Vacation activities

The city of Đakovo is placed in the eastern part of Croatia, in the historical region of Slavonia. With almost 30.000 inhabitants it is the center of various attractions and activities.
Đakovo is placed very near the wild nature, there are various opportunities for outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, horse riding, mountain biking, walking trips, boat trips in the city of Osijek which is only twenty minutes from Đakovo. There are also various beautiful agricultural estates that are ideal scenery if you want to go on a romantic horse drawn sleigh ride. For lovers of physical activities there are paintball, tennis or golf.
Symbol of the city of Đakovo is the Saint Peter’s Basilica, also called the Strossmayer’s Cathedral, made out of red bricks in the neoromanic style. It can be seen from far away and it marks the view of the city and gives you welcome on your arrival. The Basilica was constructed on the order of Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer, according to plans of Viennese architects Karl Rosner and Friedrich Schmidt. The construction began in 1866 and was completed sixteen years later.
Oldest horse stables in Europe, founded in 1509 for the needs of bishops and constructed on a farm, is also found in Đakovo. It was originally used to breed oriental horses; from 1806 it is known for breeding only the Lipizzan horses.
Every summer, during the first weekend of July, there is a traditional folklore festival called Đakovački Vezovi. This festival is a well known folkore event. The first festival ever took place during 2nd and 3rd July 1967. In its origins it was considered as a cultural event in occasion of the International Tourism Year. Organizer of the event was Zvonimir Benčević, MD.
Opening of the festival is celebrated with equestrian show and with other cultural and tourist events. Traditional robes from all over Croatia are presented, also dances, songs and traditions.
Dakovo bietet zwei Museen: das Museum Đakovštine und das Memorial Museum von Bischof JJ Strossmayer. Das Museum Đakovštine wurde 1951 gegründet und zeigt die Entwicklung der Stadt anhand von historischen Ausstellungsstücken. Das Memorial Museum von Bischof JJ Strossmayer wurde 1991 gegründet. Dort werden Original-Dokumente, Bücher, Artikel und vieles mehr des Lebens und Wirkens Bischof Strossmayers ausgestellt.
Bischof Josip Juraj Strossmayer (1815-1905), Theologe, Politiker, Humanist, Visionär, Initiator und Sponsor kultureller, pädagogischer und wissenschaftlicher Projekte, ist eine der wichtigsten und einflussreichsten kroatischen Persönlichkeiten des 19. Jahrhunderts.

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