Hostel Cinema, created in the building of the former Ilok’s old cinema. is located  in the very centre of town and features old wooden staircase across old fashioned mosaic floors and walls covered in posters, photographs, old cinema projectors and vinyl records.

The hostel can accommodate up to 38 people in bunk beds with use of  shared bathrooms.

On the top floor there are 6 double-bed rooms with refrigerators, a TVs and private bathrooms.

In the same building there is a café, a disco and a pizzeria.

More info and booking at Hostel Cinema web: http://www.cinema.com.hr/

Check other destinations in Slavonia + other accommodation in Slavonia

 Slavonia will get its first five-star hotel next year.

Hotel Bischof , part of “Đakovo Centar” will be build in the Đakovo city centre.

The hotel will have 39 rooms and two apartments, a wellness centre and other additional facilities that are required by this high hotel category.

20 million euros have alreay been invested in “Đakovo Centar” which will also have flats, offices and an underground garage.

The total value of the investment is estimated at 37 million euros.

More info about Đakovo and Slavonija : www.tz-djakovo.hr + www.tzosbarzup.hr

Ilocki podrumi

This was the estate of the Italian Odescalchi family, which was given to them, as well as surrounding lands in Srijem, by the Austrian Emperor Leopold in 1697.

The summer residence is located in one of the most beautiful vineyard areas of Ilok, Principovac which because of the heights it dominates is called “the roof of western Srijem” by the people of Ilok. The estate is located in the centre of a large plantation which stretches over around 87 hectares of agricultural land and around the residence itself there are about 15000 m2 of grassland.

After being renovated, the four star residence has become the only hotel building in Ilok. Asides from an attractive restaurant that can hold a hundred guests, it has five two bedded apartments as well as a luxuriously furnished President’s apartment that covers an area of 120 m2.

 The total investment by “Ilocki podrumi” in the development hall should start that will cover an area of around 850 m2. of the tourist-hospitality offer in Ilok in the last two years, Guests in Principovac can use the numerous sports facilities, alongside the planned investment for this year and the tennis and badminton courts, 4 km of asphalted road for following year will reach an amount of around 35 million cycling, paths through the vineyard, tourist train rides and HRK.

In the autumn they are able to take part in the grape harvest as well as try top quality wines from the Srijem vineyards. They can also use the panoramic lift which takes them to the summer residence from where they can see the whole of Ilok, Srijem and Backa in Vojvodina.

 By advancing with its tourist offer, which now can satisfy those guests with a deeper pocket, “Ilocki podrumi” have put Ilok itself on the map in capital letters as an elite tourist destination. The firm “Ilocki podrum” purchased the annex of the Odescalchi castle complex, an impressive building built on the foundations of the castle of King Nikola Ilok.

This was built in the 15th century and is located on the old town centre of Ilok above the old cellars. The medieval castle and the entire Ilok estate were given to Pope Innocent XI Odescalchi and his family by Emperor Leopold as a reward for helping to liberate Ilok from the Ottomans. In this period it covered most of the Srijem area. After the war and exile, the castle which is a protected cultural monument was renovated and restored and the contemporary museum of the town of Ilok was returned to it.

The renovated three star annex is made up of 18 accommodation units and extends and enriches the offer of the old cellars which are visited annually by numerous visitors.

Visitors to Osijek can now also enjoy two new tourist info-centres: one in the upper town and one in well preserved Osijek fortress Tvrda, built in the 18th century. In addition to information and promotional materials and a range of original souvenirs, Tvrda boasts a new info-spot run by the Osijek tourist guide association, offering visitors guided tours and one of the eight free wireless internet hotspots in Osijek.

The city’s fast lifestyle can also be seen from the number of visitors to Osijek Zoo on the left bank of the River Drava, the numerous visitors to the nearby nature reserve Kopacki Rit and events that have been announced for the upcoming season.

In July Osijek will host the 32nd annual European Archery Championships, with over 2,000 competitors and guests. In August, a children’s festival will be held, gathering around 2,000 children of all ages from several countries. This year, Osijek will also be visited by a group of around 200 bikers, guests of great interest who traditionally seek high-quality hotel accommodation and secure shelter for their motorbikes.

All first-time visitors to Osijek, a city that can be reached from Zagreb in two hours on the motorway, will be delighted by the promenade on the River Drava, a beautiful river-promenade in the country. Much to
the delight of Osijek’s natives and visitors, the Great dance orchestra has recentlybegun playing for festive occasions, greatly contributing to the atmosphere of the city.

More info about Osijek at Osijek-Baranja County Tourist Board : www.tzosbarzup.hr +  Osijek Tourist Board: www.tzosijek.hr

There will be two weekly flights on Thursdays and Sundays.

The prices are starting  from 19 Euros for one-way flight.

The intention of Ryanair is to service the Frankfurt to Osijek route during the summer months only, but there is a possibility of extending the flights throughout the year.

Read more about Flights to Croatia

As of spring 2009, visitors who choose to visit the Croatian town of Ilok  and its surrounding area, enjoy the many vineyards and taste excellent wine, will be able to use five 4-star apartments and a presidential apartment in Principovac near Ilok.

After completion of this phase, Iločki podrumi will continue with the second stage of the investment that will result in 20 apartments, tennis courts and other sporting facilities.

The total value of the investment is 40 million HRK and the investor is Iločki podrumi, a company known for winegrowing and winemaking, which has now extended its activities to the hotel industry. Iločki podrumi also offers vsitors various cycle lanes running through the winegrowing region.

In 2008, Iločki podrumi processed 7 million kilos of grapes and produced four million liters of wine from 300 hectares of their own vineyards and 400 more hectares of vineyards held by their subcontractors.

Last year, they launched a new quality brand of Cabernet Sauvignon and announced the launching of their first sparkling wine, obtained from the Frakovka variety and produced in the autumn of 2007.

Iločki podrumi is well known for its production tradition, which is confirmed by the Old Cellar built in the 15th century. This is a unique facility for traditional production, care and storage of wine in barrels receiving a total of one million liters.

The Old Cellar was built on three levels to adjust the temperature for keeping and maturing of young wines, older wines, care for predicate wines and storage of archive wines. It is visited by over 20 thousand visitors who, in addition to sightseeing,  have a pleasant experience of tasting the wine and enjoying the local food.

The service is comprised of nine trains, five from Vinkovci and four from Osijek, which will connect two cities in just over 35 minutes.

The opening ceremonies will take place on Wednesday at the central train station in Vinkovci.

Vukovar–Srijem County is the easternmost region in Croatia, situated  along the fertile banks of Danube and full of spacious green plains. The area is abundant in cultural heritage, historical buildings, interesting traditional customs, preserved nature and distinctive landscapes. This is also an area of rich gastronomy, and the typical rural image present in most of the region is supplemented with the interesting story of Slavonia urban centers – the towns of Vukovar, Vinkovci and Županja, as well as other smaller urban centers.

The county offers numerous options for excursion tourism, weekend recreation, or longer stays both in urban areas and in Slavonia where visitors can enjoy homemade specialties such as wine, brandy, cured meat products – kulen, kulenova seka, cracklings and homemade sausages – as well as various Slavonian sweets.

The most popular Slavonian wine varieties like Graševina, Traminac, Pinot and Chardonnay are predominantly produced in the area around Vukovar and Ilok, where the famous Ilok Wine Cellars are located.

The area is also known for its cultural wealth, the story of the Vucedol Dove being the most popular feature within it. The area around the town of Vukovar, which has become known as the Hero Town in contemporary history following the Homeland War, contains archeological sites with exceptionally valuable localities from the Vucedol culture era.

Vukovar-Srijem County also has two important historical castles: the Eltz family’s castle in Vukovar and the Odeschalchi family’s castle in Ilok. Both castles house Town Museums open to visitors despite the current reconstruction. The Cardak castle in Županja houses the Stjepan Gruber Native Museum, including the permanent Ethnological Exhibition.

Visitors will also be interested to know about the numerous traditional Slavonian events held in the county throughout the year : Ethno Weekend in the Ethno Town, Actor Festival, Ilok Grape Harvest, Brandy Exhibition, White Horses, Youth and Beauty of Slavonia, Otok Spring, Šokac Village, Tourist Forum, and Vinkovci Autumns as a highlight attracting numerous visitors to Vinkovci for over 40 years.

To put it in a nutshell, this is a region that has plenty to offer in terms of tourism because the Slavonian customs, tradition and local heritage combined with modern features such as excursion & recreation destinations and rich hunting and fishing areas make this destination very attractive to tourists. The accommodation infrastructure is also developing – construction of a high-category, five-star hotel has recently begun. In addition to the existing 12 facilities located in Vinkovci, Vukovar, Županja, Ilok and Spacva, Hotel Diamant is being built in Nuštar, which will include in its offer a large wellness center, a national restaurant, a casino, and a congress center seating around 700 people.

If we add the important Danube waterway where more and more large river cruisers can be seen, we only have one thing to say – come and experience Slavonia because it is unique and thus incomparable with anything!

Vukovar-Srijem County Tourist Board : www.tzvsz.hr

The old farm, situated around 20 kilometers from Osijek en route to Novi Ceminac, has been restored to its original condition, and the double and triple bedrooms on it are equipped with furniture exuding the Slavonian ambience.

In addition to accommodation, they started a horseback riding school managed by a person licensed by the Croatian Equestrian Federation and the Croatian Olympic Committee. Each attendant has the opportunity to ride through intact nature with an experienced horseback riding instructor.

Baranja is a region known for its hunting grounds, so the Ipša family intends to supplement their offer in agreement with hunting concessionaires and use horses for hunting. While visiting hunting grounds or forests, tourists could enjoy the immediate presence of game.

Baranja has an increasing  number of people who have recognized the tourist potential of the area that will satisfy even the most demanding visitors. Pleasant and comfortable accommodation and gastronomic delights the locals offer their guests, hunting and fishing, Kopacki Rit Nature Park, hansom carriage or off-road vehicle rides, rest & recreation and swimming in Danube are just a small part of what this area has to offer.

Osijek-Baranja County Tourist Board www.tzosbarzup.hr

The reconstruction, widening and adaptation of the old structure in the fortalice near the Osijek zoo was launched three years ago with Unikom, the municipal utility company, and the City of Osijek, appearing as investors, and the new ZOO-hotel was opened in late November 2007.

Over ten million kuna has been invested into the project to date, and as much remains to be spent. In selecting and installing the material, equipping and outfitting the interior, the Unikom management was led by the aim that the hotel receive a four-star rating.

With the aim of expanding and upgrading the existing hotel offer, as future projects, the investors have announced they will build an indoor swimming pool and a wellness facility. Also in the works is the expansion of the building with a further six storeys that should increase the number of rooms from the current nineteen to forty or fifty.

The spring will see the launch of work on another parking lot with 220 parking spaces, and 2008 should also see the development of the left bank of the Drava River where there is a plan to build a golf course, a dog hotel in the frame of hunting tourism, two tennis courts and one artificial turf 5-a-side soccer pitch.

Along with the hunting offer, Osijek intend to expand the sports & recreation offer to fishing and to purchase a boat on which children would be educated on environmental preservation.

A village courtyard is to be developed, a veterinary service needed for the zoo and an education area for the youngest visitors of the zoo, for whom a small train would be set up in which to tour the zoo.

More info : http://www.zoo-hotel.com/ 

The first draft of 2007 figures are following:

• Croatia had a total of 10.8 million visits (6% increase compared to 2006), resulting in just over 57 million overnight stays.
• Istria had a total of 2.75 million visits. (5% increase compared with 2006), resulting in 18 million overnight stays.
• Kvarner had a total of 2.45 million visits (5% increase compared with 2006), resulting in 12.6 million ovenight stays.
• Dalmacija had a total of 4.5 million visits (7% increase compared with 2006), resulting in 24.5 million overnight stays.
• Croatian Adriatic Coast had a total of just under 10 million visits (7% increase compared with 2006), resulting in just over 55 million overnight stays.
• Continental Croatia (Slavonija and Central Croatia), had 400 thousand total visits (6% increase compared with 2006), with 850 thousands overnight stays.
• Zagreb had a total of 606 thousand visits (13% increase compard with 2006), resulting in 1.1 million overnight stays.

Most visitors to Croatia came from Germany, Slovenia and Austria, followed by resident of other European coutries.

Germanwings , the low cost airline from Germany, is introducing flights from Cologne (Koln) in Germany to Osijek - the economic and cultural centre of Slavonia.

The first flight from Cologne (Koln) in Germany to Osijek Airport (OSI) ( http://www.osijek-airport.hr/) will start on 14th of March 2008.

The flights are scheduled twice a week – on Thursdays and Sundays.

Osijek – Cologne flights are advertised as 19 Euro one way.

Due to good location of Osijek and its airport, and its vicinity of Hungary, Serbia and Bosnia, it is expected these flights are going to be pretty popular.

However, if you hurry up with booking, there are some pretty good prices available at the moment – check Germanwings booking pages: http://www.germanwings.com/skysales/Search.aspx?culture=en-GB

When speaking of Ilok, Croatia’s easternmost city, for most people the first thing that comes to mind is good wine. This is, however a city also known for its wealth of cultural heritage.

Visible monuments have remained of every historic epoch that vividly recall former rulers and it is because of their characteristics that Ilok today offers an interesting tale for tourists. It offers attractions like traditional fishing and walks along the Danube River from which a view shoots out to river islets on the Danube and to neighbouring Serbia.

There is a train ride organised for tourists that meanders through the city and its fertile vineyards, uncovering all the while other beauties of the landscape and the many cultural monuments.

More info: Slavonija + Croatian Food and Wine + City of Ilok Tourist Board web: www.tzvsz.hr/ilok.php +  Ilok Cellars web: http://www.ilocki-podrumi.hr/

Hotel-winery Zdjelarević is situated in Brodski Stupnik in the very heart of Croatia’s well-known wine region, Slavonia.

The hotel opened its doors couple years ago, emerging from the foundations of Slavonia’s renowned Zdjelarevic winery and the restaurant that offers a wide array of Slavonian specialities and selected quality wines.

The entire hotel is fashioned in the traditional Slavonian style, and is located in the very heart of a old vineyard.

The hotel currently offers fifteen rooms.  For its guests, off-road tours of the vineyards , guided cycling and walking tours, paintball, hunting and romantic moments such as a ride in peasant’s carriage or a romantic candlelight dinner are also on offer.

The hotel is suited to business guests, as it features several conference rooms, outfitted with the latest equipment, and the hotel staff often organises interesting team-building programs and excursions in the nearby wine producing areas.

Wine Hotel Zdjelarevic is located on 1.5 hours drive from Zagreb and on about 15 minutes away from Slavonski Brod. More info and Booking:

Hotel Vinarija Zdjelarevic ★★★☆☆

“This enchanting hotel and winery is located in the picturesque wine-growing village of Brodski Stupnik in the very heart of Slavonia, Croatia’s famous wine-growing region.” Prices from €63 – Number of rooms: 15 – Check Hotel Vinarija Zdjelarevic, Brodski Stupnik availability

The first one is route Gaženica – hub Zadar 2 that opened for traffic by Croatian Minister Božidar Kalmeta. He opened the new four-line route Gaženica – hub Zadar 2,  positioned at the motorway Zagreb – Šestanovac, 17.5 km long. In front of the hub Zadar 2, the minister told the journalists that this represented one of the most important infrastructural objects in the Zadar county and an important starter for the development of the whole region. Kalmeta also mentioned the importance of the future port Gaženica, which will receive 220 million kunas of state funding, offering also a great opportunity for the progress of the whole area.

The second route is A5 Djakovo-Sredanci Section of Motorway that was opened for traffic by Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, who has opened the first section of the A5 motorway between Beli Manastir, Osijek and Svilaj, between Sredanci and Djakovo. Some 1.4 billion kuna was invested into 23 kilometres of road which will in the end measure nearly 89 kilometres and pass between Hungarian and Bosnia-Herzegovina borders, becoming a part of the 5C corridor between Budapest, Osijek, Sarajevo and Ploce.

One of the most interesting of these projects is the Ethno Street of Forgotten Times were intensive works are already under way. The street is located in the village of Karanac, in the very heart of Baranja, well known of its attractive offer of rural tourism.

This is the popular Baranja House, a rural home behind which the mentioned “street of memories” is being built. Etno zbirka obitelji Sklepić aka Baranja House broaden its offer so the street features traditional Slavonian corn storage sheds too.

The most funds will be invested into the renovation of the landing dock at the Kopacki rit Nature Park.  Along with the landing dock an awning with a belvedere will be built on the site of the old Komarac restaurant, which will broaden the existing tourism offer at Kopacki rit.

There will also be building going on in the well known Baranja rural tourism destination – the village of Bilje where there are plans to build a local style Baranja home, and the city of Beli Manastir will also “get” its first real Baranja ethno house.

Find out more on Baranja Tourist Board http://www.tzosbarzup.hr/ website.

The development of tourism in the city has long ago imposed itself as a logical orientation considering Osijek’s many attractive cultural and historical attractions, its rich history, fascinating tradition, which offers visitors plenty of entertainment. The offer of accommodation is improving from year to year too.

In the vicinity of Osijek’s Upper Town a new hotel opened its doors – the hotel Drava. This small family hotel with 11 rooms, a restaurant and café bar, is rated as three-star hotel.

With this new facility Osijek now offers a total of eight hotels, four of which are high category facilities, two motels and a large number of private apartments as well as rural cottages in the near vicinity of the town.

The most attractive location in Osijek is the Baroque period fortress locally called Tvrda, which is one of the most attractive buildings in all of Slavonia. Everyone who finds themselves in Osijek should not miss a tour of the main town square and the well-known Osijek promenade along the Drava River, the municipal gardens in Osijek, protected as horticultural monument, and the numerous municipal museums and theatres.

Alos, the Europe’s oldest tram is in operation in this city, adapted for tourist tours of the most attractive points of interest in the city.

One of the great advantages of the city is its rich surroundings where visitors  are offered various sightings – from hunting and fishing, excursions to Kopacki rit Nature Park and visits to rural villages in the vicinity..

After the opening of the Ružic Gallery, revival of scenes from the history of the Tvrdava (fortress) and opening of a traditional blacksmith’s workshop, Slavonski Brod got yet for another interesting facility – Tamburitza Museum, located within the Tvrdava.

This is a unique project given that nowhere in Croatia to date has a similar museum been opened which is dedicated only to this recognisable musical symbol of Slavonia.

The museum presents the hundred year old history of the Tamburitza in Slavonski Brod and the whole Slavonski Brod- Posavina County and displays a series of very valuable exhibits like a tamburitza from 1920 and handwritten notes for a tamburitza orchestra which were written back in 1912.

There are also classical exhibits and old photographs as well as organised workshops for visitors to see the process of making this traditional musical instrument.

The museum is located in the Kapelan apartment of the Tvrdava, right next to the Tourist-information centre of Slavonski Brod ( Slavonski Brod Tourist Board http://www.tzgsb.hr/ )

More about tamburica at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamburitza

The basilica  of St. Peter dominates the town‘s landscape with its two 84 metre-high belfries, built in 1882. The cathedral was erected in the time of Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer, who by initiating the construction of numerous church and commercial buildings launched the development of the Ðakovo episcopate. Throughout its 760-year history, many bishops have left traces of their activities in Ðakovo. In 1806, in the time of Bishop Antun Mandic, the first institution of higher education in Slavonia was opened – the School of Theology.

In the direct vicinity of the cathedral is the wine cellar with its renowned Eucharist wines, served as an exceptional treat at special occasions. It will always be found on the table at state visits to Croatia or at presentations the Croatian National Tourist Board organises around the world for tourism representatives and professionals and journalists.

The historicist and Secession style old town core today draws the attention of a growing number of tourists, who come to Croatia on the cruisers that ply the waters of the Danube River from Budapest. And that is why a tour of the town must include a not-to-be missed visit to the National Lipizzaner Stud Farm, founded in or around the year 1506.

Every year the Lipizzaners are a part of the traditional culture and tourism event known as the Ðakovacki vezovi (Embroideries of Ðakovo), held for its 41st time in July of this year. This festival has long ago become a national event and this year drew performers from five continents and ten of thousands of visitors from around the world. With its tradition and far and wide renowned embroidery in gold thread, preserved trades and old skills, Ðakovo offers visitors variety of options for a quality vacation in an indigenous milieu.

More info on Osijek–Baranja County Tourist Board: http://www.tzosbarzup.hr/ & City of Ðakovo Tourist Board: http://www.tz-djakovo.hr/ + Short introduction to Slavonia

It is a 28-kilometre stretch of a modern railway leading to the border with Hungary.

In addition to its importance for the local community, the railway will also improve the quality of cargo transport from Budapest, via Slavonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the port of Ploce.

The intention is to make further investments to existing four wine roads that run along the four Slavonija and Baranja’s winegrowing hills – the area around Ðakovo, Našice, Erdut and the Baranja area that stretches to the north of the city of Osijek.

According to the announced plans, for all four wine roads designated starting points will be vcreated from which visitors could head out in the wines discovery:

• For the Baranja region the starting point will be the Palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy in Bilje where a small hunting museum is to be set up, continuing with visit to the Kopacki rit Nature Park and a trip on the existing wine road near the settlements of Suza and Zmajevac.
• The well-known Shrine in Aljmaš will be the starting point for a tour of the Erdut winegrowing hills, stopping over at the various private cellars and finishing at the IPK Erdut vineyards.
• The cathedral in Ðakovo will be the starting point for visitors heading out on a tour of the Ðakovo area wine roads, and whose route will finish at the Lipizzaner stud farm .
• The Bizovac Thermal Spa in Donji Miholjec will be the staring point for a tour of the vineyards of the Našice area.

All of the new planned tours will also include visits to variety of cultural monuments, sightseeing in the surrounding settlements, visits to local museums and galleries as well as walks to Baranja vantage points.

Links : Slavonia Travel Forum + Slavonija & Baranja Travel Blog

As of yesterday, 16.04.07, Zagreb, the capital of Croatia and Pozega, the town in Slavonia,  are connected by a new Intercity train. 

The state-of-the-art tilting train with capacity of 110 seats in the second class and 24 seats in the business class, total 134 seats. This train will run between Zagreb and Pozega in 2.5 hours, which i 1 hour faster then older trains that used to connect these two destinations.

A one-way train ticket is priced at HRK 87, and a return ticket at HRK 140. Students under 26 years of age, pensioners and some targeted organized groups will have discount ranging from 30 to even 50 per cent. About Trains in Croatia

According to Croatian media, the fire that broke out in the Kopacki Rit – Croatia Nature Park, has been put under control.

Since last Thursday afternoon, when the fire initially broke out, it spread to a large area of The Park as efforts to put fire under control were made difficult because that particular area of Kopacki Rit is still mined. The helicopter and a fire-fighting plane took off on Friday afternoon from Zagreb to help with outrage. 

The fire destroyed around 550 hectares of grassland and foliage in the park. The material damage and cause of fire will be assessed later, however there are indications the fire was started deliberately. There were no human casualties in the fire.

Their latest plans are to construct a camping ground in Osijek – the capital of Slavonia .

This is really welcoming news about additional camping facilities in Croatia, especially for continental part of the country where camping grounds are scarce commodity.

The location of the new Osijek campsite will be at left bank of River Drava behind so called Osijek’s “Katakombe”.

This attractive site at the very shore of Drava River  has been previously used on couple of occasions as camping site – during last year’s fishing competition, as well as during the last year’s Urban Fest music festival .

In cooperation with some other local and regional institution, Osijek Tourist Board is expecting to invest about 1 million Kuna in basic infrastructure and camping facilities at the site.

They believe the new campsite in Osijek will be fully functional by the end of this year.

Hotel Patria in Beli Manastir – the main city of  Baranja , is the first four star hotel in the region .

The hotel was opened in November 2006, while the four star tag was officially obtained couple weeks ago.

Hotel Patria has some forty luxury rooms, fully equipped inclusive of Jacuzzi bathrooms.

The building and interior improvements worth about 40 million Kuna was partly financed by Croatian Ministry of Tourism.

More info : Hotel Patria, Osjecka bb, 31300 Beli  Manastir http://www.hotelpatria.hr/