Page 187 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

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SLAVONIA AND BARANJA

The easternmost part of northern Croatia, between Hungary, Serbia and
Bosnia-Herzegovina, is one of the most fertile areas of Europe, known as the
“granary of Croatia”. The landscape of Slavonia and Baranja is characterized
by expanses of wheat and maize fields and hills covered with vineyards or
ancient woods. The main city, Osijek, is famous for its fortified centre.

First inhabited by the Illyrians, present- until 1689. To confront the constant
day Slavonia and Baranja came into disputes between the Turks and the Holy
contact with the Roman world in the Roman Empire, the Habsburgs set up a
2nd century BC. It took the Romans more Military Frontier (Vojna krajina), which
than 200 years to subdue the inhabitants lasted until 1881, when Austria-Hungary
of this region, which they referred to as took Bosnia-Herzegovina from the
Pannonia. From 402 Pannonia was Turks. The frontier was abolished and
invaded, first by the Goths, then the absorbed into Croatia.
Huns, Visigoths, Burgundians, Gepids, When war broke out in 1991, the
Longobards, Sarmatians and finally the presence of Serb villages was a pretext
Avars. When the Slavs arrived, very little for the Serbian occupation of Slavonia.
remained of Roman rule, and the land, In 1995, under the auspices of the United
ever since then called Slavonia, was Nations, control of Slavonia reverted back
practically uninhabited. to the Croatians. Although war damage is
In 925 the Kingdom of the Croat still visible along the border, particularly in
Sovereigns was set up and this lasted Vukovar, great efforts are being made with
until 1097, when King Koloman came to rebuilding and Slavonia is once again well
rule Slavonia and created the Hungarian- worth visiting for its historical treasures. It
Croat kingdom. Following the Battle of is also an area of great natural beauty and
Mohács in 1526, Slavonia became part of includes the nature reserve of Kopački rit,
the Ottoman Empire, and remained so a wetlands sanctuary for wildfowl.

Local people in the typical traditional costumes of the region
Fresco in the 18th-century church of St Francis in Požega

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