496 SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp502–505 and pp506–507

R Church of the Holy Cross

Franjevačka, Tvrđa. Tel (031) 208

177. 
     

     8am–noon & 3–8pm, daily.

     
     

     Northeast of trg sv Trojstva,
     on the site of a sacred medi-
     eval building, stands this
     church (Crkva Svetog Križa),
     built by the Franciscans
     between 1709 and 1720. Inside

     
     

The capital of Slavonia, Osijek sits in the middle of

a fertile plain. The city developed in 1786 with the
merger of three districts: the Fort (Tvrđa), Lower Town
(Donji grad) and Upper Town (Gornji grad). Due to
its posi tion on the Drava river, Osijek has always played
a strategic role. In 1991, after the declaration of inde-
pen dence by Croatia, the city was bombed by Yugoslav
forces and much of the old centre was damaged. Osijek
never fell, and emerged from the war to become a pro-
sperous centre. Trvđa, the fortified centre, escaped ser-
ious damage during the war and has preserved much
of its Baroque architecture. The Upper Town, meanwhile,
presents Osijek’s modern face with bustling streets,
filled with shops, bars and restaurants.

Osijek d

The main square, trg sv Trojstva, in the heart of Tvrđa

P Europska Avenija

This avenue is Osijek’s

main thoroughfare, linking

Tvrđa to the Upper Town.

It is famous for the superb

row of Art Nouveau houses

built for local industrialists at

the beginning of the 20th

century. It runs through the

leafy Park kralja Držislava,

which contains the monu-

mental sculpture Soldier in

the Throes of Death (1894)

by Croatian sculptor Robert

Frangeš-Mihanović.

E Museum of Slavonia
trg sv Trojstva 6, Tvrđa. Tel (031) 250

730. 
     

     8am–2pm Tue–Fri, 10am–

     
     

     1pm Sat & Sun. & 8 ^ =
     On the eastern side of Tvrđa
     is the old Town Hall, which
     has housed the Museum of
     Slavonia (Muzej Slavonije)
     since 1946. There is a rich
     collection devoted to local
     folklore, including intri cately
     embroidered traditional cos-
     tumes from surrounding

     
     

E Osijek Archaeological

Museum

trg sv Trojstva 2, Tvrđa. Tel (031) 232

132. 
     

     10am–3pm Mon–Wed & Fri,

     
     

     10am–3pm & 5–8pm Thu, 10am–1pm
     Sat & Sun. ¢ Mon. & 8
     This museum (Arheološki
     muzej) is housed in a restored
     18th- century guard house on
     the western side of the
     square. It has dis plays of stat-
     uary and tombstones from the
     Roman settlement of Mursa,
     as well as weapons and
     jewel lery belonging to the
     first Croat settlers.

     
     

E Gallery of Fine Arts

Europska avenija 9. Tel (031) 251

280. 
     

     10am–6pm Tue–Fri,

     
     

     10am–1pm Sat & Sun. &
     8 by appt. ^
     This gallery (Galerija likovnih
     umjetnosti), founded in 1954,
     is housed in an elegant
     19th-century house. There
     are collections of paintings
     from the 18th and 19th cen-
     turies, as well as works by

     
     

R Church of St Michael

trg Jurja Križanića, Tvrđa. Tel (031)

208 990. # before mass.

The second biggest chuch in

the city, this impressive church

(Crkva sv Mihovila) was built

by the Jesuits in the first half

of the 18th century. The

Baroque façade is flanked by

two bell towers, and the mon-

astery has a splen did doorway

built in 1719. Below street

level, the foundations of the

16th-century Kasim-paša

Mosque are still visible.

Soldier in the Throes of Death, Park

kralja Držislava, Europe Avenue

villages. Local crafts are

represented with a range of

painted wooden furniture. It

also hosts temporary exhibi-

tions on regional history.

Statue from Roman Mursa, Osijek
Archaeological Museum

is a pretty statue of the Virgin

Mary from the 15th century and

some liturgical furnishings.