Vukovar and Slavonia: A Journey Through Wine and Culture

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SLAVONIA

The Fertile Plains of Slavonia

From Ilok, Erdut and Vukovar, then back through the plains of Slavonia, will have you in awe of the width of the fertile plains and the generosity of the locals. The Pannonian sailors have a soul as great as the area they inhabit. Ducats, daughterin-laws, the tambura, the bećarac, horses and rich dining tables are an eternal and everlasting presence of living in rich, villages with houses lined along the road, equally interesting in the summer and when covered in snow in winter. Croatia's easternmost town of Ilok, the center of the western Syrmia, was dubbed by the old Romans as the Relish of the world" or "Delicium mundi". The tourist town of Ilok, which once again returned to its great traditions after war traumas, has been the capital of wines and a producer of royal wines for hundreds of years.

In the medieval core of Old Ilok be sure to drop by the unique Old Cellar., a rarity even by world standards, which is visited by more than twenty thousand tourists annually. It is unique for its architecture and technological solutions.

A Cellar 12 Meters Underground

What makes it so special? Here's its story. In the seventeenth century, the Ilok estate was given by Pope Innocent XI to the Italian aristocratic Odescalchi family as a present. They renewed the 15th century castle and, under it, built an impressive wine cellar. In its cold areas, in the wooden barrels, there are a million liters of top quality wine maturing. The greatest part of the cellar is 12 meters under the ground where

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the temperatures is always between 10 to 12 degrees.

Croatia's easternmost town of Ilok, the center of the western Syrmia, was dubbed by the old Romans as the Relish of the world" or "Delicium mundi". The Danube tourist town of Ilok has been the capital of wine and a producer of royal wines for over hundreds of years

It is this very cellar of Old Ilok that had 11 000 bottles of top class Ilok wine delivered to the English castle for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, exposed even today in the British royal collection of wines. Don't forget to taste their top quality Traminac, Graševina, Chardonnaye, Sauvignone, take a walk on the slopes of Fruška Gora, along the right cost of Danube. The hundreds of acres of Syrmia vineyards are a particular pleasure to explore.

Vineyards Dating Back to the Third Century

Ilok was actually born with wine. In the third century, the Roman emperor Probus initiated viticulture and built the Cuccium fort from which the Ilok of today grew. The medieval town of Erdut is a lovely nearby stop, located about a hundred meters above the coast of the

Danube. Take a walk to the medieval towers of the old town which collapsed into the Danube in the old days. The inhabitants of Erdut are madly in love with their city and will love to tell you everything about it. It is particularly loved by fishermen who have found in Erdut their favorite place to fish.

The Biggest Barrel in Europe

You will find many wine lovers here, too, mostly around one of the largest barrels in Europe. Its size and beautiful carvings and equally fine Erdut wine maturing in it continue to amaze the visitors of Erdut. The barrel, decorated by naive sculptors Tijardovićc and Fodor, is adorned with two and a half tons of steel and magnificent carvings of the Croatian wattle and the Last Supper with Jesus holding the wine chalice.

The biggest barrel in Europe holds a staggering 75 000 liters of wine. It is made of 150 years old oak and is part of the Guinness book of records. Erdut, as well as Ilok, is proud of its wine cellars. The cellar of Erdut is 300 years old and dates back to the days of count Erving Čeh. Legend has it that, while escaping from his wife, the count hid in one of the big barrels of the cellar where he played cards with his friends.

Take a seat on the bank of the Danube in Vukovar, and its locals will tell you the amazing story of Orion and the oldest inhabitants of the Vučedol valley. Take the Vučedol dove with you as a souvenir,

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The Steamboat Quay

there is nothing better. Visit the lovely sand beach on Orlov otok (Eagle's Island). Along the coast of the river Vuka and the Danube, you will meet swimmers and many fishermen who spend hours with carps, catfish, pikes-

There are only about thirty kilometers from the seductive Art-Nouveau city of Osijek. Or to get the real idea and charm of Slavonia, head to Vinkovci or the village of Otok. You will be offered the čobanac, spicy kulen and kulenova seka (kulen's sister) sausage, cracklings, or a tasty bread with a spred of lard sprinkled with red paprika, or švargle (the crush), not to mention the out of this world fish-paprikash.

On the Ilok side of the Danube, there used to be a steamboat port more than 100 years ago, which was rebuilt after the Homeland War. Today, this port is a part of a recreational and tourist facility together with the promenade, beach, hotel and quay for passenger ships (cruising ships).
Everything is within easy reach: gastronomy and wine, fishing, walking, cycling, swimming, tennis courts, the Danube cycle routs, the Liska footpath and the Sultans trail (hiking route), boat ride or a unique opportunity for a ride on the river boat.