Vukovar Water Tower: ‘From functionless facility to world-class attraction’

(Photo credit: Grad Vukovar)

It has been one year now since the newly restored Vukovar Water Tower reopened its doors and gave everyone the opportunity to view from the proudest place in Croatia.

After 29 years, the Vukovar Water Tower – a symbol of Croatian unity – was restored and officially opened on October 30, 2020. 

In its first year of operation, a total of 82,577 local and international tourists visited the Vukovar Water Tower, Grad Vukovar confirmed.

The Mayor of the City of Vukovar, Ivan Penava, spoke about the results of the past year, emphasising that the Vukovar Water Tower is the best example of what Croatia can look like.

“The indicators confirm the correctness of our idea, vision and determination, which we are extremely proud of. Once a functionless facility, today the Vukovar Water Tower is a world-class attraction that was visited by 82,577 visitors in its first year of operation, despite the unfavourable circumstances that affected Croatia and the world. Also, it is a company that earned 4.5 million kuna in the same period and employs 23 people from Vukovar,” said Penava.

The reconstruction of the 50-meter-high water tower, which has become a reminder of the tribulations of Vukovar during its siege and fall in 1991, started in May 2017.

(Photo credit: Grad Vukovar)

Earlier this year, the Vukovar Water Tower became a member of the World Federation of Great Towers, joining the famous towers such as the Empire State Building, Burj Khalifa, The Shard, Eiffel Tower and many others.

“Since March 2021, by joining the World Federation of Great Towers, this Vukovar giant has become one of the largest and most famous towers in the world, which has additionally attracted and interested foreign visitors from France, Germany, Hungary, Austria, and the ambassadors of India. Canada, Poland, Great Britain, Ireland”, explained the director of the Vukovar Water Tower Darijan Zeko.

(Photo: Grad Vukovar)

The complete reconstruction and conservation of the tower, which included a memorial room, cost HRK 46 million, and of that amount HRK 36 million has been raised through donations. During the project, 640 holes on the edifice which were the result of the shelling of the Yugoslav Army and Serb paramilitary forces in 1991, were preserved. 

(Photo: Grad Vukovar)

(Photo: Grad Vukovar)

The tower is seen as the symbol of the resistance during the Homeland War as it did not fall down during strong artillery attacks.

The Vukovar Water Tower – a symbol of Croatian unity – will be open Vukovar Remembrance Day on November 18, 2021 from 9 am to 9 pm, in accordance with all prescribed epidemiological measures.