies. Look for white-tailed eagles and thousands of other birds that live in the trees. It is a wild world of water and mud that feels like it has never been touched by man. You can walk on long wooden paths that go deep into the reeds. It is very quiet and peaceful in the heart of the marsh.
The land rises into the sandy hills of Baranja. In the village of Zmajevac you can visit wine cellars called "gators." These are long tunnels dug into the soft cliffs. They stay cool all through the hot summer without any electricity. You can try wine that has been stored there for a long time. The vineyards cover the hills and the wine is strong and dark like the river itself. The people here are famous for their hospitality and their love of good food. You will never leave a cellar with an empty stomach or a dry glass.
Explore the Karanac Ethno Village and eat at "Baranjska kuća" to try traditional "čupteti" (spiced dough) or snail stew. For a majestic view visit the Tikveš Castle complex which was once a hunting lodge for European emperors and later for Tito. In Osijek walk through the Secessionist quarter on Europska Avenija to see some of the finest 19th-century architecture in Central Europe. Visit the Belje winery in Kneževi Vinogradi to see one of the largest and oldest wine cellars in the region. The road through the "Banska Kosa" hill provides the best views of the endless vineyards stretching toward the Hungarian border.
Osijek Baranja highlights
- Kopački Rit Boat Tour Take a slow boat through the narrow water paths of the giant marshland. You can see eagles and deer while floating past thousands of white water lilies. The guides tell you about the many birds that call this wet world home.
- Zmajevac Wine Gator Visit the wine cellars dug into the side of the sandy hills in Baranja. These tunnels are called gators and stay cool even on the hottest summer days. You can taste wine that has been stored in the dark for a long time.
- Osijek Tvrđa Fortress Walk the stone streets of the old city fort to see the baroque buildings and squares. It is a place filled with history, students, and beautiful old street lights. The central square has a massive stone monument and old palace walls.
- Tikveš Hunting Castle See the grand villa hidden in the woods where kings and rulers once came to hunt. The park around the castle is filled with giant oak trees and birds. It is a quiet and noble place that feels very isolated from the world.
- Karanac Ethno Village Stop at this village to see how people lived a hundred years ago in the plains. You can try local food and see the old tools used on the farms. Many of the houses have been turned into small museums and restaurants.
- Đakovo State Stud Farm Visit the home of the white Lipizzaner horses and see their elegant shows. The stables are very old and the horses are famous all over the world. You can watch the young horses playing in the wide green fields nearby.
- Drava River Mill See the only moving water mill on the river in the center of the city Osijek. It shows how grain was ground using the power of the fast water. You can walk onto the wooden mill and see the giant wheel turning.
- Erdut Tower Lookout Climb the hill to see the ruins of a stone tower overlooking the giant Danube river. The view shows the water winding through the forest toward the east. The hill is covered in vineyards that go all the way to the water.
- Bizovac Thermal Spa Relax in the hottest salt water in Europe at this modern pool and spa complex. The water comes from an old sea deep under the flat plains. It is a great place to rest after a long day of driving.
- Batina Monument Drive to the top of the hill by the Danube to see the massive statue and the view. You can see three countries meet at a single point from this high spot. The river below is very wide and carries many large transport boats.
The local Four
History of Osijek Baranja
Osijek is the city of Tvrđa, a baroque military masterpiece built to keep the east at bay. The entire old town is a fortress of cobblestones and grand palaces, once the most modern city in the region with the first tram in the country. This transit history is still visible in the wide avenues that were designed to move goods from the river docks to the railway station. It is a place where the Drava river is the main street and the bridge is the landmark.
Baranja, the Mother of Wine, is a triangular piece of land between the Drava and Danube rivers. It was a royal estate so valuable that the prince who owned it built the Tikveš hunting castle to entertain the world’s leaders. The estate was famous for its vast game reserves, attracting hunters from across the Austro-Hungarian Empire for centuries. The soil here is loess (compressed wind-blown dust) which makes the wine taste like no other in Europe.
The Kopački Rit marshes are one of the largest wetlands in Europe, a delta where the rivers fight for territory. It is a wild world of eagles and massive red deer that has remained untouched for centuries. The marshes act as a natural filter for the Danube, purifying the water before it flows further downstream towards the Black Sea. For a road trip, Baranja provides the most unique wine gators (underground tunnels) dug into the sides of the hills.