Vukovar

Vukovar is a city in Croatia, found in the eastern parts of Syrmia and Slavonia. It is an important place because it has Croatia's largest river port, where the Vuka and the Danube rivers meet. The city is the center of Vukovar-Syrmia County and is the second-biggest city in that area after Vinkovci. In a count done in 2021, the city had 22,616 people living there, and the whole area around it had 23,536 people.

Name

The name Vukovar means "town on the Vuka River." The word Vuko comes from the Vuka River, and vár is from the Hungarian word for "fortress." In old times, the river was called Ulca, possibly from an Illyrian language. The city has different names in other languages: it is called Wukowar in German and Vukovár in Hungarian.

In the Middle Ages, Vukovar was an important place and the center of Vukovo County. A strong fortress stood on the right side of the Vuka River. Over time, the city's name changed many times before settling into the name we use today.

Municipal area

The city of Vukovar has four main settlements.

The area is split into nine local groups, called local boards. Seven of these are in Vukovar itself, and two others are in nearby places.

In the past, the area was bigger and included many towns, but it has since been split into smaller parts. Historically, Vukovar had different parts like Old Vukovar, New Vukovar, and a place called Bata village, which today is known as Borovo Naselje.

Geography

Vukovar is a city found on important travel paths. For a very long time, routes from the northwest to the southeast have passed through the area around Vukovar in the Danube Valley.

Steam ships started in the mid-19th century, and now tourist ships also visit. This connects Vukovar with cities like Budapest and Vienna going upstream, and all the way to Romania downstream. The Vukovar harbour is a key place for bringing goods in and out. The Danube River links the people of Vukovar with Europe and the world.

Vukovar is 20 km (12 miles) northeast of Vinkovci and 36 km (22 miles) southeast of Osijek. It sits 108 meters (354 feet) above sea level. The city is on main road D2 from Osijek to Vukovar to Ilok, and on the railway and road D55 from Vinkovci to Vukovar.

Climate

Since 1999, the hottest day in Vukovar was on August 6, 2012, when the temperature reached 39.8 °C (103.6 °F). The coldest day was on February 9, 2012, with a temperature of −21.8 °C (−7.2 °F).

History

The area around Vukovar has been home to people for thousands of years, as shown by many ancient ruins. The Vučedol culture, which thrived in the Vučedol area, is very important to Vukovar. In 1938, the Vučedol dove was discovered there and later became a symbol of the town. Many other ancient sites from the Bronze Age and Iron Age show the lives of the Illyrians and Celts, the first people to live in Vukovar. The Romans later arrived and built forts along the Danube to protect against nearby tribes.

Vukovar’s history goes back to very early times, based on what archaeologists have found. Slavic tribes settled here in the 6th century. By the 9th century, the area was part of a Slavic region ruled by a prince and later became part of the Bulgarian Empire. In the 10th century, the Vukovo fortress was damaged by the Hungarians. Over the centuries, the area was part of different kingdoms and empires, including Croatia, Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

Vukovar was first mentioned in the 13th century with many different spellings of its name. By 1231, it gained special rights and the ability to collect taxes. It became a free royal city, which helped it grow. The city had a mix of people and was busy with trade and crafts. By the end of the 14th century, Vukovar was one of the largest towns with many houses and people.

After the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699, Vukovar became part of the Habsburg monarchy. The town was mostly empty but began to refill with new people, including Orthodox Serbs, Germans, Hungarians, and others. The German Counts of Eltz bought much of the land and helped the town grow. Crafts, trade, and shipbuilding developed, and Vukovar became a main trading center.

In 1918, Vukovar became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. It was an important place for the Socialist Labor Party, which later became the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. During the 1930s, tensions grew between Croats and Serbs. After World War II began, the town was taken over by forces of the Independent State of Croatia, leading to hard times for many people.

Between 1945 and 1991, Vukovar was part of socialist Croatia within Yugoslavia. It grew into a busy industrial place with many workers. The Borovo company became a big symbol of this time, helping the town grow.

In the early 1990s, fights between Serbs and Croats spread to Vukovar. Barricades were put up, and battles happened. The Battle of Vukovar began in August 1991 and lasted until November 1991. The town was heavily damaged, and many people sadly lost their lives. After the battle, Vukovar was under Serb control until an agreement allowed the United Nations to help bring peace. The town slowly began to heal and bring people together again.

Demographics

Vukovar's population grew quickly from 1948 to 1991 because of industrial development and immigration. The town's population changed a lot after World War II when German civilians were displaced, and their homes were given to Croat and Serb families.

Before the war, Vukovar had 28 different ethnic groups. After the war in Croatia, many Croats moved away, and many Serbs moved to Serbia or other countries. By 2006, the numbers of Croat and Serb residents were equal, but the city stayed divided. Even today, Croats and Serbs often use separate schools and meet in different places.

In 2011, Serbs made up more than one third of the city's population, which allowed the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet to be used officially. But after the 2021 census, Serbs made up less than one third, so this official use was ended in 2023.

City of Vukovar: Population trends 1857–2021

Sources:

Minority languages

Further information: Serbs of Vukovar, Anti-Cyrillic protests in Croatia, and Minority languages of Croatia

Cultural heritage

Vukovar has many important old buildings that were badly damaged in a past war. Some of these include the Eltz Manor from the 1700s, beautiful Baroque buildings in the town center, a Franciscan monastery, and a Serbian Orthodox church. Since peace returned in 1998, many of these buildings have been fixed up, but some ruins are still there.

Not far from the town, along the Danube River near Ilok, there is an interesting place called Vučedol. Here, people found an old ritual object known as the Vučedol Dove, which is a symbol of Vukovar. Vučedol is a popular spot for people to visit, especially those who like fishing or swimming.

The Vukovar Synagogue, built in 1889, was destroyed during a difficult time in history and its remains were taken down in 1958.

Politics

Local Government

After the elections in 2021, the city of Vukovar has 19 representatives chosen by voters. Many people voted, and different groups got seats in the city’s government. The group led by Ivan Penava got the most votes, followed by the Croatian Democratic Union. Other groups like the Independent Democratic Serb Party and a group led by Želko Sabo also got seats.

Ivan Penava became the mayor after a second round of voting. He won more votes than Nikola Mažar from the Croatian Democratic Union. Srđan Kolar became the Deputy Mayor, representing the Serbs of Vukovar community.

Institutions

Vukovar is home to many important local groups and schools, such as the Vukovar-Syrmia County, Polytechnic Lavoslav Ružička Vukovar, and Gymnasium Vukovar. It is also where several groups representing the Serb community in Croatia are based, including the Joint Council of Municipalities, the Association for Serbian language and literature in Croatia, the Independent Democratic Serb Party, the Party of Danube Serbs, and the Consulate General of Serbia.

Elected groups help make sure that the rights and needs of different communities are heard by local leaders. In the 2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives elections, the Hungarians, Pannonian Rusyns, and Serbs of Vukovar chose members to represent them, and the Ukrainians of Croatia chose their own representative.

Museums

Vukovar Municipal Museum

The Vukovar Municipal Museum began in 1948 thanks to gifts from Dr. Antun Bauer, including Roman money, furniture, weapons, and paintings. It first opened in an old building in the center of the city but moved to Castle Eltz in 1966. Before 1991, the museum had around 50,000 items spread across four areas.

One part showed the history of Vukovar from ancient times to the present, with important pieces found at the archaeological site Vučedol. Another part featured artworks from famous Croatian artists, giving a look at modern art from the late 1800s and early 1900s. There was also a special display about a Nobel Prize winner from the area and a room remembering an important meeting of a political group in 1920.

During a difficult time for the city, the museum’s items were damaged or lost, but many were returned thanks to efforts by Croatian officials. Today, the museum continues to grow with new gifts from artists and remains a key place for learning about the city’s past and culture. For its work in helping the city recover, the museum has received special awards.

Vučedol Culture Museum

The Vučedol Culture Museum opened on June 10, 2015, and is one of Croatia’s most modern museums. It sits close to the Danube river and has four floors built into a hill. Visitors can walk on its flat green roof, which leads to an important archaeological site. Inside, 19 rooms cover about 1,200 square meters and use advanced technology and interactive displays to show life from the Vučedol culture, which spanned 12 European countries.

Events

Vukovar has many cultural events throughout the year. The most important is the Danube region Vukovar Film Festival. This festival is special because it is the only one for filmmakers from the Danube region and it takes place right on the Danube River. It helps bring together filmmakers and supports the city's culture after it was damaged during the Homeland War.

Other events include the Vukovar Chamber Music Festival in June, where musicians from Croatia and Europe perform. There is also the Vukovar Puppet Spring Festival, which started in 1996 and features puppet theatres from many places. In January, Saint Vinko's Day marks the start of work in the vineyards with traditions like blessing the vines and enjoying food and drink. Bonofest in May is a festival of spiritual music, and the Ethno fair in September lets people buy handmade crafts and products. During Advent, there are special events leading up to Christmas, including a Christmas concert and a Christmas Fair.

Economy

The Port of Vukovar is located along the Danube River and is the largest port in the Vukovar region. It handles many types of cargo, mainly bulk goods, and has grown in activity over the years.

Vukovar’s economy relies on farming, trade, making wine, food processing, textiles, building materials, shoes, and tourism. One famous shoe factory, Borovo, was damaged during a war in 1991 and never fully recovered. Despite challenges, Vukovar continues to work on supporting new businesses and growth.

Transport

The city of Vukovar has many ways to travel, making it a busy place for moving goods and people. There is a big river port on the Danube River, which is the largest in all of Croatia. This helps many ships come and go.

Vukovar is also close to airports and railways. Osijek Airport is just 20 km away and is the nearest place for people to fly. The city has train stations that connect it to other places in Croatia and even to Serbia. Roads link Vukovar to nearby countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, and Serbia, making it easy to reach many markets in Europe.

Education and media

Vukovar has grown to be an important place for learning and culture. Over time, it developed many schools for children, including ones for different languages and religions. The first doctor arrived in 1763, and the first pharmacy opened in 1791. Printing began in 1867 with a German newspaper.

Today, Vukovar has seven primary schools and five high schools, including a gymnasium and a music school. There is also a polytechnic school and universities from Split and Osijek offering courses in subjects like information technology, economics, and law. Many groups helped make Vukovar a lively place with concerts, parties, and cultural events.

Sport

Vukovar has many places where people can play sports. One big place is the Borovo Sports Hall, which can hold 3,000 spectators. There is also a football stadium called FC Vukovar '91, and a center called "Lijeva Bara" where people can practice martial arts. Other spots include a tennis center, a place for horse riding, and a firing range.

In March 2017, Vukovar opened the most modern swimming pool complex in Croatia. It is about 5 kilometers from the city center and has a big indoor pool that is 50 meters long by 25 meters wide. There are also two smaller outdoor pools, a fitness room, a sauna, dressing rooms, and a restaurant. The same complex also has a sports hall for many indoor activities like boxing, gym workouts, and bowling.

Use in popular culture

The story of the siege of Vukovar has been used in several books and movies. The 2005 novel The Redeemer by Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø includes survivors of the siege who travel to Oslo and become important to a murder mystery.

The 2000 French film Harrison's Flowers follows an American woman searching for her missing husband, a journalist, during the battle of Vukovar. The movie was filmed in the United States and the Czech Republic.

A Serbian film called Vukovar, jedna priča was made during the time the city was occupied. It was entered for an award but was not chosen as a nominee.

A song by Croatian singer Nenad Bach called "Vukovar" remembers the siege and a tragic event at a hospital. Also, a character from the TV show ER named Dr. Luka Kovač lived in Vukovar before moving to the US after losing his family during the siege.

Since 1984, a Croatian Australian folklore group named "Vukovar" has performed in Sydney.

Notable people

Vukovar has been home to many famous people from different fields. One of them is Leopold Ružička, winner of the 1939 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Others include writers, politicians, athletes, and artists who have made their mark in various areas. Some notable names are Ivana Bodrožić, Siniša Mihajlović, Nikola Andrić, a Croatian writer, Károly Unkelhäusser, a Hungarian politician, and Marko Babić, a Croatian soldier, among many others.

• Rudy Baker, official of the Communist Party of the United States of America
• Ivan Baran, Croatian writer
• Franjo Benzinger, Croatian pharmacist
• Damir Bičanić, Croatian handballer
• Zoran Bognar, Serbian poet and writer
• Dražen Bošnjaković, Croatian politician
• Aleksandar Čavrić, Serbian footballer
• Saša Drakulić, Serbian footballer
• Jakob Eltz, German nobleman and former member of Croatian parliament
• Milan Gajić, Serbian footballer, U-20 World champion
• Jovan Gavrilović, politician and regent to adulthood of King Milan I of Serbia
• Siniša Glavašević, Croatian reporter
• Dinko Jukić, Austrian swimmer, European champion
• Mirna Jukić, Austrian swimmer, European champion and Olympic Games bronze medalist
• Damir Kreilach, Croatian footballer
• Milan Mačvan, Serbian basketball player, Olympic Games and Eurobasket silver medalist
• Damir Martin, Croatian rower
• Tomislav Merčep, Croatian politician and paramilitary leader
• Predrag Matić, Croatian politician
• Siniša Mihajlović, Serbian footballer, European Cup champion
• Tomislav Mikulić, Croatian footballer
• Ante Miše, Croatian footballer
• Petar Mlinarić, Member of Croatian parliament
• Josip Mrzljak, Croatian prelate, bishop of Varaždin
• Zaharije Orfelin, Serbian polymath
• Pavao Pavličić, Croatian novelist
• Leopold Ružička, Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Vladimir Štengl, Former Member of the Croatian Parliament and former mayor of Vukovar
• Blago Zadro, Croatian Army general
• Dario Zahora, Croatian footballer
• Tezija Zararić, Croatian musician

International relations

See also: List of diplomatic missions in Croatia and List of twin towns and sister cities in Croatia

Foreign representatives

• The Consulate General of Republic of Serbia in the city of Vukovar.

Twin towns – sister cities

Vukovar is twinned with:

Explanatory notes

This section contains only explanatory notes and does not include any main content suitable for younger readers. Therefore, no adapted content is provided here.