Check out the Christmas magic in Srijem and Slavonia in eastern Croatia

Vinkovci (Photo credit: Julien Duval/HTZ)

Now is a great time to visit Srijem and Slavonia in the east of Croatia. When it comes to sweets and the holiday table, they have no equal, and the baroque centres of Vukovar and Vinkovci are the most beautiful during Advent.

This is the time of year when you can smell baked cakes in the air, when frozen cheeks are warmed by mulled wine, when you enjoy a walk in the magically decorated streets – here are two great reasons to visit Srijem and Slavonia now.

Advent in Vukovar

Vukovat (Photo: Marko Balaži/TZ Grad Vukovar)

Christmas Srijem village, Bethlehem village, countless lamps, decorated pine trees and Advent houses with fine dishes and mulled wine, concerts, performances and – of course – a 600 square metre skating rink. The real holiday “happening” with a view of the Danube has begun.

The traditional Advent in Vukovar is in the most beautiful park in the city at Eltz castle until December 24 this year. The ornate Orangery Gallery within the castle is turning into a corner of Santa Claus, a place of great entertainment and educational workshops for kids. Every Advent weekend, a Christmas fair awaits with local producers and inexhaustible inspiration for gifts.

Eltz castle (Photo credit: Marko Balaži/TZ Grad Vukovar)

Take a Christmas carriage ride to the city promenade, take photos with the nutcrackers who guard the famous Grand Hotel, one of the most beautiful baroque buildings in the city and do not miss the view from the Vukovar Water Tower and visit the Museum of Vučedol Culture, purely for your soul.

And a special experience awaits on the last weekend of Advent. Then hundreds of lanterns with beautiful wishes will illuminate the sky above the Danube.

Advent in Vinkovci

Advent in Vinkovci (TZ Vinkovci)

Christmas carols resound in the city on the Bosut river this year for 44 days. Advent, which lasts until January 8, traditionally began with the lighting of the first Advent candle on a large wreath around the Holy Trinity Monument in the heart of the city park. A step away from the Vinkovci promenade decorated with thousands of lamps and with the largest Christmas tree in town.

This year’s centre of the event moved to a new address, so the Ice Orion was replaced by Bajka on Bosut on Franjo Tuđman Square. There, to the delight of the little ones, on Saturday, December 11, a circular skating rink of about fifty square meters will open, and in its centre is the house of Santa Claus with a wish box to which a wooden bridge leads. Irresistible scents spread from a dozen Advent houses, and there is also a souvenir shop with jam, essential oils, honey, candlesticks, nuts from eight local producers.

Vinkovci (Photo credit: Julien Duval/HTZ)

The Christmas Fair awaits you every day from 16 to 24 December, and a special experience this year is the traditional Advent concert on 12 December at the windows of the Vinkovci Gymnasium in the city centre.

(Photo: TZ Nijemci)

Take the opportunity, walk along the banks of the Bosut to the old Krnjaš with the birthplace of Ivan Kozarac, visit the Vinkovci City Museum where Vinkovci’s Orion is kept and treat yourself to famous Slavonian specialties in one of Vinkovci’s restaurants. This is the time of year when calories don’t count. If you are for excursions, we suggest Županja and Nijemci who will welcome you during Advent with concerts, delicious snacks and mulled wine.

Nijemci (TZ Nijemci)