Osijek Things To Do

Monument to Defenders

by diocletianvs, 4 more photos

At the southern end of Blok Centar we find the highly controversial (among the locals) Monument to Defenders. Allow me to say that this is, in my opinion, the most successful urban intervention in Croatia done in the 1990s. It fits perfectly, it cannot be unnoticed, it speaks in metaphors, is powerful and meaningful.

High steel plates made of corten steel (that ages perfectly by developing its own rust) form seven "gates" on one of the main pedestrian routes in Osijek. While the first "gate" is only big enough for one person to pass (evoking fear and enxiety of the war times of the early 1990s) the last "gate" is so wide it represents freedom and openness.

Seen from the distance, the monument looks like a big barrier and it is only when one approaches it that you notice you can pass without a true obstacle. But you definitely cannot pass ignorant of the tragic story it commemorates, that happenned here in the beginning of the 1990s.

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	Sfinge Tip Rating:

By Aurorae on September 18, 2005

Osijek by Jelena

by Aurorae, 2 more photos

There are tow Sphinx figures in the park near the river, looking like Egyptian made indeed, and even damaged in the appropriate way, as if they've been through a lot throught the yeards! I found it very weird to see Sphinx in Osijek, but the weirdest thing of all is that they are near the monument to Pablo Picasso!!!!????

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	Muzej Slavonije - Museum of Slavonia Tip Rating:

By Aurorae on September 18, 2005

Osijek by Jelena

by Aurorae

The museum of Slavonia is on the main square (Trinity Square) and it is situated in the lovely blue house built at the very beginning of 18th century! It's a museum since the end of 19th century with some artifacts, and all the collection of city musum was moved there in 1946.

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	Theatre Tip Rating:

By Aurorae on September 18, 2005

Osijek by Jelena

by Aurorae, 1 more photos

Osijek theatre is in the center of the town, near the "Cathedral". The first performance was in Latin.
In the summer there are some festivals, and during some the entrance is free. There is a nice cafe at the theatre.
Yu can read a lot about the theatre at the web site below.

Address: Županijska 9, 31000 Osijek

Phone: +385 31 220 700

Website: http://www.osijek.hr/eng/theatres.asp

Other Contact: http://www.tel.hr/hnk-osijek/

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	Tvrđa Tip Rating:

By Aurorae on September 18, 2005

Osijek by Jelena

by Aurorae, 4 more photos

Tvrđa is an old town complex in Osijek, very near the Drava river. It's a beautiful place with very old houses, streets, squares, colourful facades, museums, cafes... It's especially lovely by night when everything is illuminated with romantic lights. It's one of the most popular spots for going out in Osijek.
Also by day it's pretty, especially on sunny days!

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	Drava river Tip Rating:

By Aurorae on September 18, 2005

Osijek by Jelena

by Aurorae, 3 more photos

There is a wonderful promenade along the river of Drava. There are nice cafes and restaurants, and it's a very LONG quay, suitable for long walks, rollerblading, cycling (there is a bicycle path), it leads up to the Tvrđa complex, and further. It's especially spectacular by night, when the bridge is illuminated!

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	"The Cathedral" Tip Rating:

By Aurorae on September 18, 2005

A postcard of Osijek

by Aurorae, 4 more photos

The main church of Osijek is very impressive and they call it a Cathedral, although it's not. The Cathedral is in Đakovo, but still this impressive imposant church deserves all the praise. By night it is beautifully illuminated. It's called the Church of St. Peter and Paul (crkva Sv. Petra i Pavla), and it's a neogothic church.
The only daylight photo I have is on the postcard I scanned, because I visited it by night.

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	Tvrdja Tip Rating:

Updated By diocletianvs on June 24, 2006

Tvrdja

by diocletianvs

Tvrdja (The Fortress) is the oldest part of Osijek, built at the strategically important point next to the Drava river crossing. After it was ruled by Ottomans for 161 years the fortress was reconquered and redesigned by Austrian rulers of Croatia in the 17th and 18th century. The main plan of the fortress was made by Austrian engineer Eugen count of Gosseau.

Tvrdja in Osijek was, along with Slavonski Brod fortress and Karlovac fortress, one of the most important military points of south-eastern borders of Austro-Hungarian empire.

Military post in Tvrdja lasted till the 1990s when the Yugoslav army finally left buildings they were occupying. Nowadays Tvrdja has several museums, cultural institutions, schools and faculties. There are plans for most of the faculties of the Osijek University to be housed here in the future.

Directions: East from the main city square

Website: http://www.tzosijek.hr/tvrdja/tvrdja.htm

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	Church of St. Peter and Paul Tip Rating:

Updated By diocletianvs on June 26, 2006

Church of St. Peter and
Paul

by diocletianvs

One thing you are absolutely not allowed to do in Osijek is trying to remind the locals that the cathedral means the church that is the seat of the bishop, while all other churches are just churches, no matter how big or dominant in the city skyline they are.

The "Cathedral" (officially only: Church of St. Peter and Paul) was built in the 1890s in neo-gothic style by the Bonn-based architect Franz Langenberg. The church has some interesting artworks in the inside but in fact its most striking feature is the absolute dominance of the otherwise low Osijek skyline, interrupted only by the nearby hotel Osijek. (Yes, communists liked to make a "balance" to the church tower).

The church definitely dominates over the central square - Trg Ante Starcevica. It was damaged in bombings in 1991 and most of the damages are now repaired, although if you look closely at some of the brickwork it is not hard to find recent scars.

Directions: Next to the main square.

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	Franciscan church Tip Rating:

Updated By diocletianvs on June 25, 2006

Franciscan church

by diocletianvs

Franciscan church of St. Anthony was built between 1709 and 1732. The church was also built at the place where a mosque once stood, although new archaeological excavations showed that below the mosque there was older early Gothic church.

Inside the church is richly decorated, the most important piece being the main baroque altar made in Vienna in 1726. Important noble families from Osijek (Knezevics, Pejacevics, Parcevics) are buried in the crypt.

The attached Franciscan monastery was important cultural centre in Osijek, with the first press facilities. Faculties of Philosophy and Theology were established here in the 18th Century, making the start of today's Osijek University.