Things To Do in Vukovar and Ilok
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Vukovar and Ilok Attractions
Parts of Vukovar have been restored, but except for the remnants of war, there is little to see here besides the City Museum in the restored Eltz Palace and the waterfront war monument. Ilok and its vineyards suffered less damage in the war, so that city appears more welcoming to tourists.
Civic Museum
In 1736, after the Turks had been routed from Vukovar, the city was given to the Eltz nobles, who built churches and an elaborate Baroque palace. The 18th-century Eltz Palace, like many other buildings in Croatia, was nationalized after World War II, after which it became the site of the Vukovar Civic Museum. The building was heavily damaged in 1991 and its treasures whisked away to safety in other parts of Croatia. Today most of the pieces from the collections are back and the damaged areas of the palace are being restored.
The Vucedol Dove
This ceramic archaeological find was uncovered in the early 20th century about 5km (3 miles) south of Vukovar on the Danube. The little pot made around 2500 B.C. is the most famous and popular artifact of Vucedol culture in southeastern Europe. It has been reproduced and kept in almost every home in Croatia since the 1991 war, when it came to symbolize peace for those fighting for freedom in Croatia. The original is displayed at the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb.
- Religious Site
Church and Monastery of Sv. Ivan Kapistran
This church and monastery are receptacles of history and artifacts from the area thanks to Franciscan monks who booby-trapped the church and monastery with mines during the 1991 war to keep the Serbs out. The head monk stayed inside, though the buildings were damaged. The church also… - Attraction
City Museum
This museum is housed in the 18th-century Baroque Eltz Palace, which once belonged to the powerful Eltz family (Roman Catholic nobility). It was badly damaged during the recent war, but following lengthy restoration, by 2011 it looked as it did before the conflict. The museum traces… - Attraction
Iločki Podrumi Winery
Ilok is home to the Iločki Podrumi, one of the largest wineries in Croatia. It produces predominantly white wines, including Traminac, Graševina, Chardonnay, and Riesling. It is open to the public for tours of the cellars and the vineyards, and for tasting. The setting is peaceful… - Cooking Class
Mathias Kulen
Kulen, Slavonia's spicy wood-smoked sausage, has many producers in Slavonia, but Mathias is the best there is and available in higher-end grocery stores. This little retail store about 16km (10 miles) southeast of Vukovar is the best place to find the delicacy, which is made only in… - Attraction
Ovčara Memorial Center
Lying 5km (3 miles) south of Vukovar, this harrowing memorial records the mass execution of 263 Croat men (and one woman), including hospital patients, in November, 1991. Inside, the dark interior shows photos of those who died. A circular space dedicated to a flickering memorial…
