Pleasures of the East

The months (and as things turned out, maybe even a few years) during which the desire for activity and travel continuously encounters various corona-barriers, are an ideal opportunity for an optimistic "glass half full" approach. If we can no longer travel and do all the things we used to be able to do, in the way we used to be able to do it, let's stop for a while and think of another way. For example, what are all the options of escaping into nature and interesting recreational activities at our disposal? Searching for answers, we took a peek into a region that is still too rarely looked into - and it is largely because of that it is interesting - Slavonia and Baranja.

Just two hours from Zagreb, this region with a rich history and wide vistas offers a number of opportunities for an active and creative stay in nature and an authentic Pannonian ambience. If you settle, for example, in Osijek, a destination that combines the comfort and availability of city amenities with the tranquility and cleanliness of a small environment, you will have a diverse offer of active day trips at your fingertips. About twenty minutes from the city center, you will be able to immerse yourself (almost literally) in the pristine nature of Kopački rit. In the time of virtual "schools" and all-day "nerd-out", a walk or a boat ride through this magical nature park will be like a lesson in nature and society at one of the world's National Geographic locations.

A visit to the Street of Forgotten Time in Karanac, or the traditional pottery workshop in Suza (a village with a mystical name and equal beauty) will have a similar effect. All those who consider family trips as an opportunity for active socializing, learning about natural values and trying out unusual skills, will come to their own in these places.

If a few bicycles or a walking stick are placed on the roof of your tin pet (or you would "rent" them in the field), the landscape without dramatic climbs and heights is the right place for their "spring baptism". In addition to the Danube cycling route, in the area of Osijek-Baranja County you can also find a number of hidden hiking-cycling-educational pearls, among which the Našice geo-path should be highlighted, an educational route through the (mountainous) surroundings of Našice and its natural and historical attractions (e.g. here there is the church of St. Martin, the only preserved Templar building in Croatia). In a tamer landscape without a lot of curves, the Podravska pedestrian path is located through the untouched landscape of the Drava near Belišće and Bistrinci, while in the far east of the County you can dust your shoes or pedals on the impressive Danube pedestrian path (due to the rich food and wine offer, here, as on the Našice path , adult family members can also come to their own).

Who loves animals (and who in the family doesn't?), will not miss a visit to the famous Đakovo Lipizzaner stud, one of the oldest in Europe. A series of guided programs and workshops here will, in addition to the impressive heritage, bring you closer to nature and life in the Slavonian-Baranja countryside. Speaking of which, the fact that we have placed our "base" in Osijek, does not mean that you cannot place yours in one of the typical small rural areas. Today, a whole series of them make up their own destinations, i.e. places where you can rent traditional family holiday homes, rooms in peasant households or boutique hotels at affordable prices. From them you can then explore a narrower or wider area, at the same time enjoying the quality gastronomic offer and the traditional skills of hospitable hosts. Rush in and enjoy!