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Osijek, city and port
situated on the right bank of Drava, in eastern region of Croatia,
called Slavonija i Baranja. Its population is over 100.000, and
represents the political, economic, cultural and educational
center for this part of country.
Osijek consists of Gornji Grad
(Upper Town), Tvrda, Donji Grad (Lower Town) and Novi Grad (New
Town) (19th c.), as well as of Retfala.
The river port on the
Drava, especially the Winter port (Zimska Luka) with a number of
boats, renders a special atmosphere to the largest town of
Slavonia. The most important sights in the city include the main
square, Trg Ante Starcevica, Trg sv. Roka, the promenade along the
Drava ("promenada"), the suspension pedestrian bridge toward
Baranja; the Municipal Park of King Petar Kresimir IV and the King
Tomislav Park both from the beginning of the 20th century, are
protected as horticultural monuments. One of the few Croatian
zoological gardens is located in Osijek, along the Drava river.* |
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"The Fortress" -
oldest part of city
Image: 1024 x 768
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enlarge |
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Digital Map of
Osijek
http://www.osijek-online.com/karta/
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Emblem of Osijek |
Short
history of Osijek
The oldest, prehistoric,
settlement in the Osijek aera came into being on the banks of the Drava
river. At the end of the 1st century BC, the Romans conquered almost the
whole Pannonia, and on right bank of the Drava bulit a camp named Mursa,
in what is today the Lower Town. Atilla’s Huns destroyed Mursa in 441.
To the west of the ruins, a Slavic settlement was established in the 7th
century. The Slavonic and Early Croatian settlers called their town
Osijek. Later, medieval Osijek was built on the general aera of
today’s Fort. In historical sources, Osijek is first mentioned in a
document of the Croatian-Hungarian knig Emerik, in 1196. Today Osijek
celebrates its day on December 2nd, because on that day in 1786. the
Lower Town, the Upper Town and Fort merged into one - Osijek. Osijek has
enetred 21st century with its bridges and roads directed towards the
Adriatic Sea on the one hand and the Danube valley on the other. |
