Osijek Travel Guide Croatia: The History and Tourism Information

Osijek Travel Guide Croatia. The History and Tourism Information. Osijek is an important university city in Eastern Croatia and is one of the country's largest cities, after Zagreb, Split and Rijeka. It is a major rail hub and also has its own busy airport, making it popular with tourism. Osijek is noted for its scenic setting on the Drava River, for its large squares and for its gateway status to the towns of Slavonia. Such is its easterly positioning, Osijek attained war damage in the 1990s, with shrapnel marks remaining on many buildings. Noteworthy landmarks have since been restored, however, and there are numerous impressive sights, although the previous charm of the city has yet to properly recover. A trendy water promenade, a historic fortress from the 18th century, large plazas and busy shopping streets (such as the Kapucinska) all clearly demonstrate its resilience to adversity and improving tourism appeal. Of note, the Osijek tourist information office is located on the Zupanijska in the city centre, next to the tramline and just across from the Trg Lava Mirskog square. There are three main areas in Osijek, the Upper Town (Gornji Grad) - based around the central Trg Ante Starcevica plaza, the Lower Town (Donji Grad) and also the Tvrda citadel / fortress area. Sited on the Trg Svetog Trojstva, the Tvrda is a major attraction in the city and features stylish Austrian Habsburg architecture, being conceived by Prince Eugen Savojski and constructed between 1712 and 1721. Fronting the Park Perivoj Kralja Tomislava, the Tvrda fortress resides on the Europa Avenue (Europska Avenija), which functions as the city's principal artery and connects both the Park Kralja Petra Kresimira IV and the Park Kralja Drzislava. Families on holiday in Osijek will enjoy spending time at the Zoological Gardens (Zooloski Vrt Grada) and hanging out at the Copacabana River Beach, while for evening entertainment, the state-funded Croatian National Theatre (Hrvatsko Narodno Kazaliste) may be hosting a production of interest and this theatre is often better known as just the 'HNK'. Read more