Osijek, located in the historical Slavonia, is one of the largest Croatian cities and major shopping centers. In the country, it is known for its thriving university and the Osijecko beer brewery, existing since 1679.
Tourists coming to Osijek must be aware that today's and historical city center are located in different places. Today, it centers around the monumental, neo-Gothic cathedral dedicated to Saint. Piotr and Paweł. The buildings here mainly consist of tenement houses from the turn of the 20th century and modern buildings. There are many shops, music clubs and bars here, while the Ante Starčević Square is used to organize cultural events.
The new center of Osijek is connected by a walking embankment on the Drawa River with the 18th century Tvrdava forming the old center. This is a former fortress, which at the time of its construction was considered one of the most modern in Central and Eastern Europe. In the nineteenth century, part of the walls were demolished, but the historic buildings inside the fortress remained. They are mainly baroque buildings standing on regular, cobbled streets. Today, the local university and museum operate in former barracks, the governor's palace, and officers' warehouses and apartments. There are also a lot of restaurants and cafes here and in the evenings the whole district is full of people spending time outside the home.
