Vukovar

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**Vukovar**
Coat of arms
Latitude	45.35°N
Longitude	18.99°E
Mayor	Tomislav Šota
Surface (km²)	?
Population (2006)	29,440 [1]
Time zone (UTC)	UTC+1 Central European Time

Vukovar

Vukovar on the map of Croatia

Vukovar is a city in eastern Croatia, and the biggest river port in Croatia located at the confluence of the Vuka river into the Danube. Vukovar is the center of the Vukovar-Srijem county. The city's registered population was 30,126 in the 2001 census, up to 31,670 in the municipality.The name Vukovar means the town on the river Vuka ( Vuko - river Vuka, var - town in hungarian).

1 Geography
2 Economy
3 Cultural heritage
4 Vukovar during the Croatian War of Independence
5 Demographics
6 Education
7 Famous people from Vukovar
8 Twin cities
9 External links

[edit] Geography

It is located 20 km east of Vinkovci, 36 km southeast of Osijek with the elevation of 108 m. Vukovar is located on the main road (M7) Osijek—Vukovar—Ilok and on the Vinkovci—Vukovar railway.

[edit] Economy

Vukovar is the largest Croatian town and river port on the Danube. Its economy is based on trade,farming, viticulture, livestock breeding, textile and food-processing industry, footwear industry and tourism.

[edit] Cultural heritage

A restored wooden building

Among a number of attractive buildings, severely damaged in the recent war, the most interesting are the Eltz Manor of the Eltz noble family from 18th century, Baroque buildings in the centre of the town, the Franciscan monastery, the parish church of St. James, the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas, the birth house of the Nobel prize winner Lavoslav Ružička, etc. Since 1998 and peaceful reintegration under Croatian control, many buildings have been rebuilt, but there are many ruins still in the town.

Outside the town, on the banks of the Danube toward Ilok, lies a notable archaeological site, Vučedol. The ritual vessel called the Vučedol Dove (vučedolska golubica) is considered the symbol of Vukovar. Vučedol is also a well-known excursion destination, frequented by anglers and bathers, especially the beautiful sand beach on Orlov Otok (Eagle's Island).

Sports and recreational opportunities are provided at the attractive confluence of the Vuka river into the Danube, on the promenades along the Danube and maintained beaches. Bathing is possible in the summer months. Angling is very popular both on the Vuka and the Danube (catfish, European perch, carp, pike, sterlet).

[edit] Vukovar during the Croatian War of Independence

Vukovar's main street

The water tower in Vukovar, 2005. Heavily damaged in the battle, it has been preserved as a symbol of the town's suffering.

Main article: Battle of Vukovar

Vukovar was completely devastated during the Croatian War of Independence. The town with no army had for months warded off the JNA-supported Serb paramilitary attacks on the city. 2,000 self-organised defenders (the army of Croatia was still in an embryonic stage at that time) defended the city for approximately 87 days when it was eventually overrun, with the city destroyed almost beyond recognition. It is estimated that 2,000 defenders of Vukovar and civilians were killed, 800 went missing and 22,000 were forced into exile. Serb forces rounded up the wounded who were unable to flee the Vukovar Hospital and took them to Ovcara, where they were executed. This war crime was the subject of an indictment and ongoing trial at the ICTY in the Hague [[2]].

Vukovar is notorious for the devastation it suffered, the worst in Europe since the WWII, whilst the defence of Vukovar is famous among military analysts with comparisons made to the siege of Stalingrad. The watertower riddled with bullet holes, was retained by city planners to serve as a testimony to the events of the early 1990's.

On 18 November 2006 approximately 25,000 people from all over the country gathered in Vukovar for the 15th anniversary of the fall of the city, where they commemorated those who were killed. A museum dedicated to the siege was opened in the basement of the hospital that was attacked, which has now been rebuilt.[3]

[edit] Demographics

Vukovar municipality within Vukovar-Syrmia County

In the period 1948-1991 Vukovar's population increased quickly due to industrial development. Primarily it was immigration that fed the growth in the Vukovar region and in the town particularly. The population structure changed significantly too as the number of Serbs went up considerably compared to the Croat populace. The region's population distribution changed notably too when the town of Ilok became the second largest town in the region. The Croats were in the majority in most villages and in the region's eastern part, whereas the Serbs dominated in northwest. Serbs moved to Vukovar from Kordun, Banija, Lika, and Bosnia and Herzegovina but Vukovar still had a Croatian plurality in 1991, when Croats made up 43% of the population and Serbs 37%.It is necessary to tell that Vukovar's population had 28 nations before the war. In 2001, Croats accounted for 57.5% and Serbs 32.9%. [4]Particularly since the war in Croatia, much of the native Croat population has moved to other areas of Croatia or emigrated to Western Europe (notably Germany) or Australia and many Serbs have either moved to Serbia or to Canada and Western Europe.

[edit] Education

Vukovar has seven primary schools and five high schools (including one gymnasium and one music school). The city is also home to the Lavoslav Ružička polytechnic, which offers study opportunities in the fields of economics and trade, law and kinesitherapy. Additionally, the University of Split runs dislocated studies in information technology, economics and law in Vukovar. Similarly, the University of Osijek offers programmes in economics and law.

[edit] Famous people from Vukovar

Lavoslav Ružička - Nobel winner in chemistry
Niki Leinso - singer and songwriter

[edit] Twin cities

Dubrovnik - Croatia

[edit] External links

edit	Towns and municipalities of Vukovar-Syrmia County
Towns: Ilok • Vinkovci • **Vukovar^*** • Županja Municipalities: Andrijaševci • Babina Greda • Bogdanovci • Borovo • Bošnjaci • Cerna • Drenovci • Gradište • Gunja • Ivankovo • Jarmina • Lovas • Markušica • Negoslavci • Nijemci • Nuštar • Otok • Privlaka • Stari Jankovci • Stari Mikanovci • Tompojevci • Tordinci • Tovarnik • Trpinja • Vođinci • Vrbanja * - county seat