...and I’ve been called to forge the crown of Croatia’s King Tomislav. The story of a craft is a special experience, tourists love to witness forging, fire, sparks, hammer blows, and hear how it's all done.

Are you the kind of tourist who doesn’t just bring home souvenirs but also one-of-a-kind experiences or even a new skill? In that case, the Vinković Master Blacksmith Workshop, run by Franjo Vinković is the place for you.

The only master blacksmith in Osijek-Baranja County and one of just six in all of Croatia is also the only one who does restoration work. His smithy is sustainable and alive with tradition and craft. Between the fire, hammer, and metal, you’ll witness a display of strength that instantly transforms into surgical precision. A brute and an artist. A unique experience — unlike anything else offered in the city, and yet perfectly in sync with Đakovo’s landmarks: the cathedral, the State Stud Farm, the Bishop’s Palace, and the Strossmayer Park. If you stop for one of his handcrafted items you can observe the forging process, learn about this ancient craft, and even try your hand at shaping metal into a functional or artistic object.

How did a city kid end up in a nearly extinct trade?

- I love blacksmithing. It’s a blend of the old and the new, manual labor and physical strength. And yet, under the heavy hammer, even the most delicate objects are born — like the bouquet of flowers I forged for my master’s exam in 2007. In the smithy, you face history every day, from the discovery of fire and metal. These are primal materials, with no harm to nature. And that’s the balance — sustainability. It feels good to know that thanks to me, this ancient craft isn’t dying out, and that my workshop has become a destination for those who want to witness something unique and leave with a completely new experience. I do both agricultural and artistic blacksmithing, as well as restoration.

How did you turn blacksmithing into an authentic tourism story?

- Tourists are most intrigued by the story itself and our work as blacksmiths. There are so few of us left, and we’re living reminders of the past. My smithy is real life — no apps, no gimmicks. Tourists enjoy the interaction. The fire, the hammering, the sparks all make for an unforgettable experience. My approach is educational, but I also demonstrate my skills and even let visitors try shaping the metal themselves.

If tourists wanted something from your workshop, what would you present or make for them?

- My license allows me to teach through demonstrations, and I’ve run many workshops at festivals, fairs, and museums. I make a variety of items to order — nothing is impossible to forge from metal. I’ve crafted pieces inspired by the Đakovo Cathedral, the Lipizzaner horses, traditional headscarves and hats, swords… To mark the 1100^th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom and King Tomislav’s coronation, I’ve been invited to lead workshops making replicas of his crown and early Croatian swords. I’ve made Templar swords, Roman spatha replicas for the Vinkovci City Museum’s Roman Days, and sickles in collaboration with the Đakovo Heritage Museum. I’ve even been asked to restore wooden chests for the Međimurje Museum in Čakovec. My metalwork can be seen all around Đakovo.

The Ministry of Culture gave you permanent authorization for working on immovable cultural heritage...

- That opened doors to work on historical and sacral buildings and museums. I’m currently restoring the metal parts on windows for the Archdiocese of Đakovo-Osijek. I’ve worked on the cathedral crypt’s fence, the fencing in front of the Bishop’s Palace, made a new fence for the Strossmayer Park, and handled various museum orders. My craftsmanship extends beyond my smithy, adding value to my shop and my tourist offering..

Đakovo is also the city of Lipizzaner horses — and the relationship of horses and blacksmiths is everlasting…

- Absolutely. It’s a connection rooted in the history of this craft and horses. In addition to horseshoes as souvenirs, I also make branding irons used at the Stud Farm. Can there be a more beautiful tourism story than that of the historic bond between blacksmithing and horses, as seen in Đakovo?

Your craft is also a story about family, right?

- Yes. Out of my four sons, two are following in my footsteps. Goran is a second-year mechanical engineering student, while Franjo trained to become a blacksmith and we work together. It’s fulfilling to see my sons envision their future in the forge. Visitors love the fact that this is a family, craft, and tourism story — and that the blacksmith’s fire won’t die with me.

Facebook: Majstorski kovački obrt "Vinković"- Đakovo

Written by: Suzana Župan