A historic reminder
In 1991, Vukovar suffered at the hands of the Croatian War of Independence, with many of the historic buildings such as its baroque mansions and art galleries being destroyed in the siege. Today, Vukovar is unrecognisable from this period of turmoil, having been restored to its picturesque former resplendence. However, an important reminder remains on Vukovar’s riverbank; an imposing monument in the shape of a cross serves as a commemoration of those who lost their lives during the conflict and defence of this town. We recommend stopping here for a moment of quiet reflection during your Vukovar river cruise.
Food and drink in Vukovar
You’ll be spoiled for choice of Vukovar eateries serving huge plates of local specialities, which include meat stews and goulash, smoked pork such as šunka, kulen and švargl; and naturally freshwater fish features heavily on the menu, as Vukovar is Croatia’s largest river port. Make sure to wash this delicious local food down with a glass of the local beer, Vukovarsko pivo.
Sightseeing
One of the best ways to see the sights of Vukovar is on foot, the war damage is apparent across the city and serves as a reminder of the conflict, which for locals is still a very present part of their culture. The recently renovated water tower serves as another reminder of the brave resistance of the town.
Museums and festivals
There is, of course, plenty of pre-1991 history to discover in Vukovar. The Vukovar Municipal Museum houses over 1,500 works of art and some of the most significant examples of contemporary Croatian art in the country. The Vucedol Culture Museum, opened in 2013 as a tourist attraction to celebrate the archaeological site of Vucedol, one of the most significant sites of its kind in Europe, which dates back to 6,000 BC. If you visit Vukovar on a river cruise during early July, you may get a chance to visit the Vukovar Film Festival. In its 14th year for 2020, the festival works to unite the people of the Danube to share in experiencing the films offered up for the festival.
