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Baranja is a small trigonous piece of land situated in Croatia's far north-east, between mighty rivers of Danube, Drava (Drau) and Hungarian border. It is a part of Croatian region Slavonia and Baranja. If you happen to visit Osijek (www.tzosijek.hr), the biggest town of Slavonia and Baranja region and 4th the biggest town in Croatia, don’t miss Baranja. Osijek lies on the right banks of Drava River and Baranja is across the bridge, on the left side. But Baranja is well worth a trip just because of its many beauties.
It is a true destination for everyone who likes to explore off the beaten paths, for everyone who searches for a real oasis free of the city hustle and bustle with quiet greenery and a relaxed stay in primeval nature of forests, swamps, pastures, vineyards, rivers and plains.
Do you dream about the place where you will feel magical, where everything is so simple, cosy and pleasant, where you can go to a restaurant not worrying about your clothes or your make-up? Then go to Baranja. There is plenty to see, not just for a day, but even during a weekend. You don’t need a tour guide, but if you want, you can get one in Osijek. Or just rent a car and go explore this almost unbearably beautiful corner of Croatia.
What to see?
Kopački Rit - a nature park not far from the confluence of the Drava and the Danube, situated at the very border and not far from a city of Osijek, is one of the most important, largest and most attractive preserved intact wetlands in Europe. The beauty of "intact" nature, multitude of waters, flora and fauna attract not only excursionists and visitors but also many experts and scientists from the whole Europe. Tourist visits by panoramic ships, boats, bicycles, team of horses or on foot, are guided. Some packages offer the possibility of photographing or video-recording animals, birds in particular.
The specialities of Kopacki Rit (fish stew, grilled carp, venison, Belje wines, etc.) can be tasted in the nearby restaurant Tikveš (www.restoran-tikves.hr). There’s a menu full of local favorites on offer here, right near the park. And for desert, there are homemade Slavonian cakes – poppy seed or walnut strudel. Don’t miss visiting a castle complex by the same name – Tikveš (picture above), located right within the nature park. It was once one of Tito’s many country hideaways.
Also nearby is the famous restaurant “Kormoran” which also offers fish and wild game specialties in a unique and traditional ambience of a hunting and fishermen house.
Web: www.kopacki-rit.com
Karanac (www.karanac.com)– a village unique because of a large number of preserved and still inhabited traditional Panonian houses, decorated with many ethno elements from old days. It is situated at the foot of the Baranja hill, on the half way from Kneževi Vinogradi to Beli Manastir and about 30 kilometres from Osijek.
Baranjska kuća (Baranja House) (www.baranjskakuca.cjb.net) is a famous restaurant in Karanac reputable as a true ethno restaurant where all meals are cooked on open fire and served with home made bread baked in a true backyard bread oven. During warm days you can eat right there in the backyard beneath the walnut tree top. While you are waiting for your meal to be prepared, you can feel a special rural atmosphere walking through the back yard, where a children's playground and old farming machineries are only a part of the museum of antiques.Municipality of Kneževi Vinogradi is full of interesting stops and villages (Karanac, Kamenac, Kotlina, Suza and Zmajevac), unique wine cellars, dug into Baranja hills, immense vineyards.
Web: www.knezevi-vinogradi.hr
Baranja Wine-growing District
In the north of Croatian part of Baranja, which is a distinctly lowland area "Banska Kosa" Hill is located, which is ideal for growing of wine grapes. Name "Baranja" itself is probably connected to these good conditions, because in Hungarian boranya means wine mother. These ideal conditions for wine grape cultivation and production of excellent wines have also been recognized by the Romans who, more than 2,000 years ago, have named the Banska Kosa Hill "Mons aureus", or golden hill..
Baranja hill is one of top-quality Croatian wine-growing districts. The climatic conditions with annual rainfall average of 686 cubic mm, are favorable for cultivation of wine grape, while the annual temperature sum in the vegetation period is 3,479 degrees Celsius, and autumn is warmer than spring.Web: www.knezevi-vinogradi.hr/uk/vinske-ceste-podrumi/
Near Draz in the North, picturesqueness of Batina above Danube, right next to the great bridge connecting Croatian Baranja with Backa in Vojvodina, location by the border crossing and the beauty of the countryside attract many picnickers.The Bansko Brdo Hill offers a nice view of Danube, Backa, Hungary and Baranja. Vineyards and wine cellars, with one side buried in the hill, are the particularity of the area.
Baranya – Adventure Agency offers something for those a bit more adventurous. Especially interesting is off-road sighseeing and adventurous and entertaining recreation ride in free lender on a previously determined route.
Web: www.baranya-adventure.com
Where to stay?
If you prefer urban and modern hotels then the best thing is to stay in the city of Osijek which offers accommodation in several hotels and also as a destination is well worth of spending a day or two. Hotel Patria in Beli Manastir is a new hotel and a good base to explore Baranja.
On the other hand, if you’d like to get in touch with locals and feel the true ambiance of Baranja life, you can stay in one of many agro-tourism style households across Baranja. Here are few:
www.sklepic.hr
www.karanac.com/kukuriku.htm
www.villa-sandrina.com/villa_b/info.htm
www.knezevi-vinogradi.hr/uk/smjestajni-kapaciteti/
How to arrive?
By Airplane – Osijek has an international airport, situated some 20 km away from the city. Croatia Airlines connects Osijek with other local airports (Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Split, Zadar…) while German carrier Germanwings connects Osijek through Cologne and Bonn with the rest of Europe. www.osijek-airport.hr
By car – Modern 4-lanes motorway all the way from Zagreb to the town of Djakovo and then from Djakovo some 20 minutes by a regular two-lane road to Osijek. A part of the motorway from Djakovo to Osijek is expected to be finished by the end of 2008. Baranja and Osijek are also within easy reach from Budapest, Harkany, Pecs and Hungary in general.
By train and bus – regular and frequent train and bus lines are connecting Osijek with Zagreb, Pecs and Budapest.
Additional info about Osijek-Baranja County
http://www.tzosbarzup.hr
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