CULTURE

Breakfast at the hotel. Osijek sightseeing with the tour guide: Tvrđa (the old town- cobbled streets and architecture), European avenue – secession district, Pedestrian bridge – landmark of Osijek, Ante Starcevic Square, Church of st. Peter and Paul (gothic Co-cathedral), Croatian National Theater in Osijek. Market food tour while visiting the local food market.

Lunch in the restaurant Darocz in Vardarac. Village Vardarac has a long tradition of carnival called “Kokošuteš” which (is still being maintained) still takes place during (in) the winter carnival.

After lunch we will continue to Bilje where the Hunting castle from Austrian military leader Prince Eugene of Savoy is located. The castle is not yet valorized, but it is worth stopping and hearing the story of the great Austrian warlord and his life in Baranya. 

Short drive to Darda where Esterhazy castle is located. The castle is the largest in Baranya and its outbuildings can be seen from a far. Behind the castle is Lake Đola, where archaeological excavations have found the remains of a former Suleiman Bridge. The Suleiman Bridge was a 7 km long bridge that connected Osijek and Darda over the Drava River. The bridge had an important role during the Ottoman–Habsburg wars, until it was finally burnt down in 1686.

Drive back to Osijek. Dinner optional. Overnight stay in Boutique Hotel Tvrđa**** in Osijek.

Early in the morning, we will set off to Baranya. Surrounded by the powerful rivers Danube and Drava and the Hungarian border, the powerful and fantastic Baranya welcomes with open arms all travellers eager to learn more about its riches. Baranya got its name from two Hungarian words: “Bor”, which means wine and “Anya”, which means mother, lending a picturesque symbolism to the region – “Mother of Wine”. It is precisely the superb wines and the delicious food, accompanied by fairy-tale landscapes and hospitable hosts that are the best this region can offer.

In the afternoon, we move on to idyllic Baranya village named Suza where you must visit the Asztalos Ceramic Workshop, located in the old mill. The craft of pottery in Baranya has been cultivated since prehistoric times. The Asztalos family has been producing useful ceramic items for decades, serving family dinners and drinking local wine.

After a short break we will continue to the village Batina and Monument of the Battle of Batina. The monument also offers a stunning view of the mighty Danube and the state border with Serbia. 

We will continue to Zmajevac where we will explore the small places and tell the history of the region. In the afternoon we will go to the Josic wine cellar and have wine tasting and dinner. The restaurant is situated in the environment of the so-called surduk, in an idyllic village Zmajevac in Baranya. Surduk is a Turkish name for a typical cutting in a hill with wine-cellars called gatori buried in the ground where the temperature is always between 11 and 15 degrees Celsius – thus, being ideal for the wine. Surduk represents one of the most authentic cultural-historic treasures in this area of Baranya. The JOSIĆ wines have been awarded numerous gold medals for their quality, design and the original approach to decorating bottles labeled by rare and endangered non-migratory bird species of the area. The restaurant and the wine tasting building were decorated in a so called eclectic style combining the traditional – rustic elements with modern designer solutions. Traditional lunch.

The last stop will be Belje Wine Road, vineyards and viewpoint. Picnic at Belje viewpoint. Surrounded by millions of vine stocks, the viewpoint is the ideal place for taking a rest and enjoying the view of endless hectares of vineyards, the landscapes of the Croatian Danube region and the city of Osijek. 

Back to Osijek. Dinner optional. Overnight stay in Boutique Hotel Tvrđa**** in Osijek.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out. Leaving Osijek and heading to the airport. End of the program.