Without a doubt, the most attractive tourist destination in Slavonia and Baranja is the well known Nature Park Kopački Rit . It is a vast flooded area on the right bank of the Danube in a huge corner created by the Drava and Danube. More than 2,000 biological species reside in it, of which many rare and endangered species at a world and European level. Among these are 291 bird species and 44 fish species. In 1993 Kopački rit was listed among the list of internationally significant wetlands. The employees of the Public institution Nature Park Kopački rit take tourists on tours of the wetlands in specially constructed tourist boats with professional guides.

A visit to the Tikveš castles within the Nature Park in the hundred year old oak forest is also recommended, a favourite gathering place of many statesmen and famous personalities of times gone by, whose spirit even today rules over this area. After war time devastation, the Tikveš Castle complex has been renovated and is now the European environment centre in which a variety of programmes centred around friendly relationships with nature take place. Here too is the bio-ecological station intended for research and environmental protection and rooms with accommodation with a total of 26 beds.

In the restaurant which operates in the Tikveš complex, tourists can taste many fish, fish-soup and carp and wild game specialties. And for desert, there are homemade Slavonian cakes – poppy seed or walnut strudel. Also nearby is the restaurant “Kormoran” which also offers fish and wild game specialties. The forests of Kopački rit and all of Baranja are under the management of the Public Company Hrvatske Šume that organise deer and wild boar hunting. There are about five to seven thousand wild deer in the Kopački rit and here the most trophied deer in Europe have been shot.

Since 1999, Slavonia and Baranja also have another Nature Park Papuk (www.pp-papuk.hr). This is a Slavonian mountain range with numerous natural pearls, hundred year old forests and mountain lakes and streams.

Cultural-historical heritage…
Slavonia and Baranja abounds with especially rich architectural heritage – castles and fortresses. A special place belongs to a castle with a wine cellar in Kutjevo (www.tzzps.hr) which was part of the one time Jesuit estate. The castle in Donji Miholjac (www.tz-donjimiholjac.hr) was constructed at the beginning of the last century in hunter’s style and represents a unique facility of its kind in Croatia and this part of Europe. The castle in Bilje which was left by Eugen Savojski (www.tzo-bilje.hr) was constructed in Vienna style. The Counts of Pejačević left their castle in Virovitica, Našice (www.tzosbarzup.hr) and Osijek (www.tzosijek.hr) as inheritance for new generations. In the one in Našice, which is one of the most beautiful, the diva of Croatian music Dora Pejačević composed music and a memorial room for her is open for visitors. Here too is the baroque castle of the Counts Noraman-Prandau in Valpovo with it park (www.tzosbarzup.hr/gradovi/valpovo.htm).

The castle of the powerful family Eltz in Vukovar (www.tzvsz.hr ) has only begun to be renovated after great war time devastation in the Homeland war, however even in the state it is now it still actively lives gathering together museum treasures of its region, special archaeological remains of Vučedol culture which is exalted by the Vučedol dove. The castle of the family Odescalchi in Ilok should also not be missed including its wine cellar and next to which are the most preserved authentic Turkish remains – Turkish domed burial sites and Turkish baths

Slavonia also has in its heritage holds two exceptionally worthy baroque fortresses: in Osijek (www.tzosijek.hr) and Slavonski Brod (www.tzgsb.hr). The Osijek Fortress represents a successful blend of military and civil administration and sacral architecture. In its central square is dominated by the building of the General-barracks from 1726 with the most magnificent baroque stone portal in Croatia and votive monument to the plague which along with the one in Požega (www.pozega-tz.hr), is the only such votive monument of its kind in Croatia. The Brod fortress, built during the Hapsburg Empire even today, renovated, lives in its original shape. This is the largest fortress in its time with the largest central building whose system of forts ins Slavonia ensured uninterrupted peace for a whole two and a half centuries.

Cultural manifestations…
Slavonia and Baranja abound with numerous cultural manifestations. At the end of July or at the beginning of August in Đakovo, the Archdiocesan centre of the Đakovo and Srijem archdiocese has traditionally for more than four decades organised the Đakovački vezovi (folklore festival), at which hundreds of cultural-artistic societies throughout Croatia and abroad portray their creativity. Especially interesting is the parade of all the participants dressed in national dress and accompanying horse-drawn carts that pass through the centre of the city with tens of thousands of onlookers. At the beginning of September in Vinkovci the traditional, folk festival Vinkovačke jeseni (Vinkovci autumn festival) are held. The City of Valpovo every year holds the Ljeto Valpovačko (Valpovo summer festival). Donji Miholjac, has the Miholjačko sijelo, while Našice during summer (middle of June) hold the Days of Croatian Forests. Požega traditionally organises the Zlatne žice Slavonije (Golden strings of Slavonia). Similar manifestations of folk creation are also organised in other Slavonian towns and even smaller places. Especially interesting, at the end of August every year the Olimpijada starih športova (Olympics of Old Sports) in Brođanicima near Osijek are held where competitors compete in nearly forgotten sporting games of Slavonian shepherds and villagers (www.tzosbarzup.hr).