Golden Valley
Scenic Beauty and Culinary Delights
Požega Valley, in a nutshell, is golden because it's - green. When you get off the highway at Nova Gradiška exit from the direction of Zagreb, everything you see is bathed, immersed or painted green.
And as this color rests your eyes, you will return home from your holiday with perfect eyesight. You will also rest your body and soul. For, the Golden Valley may be golden as far as natural resources are concerned, but when it comes to tourism, it is a true - unpolished jewel. An undiscovered golden vein, that keeps its secrets deep underground.
The glorious early history gave way to a difficult, recent history of war. Consequently, the entire Požega region is still recovering, and tourism has been recognized as one of the guiding stars towards the economic and social well-being.
Let's get back to the road from Nova Gradiška to Požega. The sun is high, the asphalt is almost new, and some parts of the road are in the thick shade. If there is anywhere a road ideal for some kind of rally, this might be just it.
Exploring Count's Well and Lipik's Heritage
But cars aside, horses are actually the real stars of the Golden Valley. And one of the unavoidable places worth visiting in Požega region is certainly the State Stud Farm Lipik. You have already guessed, the stars are tall, white and extremely prized Lipizzaner horses. After all, Lipik is the town they are named after. In addition to seeing these animal beauties live in Lipik, you can also take a carriage ride in the town center, through the town park to the Count's Well, which is worth a visit.
Namely, one of the first thermal water wells in this part of Europe was drilled (by hand) in Lipik in 1870. This well is known today as Antun's Well or the Count's Well. Just five years later, in 1875, the first thermal water bottles saw the light of day.
Until 1993, "Lipički Studenac" was the only natural mineral water of domestic production on the Croatian market. Medicinal water helps with skin diseases and generally contributes to health, and those who have tasted it describe it as warm, bubble-free mineral water.
Rural tourism is very active in the Golden Valley, especially in Kutjevo area. If you love wine, and by this we don't mean just to drink it, but to love it from the vine to the glass, and want to know as much as possible about it, then Kutjevo is the place for you. It is known for its rich vineyards and great wines, produced by top local wine makers who have won great world awards for their wines. Kutjevo is the oldest wine establishment in the area and in the old Kutjevo basement there is a "mom of topquality Kutjevo riesling" - an impressive oak barrel with the capacity of 53,520 liters. At one time it was one of the largest in the world. That is why Kutjevo represents a world that is just waiting for wine lovers to discover it.
Good drinks require good food and the Golden Valley fulfills its gastronomic promise of excellent, delicious and interesting food. You just need to indulge yourself and engage in an amazing gastronomic exploration.
| 1. Lipik/ Ivo Biočina | 2. Zlatni Lug, Požega/ Ivo Biočina | 3. Lipik/ Siniša Uštulica | 4. Požega/ Ivo Biočina | 5. Požega/ Bojan Haron Markičević | 6. Požega/ Bojan Haron Markičević | 7. Požega/ Ivo Biočina | 8. Požega/ Sergio Gobbo | 9. Požega/ Ivo Biočina
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