On June 7 and day 5 of this Viking River Cruise, we went by bus at 8:30 AM for our shore excursion.
That included a tour of Vukovar, one of Croatia's major cities.
This is St. Michael The Archangel Church in Old Town Osijek
Will come back to this later...
Around 9:30 AM we did split up in groups for a visit to a Croatian family home.
Turned out it were selected B&B's as here is clearly seen in the front garden with sign that shows a bed!
Lots of flowers were greeting us.
We got served several home made fruit and nut liqueurs, for those interested to taste one of them.
Also a kind of a Turkish coffee and some home baked sweets as seen here.
Hospitality was great!
Hospitality was great!
The actual owners of the home were not there.
Their daughter instead had come, to tell a story about the war era.
She showed us some photos of the house, as it got damaged...
All a very vague story and for both of us it was for sure not the highlight of the trip!
Too much rewriting of history - so why then bother to include it?
This was the house from the outside, to the left I took the earlier photo, it was very much in the shade.
No, Viking River Cruise, you better improve this part!
We got off our bus again near the ancient city walls of the Old Town of Osijek.
We did enter the Watergate, entrance from the old city walls into Old Town, also known as Tvrada the Fortress City right on the bank of the River Drava.
A unique 18th century Baroque military, administrative and commercial urban center! Click on the above link for more info.
In the distance you already see the St. Michael the Archangel Church steeples.
We first walked to the 18th Century Church of the Raising Holy Cross, which contains a wealth of Baroque ornamentation inside. It is also a Franciscan Monastery.
Don't let the simple exterior trick you!
Location in Fortress Tvrada where the Church of the Raising of the Holy Cross is situated, close to the River Drava.
Indeed very much baroque style inside; look at this altar!
My photos cannot give a true impression of this Church of the Raising of the Holy Cross Osijek, Croatia interior but click on its name for some quality images.
This all is proof that architects, builders, artists and composers had enormous love for their Creator! Almost heavenly...
We all enjoyed here a lovely flute concert!
This 18th Century Church has been build atop the Three-Nave Basilica -- 14th Century
Three-Nave Basilica old remains...
Viking did not write much about this Included Tour and even misspelled on their website the 'Rising' of the Holy Cross Church... instead of the correct RAISING!
The very same 'Rising' in their brochure... instead of RAISING!
But anyway, we did enjoy a lovely flute concert while being at this Raising of the Holy Cross Church!
Now back to the St. Michael the Archangel Church, a beautiful 18th Century Baroque building.
This single-nave Church with two towers was built in 1725-1748 by the Jesuits on the foundations of a Mosque.
For more information, please click the above link and click again...
Shown is Holy Trinity Square of Osijek one of the most attractive ones in Croatia.
You also see Holy Trinity Column that got erected in the military fortress' main square as a monument to protect them from the Plaque.
In 1728 there must have been several victims to a plaque epidemic...
The widow of a general had it erected 1729-1730 after the Black Death took his life.
Pine Marten were brought into the city and they killed off most of the rats that were to blame for the Plaque...
Husband Pieter is standing to the left of that yellow bus in above photo...
Here Pieter is studying the impressive Baroque Architecture and one can tell by the 18th Century cobble stones that this is a well preserved gem in Croatia!
Another fabulous building from 1779 where Pieter is standing in front...
The air was fragrant from all the Linden Blossoms...
They make special honey from it!
Vukovar is a town that got severely damaged during the Balkan Wars...
It is quite shocking for seeing such a sight at present day!
All these Central and Eastern European countries have paid over the ages a very high toll due to many wars between different religions...
Shore Excursion Osijek & Vukovar, some walking via relive.cc
City walk in Osijek Old Town... (not Vukovar!) via relive.cc
Where we walked...
After dinner, with view over the Danube you see the Church of St. Philip and Jacob in Vukovar, Croatia... Bye-bye!
Photo taken in the middle of the Danube River from our Viking Lif
A unique 18th century Baroque military, administrative and commercial urban center! Click on the above link for more info.
In the distance you already see the St. Michael the Archangel Church steeples.
Don't let the simple exterior trick you!
My photos cannot give a true impression of this Church of the Raising of the Holy Cross Osijek, Croatia interior but click on its name for some quality images.
This all is proof that architects, builders, artists and composers had enormous love for their Creator! Almost heavenly...
We all enjoyed here a lovely flute concert!
But anyway, we did enjoy a lovely flute concert while being at this Raising of the Holy Cross Church!
This single-nave Church with two towers was built in 1725-1748 by the Jesuits on the foundations of a Mosque.
For more information, please click the above link and click again...
You also see Holy Trinity Column that got erected in the military fortress' main square as a monument to protect them from the Plaque.
In 1728 there must have been several victims to a plaque epidemic...
The widow of a general had it erected 1729-1730 after the Black Death took his life.
Pine Marten were brought into the city and they killed off most of the rats that were to blame for the Plaque...
Husband Pieter is standing to the left of that yellow bus in above photo...
They make special honey from it!
It is quite shocking for seeing such a sight at present day!
All these Central and Eastern European countries have paid over the ages a very high toll due to many wars between different religions...
Related links:
Walking Osijek - Tourist Video (ENG. Title) - YouTube video about architecture and history!
Fortress-City Tvrda Osijek Croatia - DragonKarlo - YouTube video about the cities gems
Day 4, Kalocsa Baroque Cathedral with Organ Music and Puszta | previous post
Day 3 Departure from Budapest on Viking Lif | previous post
Day 2 Passage to Eastern Europe - Panoramic Budapest | previous post
My 3rd Trip with Husband Pieter to Hungary with stay at Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest | previous post
Day 3 Departure from Budapest on Viking Lif | previous post
Day 2 Passage to Eastern Europe - Panoramic Budapest | previous post
My 3rd Trip with Husband Pieter to Hungary with stay at Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest | previous post
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteyou always have ssen so many nice and wonderful places on your trips with Pieter! Thankk you for sharing all thos great memories with us!
Wishing you and Pieter a gret rest of the week and a lovely weekend ahead!
Love and hugs,
Claudia xo
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteThis was for both of us a new country to visit as will be the coming three on this cruise.
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteich freue mich über deinen interessanten Post.
Alles Liebe
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteDazu schreibe ich auch, zum mitnehmen andere...
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, Some places' charms are easy to see, while others require a little investigation (and viewing of buildings' interiors) to see them at their best. While we accept the notion of ancient ruins and wonder at their former glory, when we see war damage like that at Vukovar, we can only be dismayed at the folly and destructive power of war.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteIndeed some places do require some more in depth searching for finding the best treasures.
This whole journey was a confrontation with the folly of all wars in that region of Europe over many centuries. Anyone who has an interest in true history and has read a lot knows this. People often create hell on earth.
Hugs,
Mariette
St. Michael The Archangel Church is quite eye-catching! Church of the Raising Holy Cross has a simple exterior indeed, but they put lots of detail inside!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Linden honey. The blossoms are beautiful. It would be interesting to try honey made of them :-)
Have a wonderful day, Mariette!
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteYes, the two towers of St. Michael the Archangel Church are so elegant with their onion dome architecture as you find lots already starting in the South of Germany. And of course the color we love as it is the same as our home...
Indeed, how surprising the interior of the Church of the Raising Holy Cross. Like stepping into heaven...
We had not heard, seen or tasted Linden honey before but it is good.
Hugs,
Mariette
Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDearest R's Rue,
DeleteGlad you could travel along!
Hugs,
Mariette
He leído tu comentario en mi blog. Me hubiera gustado escuchar la voz de tu padre, es probable que haya alguna grabación que esté en you tube.
ReplyDeleteSoy una gran aficionada a la música.
Besos
Querida Ventana de Foto,
DeleteHa habido una versión anterior en YouTube, pero que ha sido eliminado por desgracia. Tengo varias cintas de él, pero no puedo encontrar el tiempo para subir a YouTube en este momento. Más tarde tal vez después de terminar un montón de escritura para mi marido Pieter. Voy a hacer una nota para enviarte el enlace si está activado.
Gracias por tu comentario e interés!
Abrazos,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - I have visited several different areas of Croatia but not Tvrada which appears to have some really lovely Baroque architecture to both admire and visit. The Balkan wars were one of many terrible periods in their history, the consequences of which can still be seen and felt today.
ReplyDeleteDearest Rosemary,
DeleteIndeed Tvrada seems to be very much in its original and complete condition and it is worthwhile to visit. Our visit was too short in fact... Better on your own for that aspect.
That area of Europa has suffered tremendous on all sides, over many ages.
Hugs,
Mariette
The churches are beautiful. Sad to see that a house destroyed during the war is still standing, they could have probably rebuilt it or pulled it down. Unless the idea is to show people the ravages of war.
ReplyDeleteDearest Sami,
DeleteThis was such a rich historical city to visit.
As for the Vukovar marked war 'monument' it is there to show people how awful this city looked after the war.
We should never pull it down as people ought to learn from history and God forbid they would repeat things like that.
Hugs,
Mariette