Page 198 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

196  CRO A TIA AREA B Y AREA

Street-by-Street: the Fort (Tvrđa)

The fortified centre of Osijek (Tvrđa) was built on the site
of the Roman settlement of Mursa, which, in 131 AD,
became the capital of Lower Pannonia with the name of
Colonia Aelia Mursa. Destroyed by the Avars and rebuilt by
the Croats, it remained a military and administrative centre
until it was attacked and burned by the Turks in 1526.
Making the most of the strategic position, the Turks rebuilt
the fort and, under Suleyman II, also constructed a bridge
across the Drava. After the expulsion of the Turks in 1687,
the Austrian Emperor destroyed the mosques and other
reminders of Turkish rule. He then built a fortified series . Church of St Michael
of buildings, more like a city than a fort. Tvrđa now houses Constructed by Jesuits in the first
the Town Hall, the university faculties, and the Museum half of the 18th century, the church
of Slavonia. The only remaining part of the ramparts is has a Baroque façade flanked by
two towers.
towards the river Drava and includes the Water Gate
(Vodena Vrata).

K A T A N Č I Ć A

TRG J .
KRIŽ ANIĆ A

TRG
Ć SVE T OG
I
V TROJST V A
O
R
F R A N J E K U H A Č A
E
T
N
I
P A
Ć
I
V
K O
K A M I L A F I R I N G E R A
R
Building of the Guard M A
On the western side of the square stands
the Building of the Guard, with a clock
tower from the 18th century. It now B O S K O V I Ć A
houses the Archaeological Museum.
A F R A N J E K U H A Č A
Croatian Academy of Č K
Science and Arts V A
K A M I L A F I R I N G E R A
E
J
N
A
R
F
Key
Plague Column
Suggested route The centre of the square is
dominated by the “column
of the plague”, erected in 1729
in thanks for the
ending of an
outbreak of
the disease.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p231 and pp247–8
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