View source for Osijek

{{redirect|Mursa|the genus of moths|Mursa (moth)|the barbel species|Luciobarbus mursa|the infection|MRSA}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Osijek
| official_name      = ''Grad Osijek''<br /> City of Osijek
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities and towns in Croatia|City]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| perrow = 1/2/3/2
| total_width = 275
| align = center
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Tvrđa pogled.jpg
| caption1 = [[Tvrđa]]
| image2 = Trg sv. Trojstva Osijek.jpg
| caption2 = [[Palace of Slavonian General Command]]
| image3 = Arheološki muzej Osijek.jpg
| caption3 = [[The City Guard in Osijek|The City Guard]]
| image4 = Crkva sv. Mihaela Osijek.jpg
| caption4 = [[Church of Saint Michael, Osijek|Saint Michael Church]]
| image5 = Zgrada Sekulić-Plavšić.jpg
| caption5 = [[European Avenue]]
| image6 = Konkatedrala sv. Petra i Pavla Osijek 1.jpg
| caption6 = [[Osijek Co-cathedral]]
| image7 = Trg Ante Starčevića.jpg
| caption7 = [[Ante Starčević Square]]
| image8 = Pješački most Osijek.jpg
| caption8 = [[Pedestrian bridge (Osijek)|Pedestrian bridge]]
}}
| image_flag         = Flag of Osijek.svg
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Osijek.svg
| nicknames           = ''Grad na Dravi'' (City on Drava), ''Nepokoreni grad'' (Unconquered City)
| pushpin_map        = Croatia Osijek-Baranja County#Croatia#Balkans#Europe
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Osijek in Croatia
| coordinates        = {{coord|45|33|20|N|18|41|40|E|region:HR|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Croatia]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Counties of Croatia|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Osijek-Baranja]]
| established_title  =
| established_date   =
| government_type    =
| leader_party       = [[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Ivan Radić
| leader_title1      = City Council
| leader_name1       = {{Collapsible list
|title   = 31 members
|frame_style= border: none; padding: 0;
|list_style=text-align:left;display:none;
|1     =• {{Color box|{{party color|Croatian Democratic Union}}|border=darkgray}} [[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]], [[Anto Đapić|NL Ante Đapića]], [[Active Independent Pensioners|ANU]] (14)
|2     =• {{Color box|{{party color|Homeland Movement (Croatia)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Homeland Movement (Croatia)|DP]], [[The Bridge (Croatia)|Most]] (6)
|3     =• {{Color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Croatia}}|border=darkgray}} [[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|SDP]] (6)
|4     =• {{Color box|{{party color|We can! (Croatia)}}|border=darkgray}} [[We Can! (Croatia)|Možemo!]] (2)
|5     =• {{Color box|{{party color|Strength of Slavonia and Baranja}}|border=darkgray}} [[Strength of Slavonia and Baranja|Snaga SiB]] (2)
|6     =• {{Color box|{{party color|Croatian People's Party - Liberal Democrats}}|border=darkgray}} [[Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats|HNS]], [[Croatian Peasant Party|HSS]], [[People's Party – Reformists|NS-R]] (1)
}}
| leader_title3      = [[Croatian Parliament electoral districts|Electoral district]]
| leader_name3       = [[Electoral district IV (Croatian Parliament)|IV]]
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite Q|Q119585703|mode=cs1}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 174.9
| area_urban_km2     = 59.1
| elevation_m        = 94
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2021">{{Croatian Census 2021|S}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = 2021
| population_total   = 96313
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 75535
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| timezone           = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| timezone_DST       = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset         = +1
| utc_offset_DST     = +2
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal codes in Croatia|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 31000
| area_code          = 31
| registration_plate = [[Vehicle registration plates of Croatia|OS]]
| blank1_name        = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank1_info        = [[Oceanic climate|Cfb]]
| website            = {{URL|osijek.hr}}
}}
'''Osijek''' ({{IPA-hr|ôsijeːk|hr|hr-Osijek.ogg}}) is the [[List of cities and towns in Croatia|fourth-largest city]] in [[Croatia]], with a population of 96,848 in 2021.<ref name="census2011"/> It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of [[Slavonia]], as well as the administrative centre of [[Osijek-Baranja County]]. Osijek is on the right bank of the [[Drava]] River, {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} upstream of its [[confluence]] with the [[Danube]], at an elevation of {{convert|94|m|ft|abbr=on}}.
==Name==
The name was given to the city due to its position on elevated ground, which prevented the city being flooded by the local swamp waters. Its name ''Osijek'' derives from the [[Croatian language|Croatian]] word ''oseka'' '[[wikt:Ebb tide|ebb tide]]'. Due to its history within the [[Habsburg monarchy]] and briefly in the [[Ottoman Empire]], as well as the presence of German, Hungarian, and Serbian minorities throughout its history, Osijek has (or had) its names in other languages: [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]: ''Eszék'', {{langx|de|link=no|Essek}}, {{lang|de|Esseg}}, or {{lang|de|Essegg}}, {{langx|la|Essek}},{{Verify source|date=August 2024}} {{langx|tr|Ösek}},<ref name="Özgüven-2010">{{Cite journal|last=Özgüven |first=Burcu |year=2010 |title=A Convention Centre on the International Road: The Osijek Fair During the Ottoman Period [Uluslararasi Güzergah Üzerinde Bir Ticari Merkez: Osmanli Döneminde Ösek Panayiri] |journal=Alternatif Politika |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=1–17 |url=https://alternatifpolitika.com/site/dosyalar/arsiv/4-Nisan-2010/1.burcu-ozguven.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423013246/http://alternatifpolitika.com/site/dosyalar/arsiv/4-Nisan-2010/1.burcu-ozguven.pdf |archive-date=23 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and {{langx|en|Esseck}}.<ref>{{Cite dictionary|title=Mursa or Mursĭa |last=Lewis|first=Charlton T.|dictionary=A Latin Dictionary|year=1879|publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford, England|isbn=978-0-19-864201-5|pages=1178|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3DMursa }}</ref>
Its Roman name was ''Aelia Mursa'', ''Mursa'', and later ''Mursa Major'',<ref>{{Cite dictionary|title=Mursa or Múrsia (Μοῦρσα, Μουρσία) |date=1854 |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=William |dictionary=Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography |location=London |publisher=Walton and Maberly |url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0064%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DM%3Aentry+group%3D14%3Aentry%3Dmursa-geo }}</ref> which may be a form of the pre-existing name. Etymologically, ''mursa'' may be a variant of ''Moras'' from the [[Proto-Indo-European]] word ''*móri'' 'sea, marshland' (cf. [[Wiktionary:morass|morass]]),<ref>{{Cite journal|first=Mayer |last=Antun |year=1935 |title=Ime Mursa |journal=Vjesnik Arheološkog Muzeja U Zagrebu |volume=16|issue=1 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/76828 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618220907/http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/76828 |archive-date=18 June 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Leleković-2017">{{Cite book|last=Leleković |first=Tino |year=2017 |chapter=Hadrian and Mursa: The last colony |editor-last=Láng  |editor-first=Orsolya |title=Hadrianus MCM: Proceedings of the International Conference on the Occasion of the 1900th Anniversary of the Emperor Hadrian's Accession to the Throne |location=Budapest |publisher=Budapest History Museum |pages=83–98, page 84 |isbn=978-615-5341-92-2 |url=https://www.academia.edu/105457980 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> or it may come from the root ''mur'' 'wall', indicating a fortified place.<ref>{{Cite dictionary|title=murus |dictionary= Logion |publisher=University of Chicago |url=https://logeion.uchicago.edu/murus }}</ref>
==History==
===Origins===
The origins of human habitation in the Osijek area date back to [[Neolithic]] times,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Obelić |first1=Bogomil |last2=Škrivanko |first2=Marija Krznarić |last3=Marijan |first3=Boško |last4=Bronić |first4=Ines Krajcar |year=2004 |title=Radiocarbon dating of Sopot culture sites (Late Neolithic) in eastern Croatia |journal=Radiocarbon |volume=46 |issue=1 |pages=245–258 |doi=10.1017/S0033822200039564 |bibcode=2004Radcb..46..245O |url=https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/radiocarbon/article/download/4265/3690 }}</ref> with the first known inhabitants belonging to the [[Illyrians]] and, in the second
half of the fourth century BC, invading [[Celts|Celtic]] tribes, the Scordisci.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dizdar |first=Marko |year=2014 |chapter=Bronze belt from Osijek |editor-last1=Guštin |editor-first1=Mitja |editor-last2=David |editor-first2=Wolfgang |title=The Clash of Cultures? The Celts and the Macedonian World |series=Schriften des kelten römer museums manching 9 |location=Manching |publisher=Kelten Römer Museums |page=189–200, page 189 |isbn=978-3-9812891-8-3 |url=https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/64645407/2014_Gustin__David_eds._The_Clash_of_Cultures-libre.pdf?1602351158=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DGUSTIN_M_DAVID_W_eds_The_Clash_of_Cultur.pdf&Expires=1722528333&Signature=IdYqSsvRTn3LE7gPN3i-Wmk6k1Q4JtSuiCj5XbjL5VVP8-Ub-R1nkdk-WUp7NTq98n9ptZ8istFAx0Agp7t1ncXOYXioklvSNG0XZAtzWYywJ0zaDJ6NTTXy5tALN1weeQpUW0VETvKpiELhzqddN0~ClZEmODACWKvTX0MC6vUfl9ONE7Ezmc~SmkgqLNDudeq4cCwPUSjTLeR6o5bQ51CmCfYPScLfZxOnAuGawESyVwNXk8CD6Zq76v4un4SKbE3rZP4sDZqTSgPbLy6shyBCrkQ8jTG4SX37uucJJwRcnYXmvr6sZvrHqIkQBJQa2brAmP3lKUZ~nKl57sG~Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA#page=183 }}</ref>
After the conquest of [[Pannonia (Roman province)|Pannonia]], Osijek, known at the time as ''Mursa'', was under the administration and protection of the [[Legio VII Gemina|Roman 7th legion]], which maintained a military [[castrum]] at the colony and a bridge over the river [[Drava]]. There is evidence that the [[Roman emperor]] [[Hadrian]] established the settlement from scratch,<ref name="Leleković-2017" /> regardless he raised  Mursa to the status of a [[Roman colony|colony]] with special privileges in 133. After that, Mursa had a turbulent history, with several decisive battles taking place at its immediate proximity, among which the most notable are the battle between [[Aureolus]] and [[Ingenuus]] in 260<ref>260 C.E. is the more generally accepted date, although some sources support the date of 258. See the detailed discussion at {{Cite encyclopedia|last=Leadbetter |first=William |date=24 September 1998 |title=Ingenuus (260 A.D.) |encyclopedia=De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors |url=http://www.roman-emperors.org/ingen.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124143657/http://www.roman-emperors.org/ingen.htm |archive-date=24 January 2012 |url-status=dead }} ''citing, inter alia,'' {{Cite book|last=Drinkwater |first=John |year=1987 |title=The Gallic Empire: Separatism and continuity in the north-western provinces of the Roman Empire A.D. 260 - 274 |series=Historia Einzelschriften #52 |location=Stuttgart |publisher=Steiner |pages=104–105 |isbn=3-515-04806-5 }}</ref> and the especially brutal and bloody [[Battle of Mursa Major]] in 351. These battles, especially the latter one, had long-term consequences for the colony and the region, which was already under ever-increasing pressure from the invading [[Goths]] and other invading tribes. After the [[fall of the Western Roman Empire]] and the destruction of local tribes by Avar Kaghanate in sixth century, this area was resettled by Slavic tribes.
The earliest recorded mention of Osijek dates back to 1196.<ref name="Stallaerts2010">{{cite book|last=Stallaerts|first=Robert|title=Historical dictionary of Croatia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NSjRbIz4iDkC&pg=PA239|access-date=15 October 2011|date=28 February 2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-6750-5|page=239}}</ref> The town was a feudal property of Kórógyi family between 1353 and 1472.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Middle Ages |work=City of Osijek: History |publisher=City of Osijek |year=2010 |url=http://www.osijek.hr/en/content/view/full/3373 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008174813/http://www.osijek.hr/en/content/view/full/3373 |archive-date=8 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the death of the last Kórógyi, King [[Matthias Corvinus]] granted it to the Rozgonyi family. The city was almost completely destroyed by the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] army on 8 August 1526,<ref name="Stallaerts2010" /> just before the [[Battle of Mohács]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Setton |first=Kenneth Meyer |year=1976 |title=The Papacy and the Levant, 1204–1571 |location= |publisher=American Philosophical Society |volume=3 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=EgQNAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA249 249] |isbn=978-0-87169-161-3 }}</ref> It was invested with a Turkish garrison in 1529.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mažuran |first=Ive |year=1958 |title=Turska osvajanja u Slavoniji (1526–1552) |trans-title=Turkish conquests in Slavonia (1526–1552) |language=hr |journal=Osječki zbornik |volume=6 |pages=93–134, pages 114–115 |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/449628535/Ive-Ma%C5%BEuran-Turska-Osvajanja-u-Slavoniji }}</ref> The Turks rebuilt it in [[Ottoman architecture|Ottoman oriental style]] and it was mentioned in the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] census of 1579.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jelinic |first=Srecko |year=2002 |title=Popis Sandžaka Požega — 1579 |trans-title=Register of Sandzak Pozega from 1579 |language=hr |journal=Pravni Vjesnik |volume=18 |pages=337–338 |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/pravnivjsk18&div=15&id=&page= }}</ref> In 1566, [[Suleiman the Magnificent]] built a famous, 8-km-long wooden bridge of boats in Osijek, considered at that time to be one of the wonders of the world.<ref name="DorlingZopp2011">{{cite book|last1=Dorling|first1=Kindersley|last2=Zopp|first2=Leandro|title=DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Croatia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KTFWUPUEo7YC&pg=PA189|access-date=15 October 2011|date=6 June 2011|publisher=Dorling Kindersley Ltd|isbn=978-1-4053-6071-5|page=189}}</ref> In Ottoman Empire, Osijek was part of the [[Sanjak of Pojega]], [[Budin Province, Ottoman Empire|Budin Eyalet]], and became a commercial center as an important conduit for East-West trade.<ref name="Özgüven-2010" />
Following the [[Battle of Mohács (1687)|Second Battle of Mohács]] in 1687, Osijek was taken by the Habsburg monarchy on 29 September 1687, after more than 150 years of Ottoman rule.<ref name=Osijek-history>{{cite web|title=Osijek after the Turks |work=City of Osijek: History |publisher=City of Osijek |year=2010 |url=http://www.osijek.hr/en/content/view/full/3374 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008174818/http://www.osijek.hr/en/content/view/full/3374 |archive-date=8 October 2013 }}</ref>
[[File:Battle of Osijek in 1685 (Romeyn de Hooghe, 1687).png|thumb|left|Battle of Osijek, fought on 11 August 1685 between the [[Imperial Army (Holy Roman Empire)|Imperial Habsburg army]], commanded by James, 2nd Count Leslie, and the [[Ottoman Empire|Turks]], resulting in an Habsburg victory]]
[[File:Plan_of_Tvrdja_in_Osijek_1861.jpg|thumb|left|Plan of [[Tvrđa]] in Osijek 1861]]
[[File:Eszek.jpg|thumb|left|Osijek in the late 17th century]]
[[File:Bastion Osijek.jpg|thumb|left|Bastion in [[Tvrđa]]]]
[[File:Magyar Királyság, Eszék látképe, háttérben a Szent Péter és Pál székesegyház. Fortepan 86972.jpg|thumb|left|Osijek 1904]].
[[File:Bombardiranje 1.jpg|thumb|left|Bombing of Osijek 1944]]
===Habsburg Empire===
[[File:Konkatedrala_sv._Petra_i_Pavla_Osijek.jpg|thumb|right|[[Osijek Co-cathedral]]]]
[[File:Osijek - Trg Ante Starčevića DSC 0157 999.jpg|thumb|[[Ante Starčević Square]]]]
Osijek was restored to western rule on 29 September 1687, when the Turks were ousted and the city was occupied by the [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburg Empire]].<ref name="Bousfield2003">{{cite book|last=Bousfield|first=Jonathan|title=Rough guide to Croatia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UxSnm-mUp40C&pg=PA126|access-date=15 October 2011|date=July 2003|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=978-1-84353-084-8|page=126}}</ref> Between 1712 and 1715,  Austrian authorities built a new fortress, outer walls, and all five planned bastions (authored by the architect Maximilian de Gosseau) known as [[Tvrđa]],<ref name="Oliver2005">{{cite book|last=Oliver|first=Jeanne|title=Croatia|url=https://archive.org/details/croatia00jean_0|url-access=registration|access-date=15 October 2011|date=15 March 2005|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74059-487-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/croatia00jean_0/page/85 85]}}</ref> in the heart of the town. Holy Trinity Square is surrounded on the north by the [[Palace of Slavonian General Command|building of the Military Command]], on the west by the Main Guard building and on the east by the Magistrate building (presently Museum of Slavonia). In the middle of the square, a monument to the plague was erected in 1729 by General Maximilian Petras' widow.<ref name="OlsonOlson2006">{{cite book|last1=Olson|first1=Karen Tormé|last2=Olson|first2=Sanja Bazulic|title=Frommer's Croatia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2v2ECnZpt9oC&pg=PA307|access-date=15 October 2011|date=14 April 2006|publisher=Frommer's|isbn=978-0-7645-9898-2|page=307}}</ref>
The Gornji Grad ("Upper Town") was founded in 1692 and Donji Grad ("Lower Town") followed in 1698 settled mostly by the inhabitants from swampy area of [[Baranya (region)|Baranja]]. Tvrđa, Gornji Grad, and Donji Grad continued as separate municipalities until 1786, when they were united into a single entity.<ref>Osijek-history</ref> In the late 18th century, it took over from [[Virovitica]] as the centre of the [[Virovitica County]]. The Habsburg empire also facilitated the migration and settlement of German immigrants into the town and region during this period.<ref name="Kordic">{{cite book|last=Kordić|first=Snježana|author-link=Snježana Kordić|editor1-last=Andrijašević|editor1-first=Marin|editor2-last=Vrhovac|editor2-first=Yvonne|title=Prožimanje kultura i jezika|publisher=Hrvatsko društvo za primijenjenu lingvistiku|page=89|language=sh|chapter=Germanizmi u osječkom govoru danas|trans-chapter=Germanisms in modern Osijek speech|chapter-url=http://bib.irb.hr/datoteka/447532.GERMANIZMI_U_OSJECKOM_GOVORU.PDF|location=Zagreb|year=1991|oclc=443222199 |s2cid=64774247|ssrn=3434569|id={{CROSBI|447532}}|access-date=20 September 2021}}</ref> A particular German city dialect, ''Essekerisch'', formed.<ref>[[Hans Gehl]]: ''Die deutschen Stadtsprachen in Temeswar und Esseg.'' In: Velimir Petrović (Hrsg.): ''Essekerisch: Das Osijeker Deutsch.'' Edition Praesens, Wien 2001, S.&nbsp;127–144.</ref><ref name="Kordic"/>
In 1809, Osijek was granted the title of a [[Free Royal City]], and during the early 19th century, it was the largest city in Croatia.<ref name="DorlingZopp2011a">{{cite book|last1=Dorling|first1=Kindersley|last2=Zopp|first2=Leandro|title=DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Croatia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KTFWUPUEo7YC&pg=PA190|access-date=15 October 2011|date=6 June 2011|publisher=Dorling Kindersley Ltd|isbn=978-1-4053-6071-5|page=190}}</ref> The city developed along the lines of other central European cities, with cultural, architectural and socioeconomic influences filtering down from [[Vienna]] and [[Buda]].{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} At the beginning of the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1848]], the town was held by the Hungarians, but on 4 February 1849, it was taken by the Austrians under General [[Baron Trebersberg]].<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Esseg|volume=9|page=778}}</ref>
In the late 19th  and early 20th centuries, Osijek was the seat of the [[Virovitica County]]<ref name="EB1911"/> of the autonomous territory [[Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia]] in [[Austria-Hungary]].<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Croatia-Slavonia |volume=7 |page=471}}</ref>
During the 19th century, cultural life mostly revolved around the theatre, museums (the first museum, [[Museum of Slavonia]], was opened in 1877 by private donations), collections, and printing houses (the [[Franciscans]]).<ref name="Demo1994">{{cite book|last=Demo|first=Željko|title=Ostrogothic coinage from collections in Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia & Herzegovina|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u3BpAAAAMAAJ|access-date=15 October 2011|year=1994|publisher=Narodni Muzej|isbn=9788680651156}}</ref> City society, whose development was accompanied by a prosperous economy and developed trade relations, was related to religious festivals, public events (fairs), entertainment, and sports. The Novi Grad (New Town) section of the city was built in the 19th century, as well as Retfala to the west.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
===Twentieth century===
The newest additions to the city include Sjenjak, Vijenac [[Ivan Meštrović|Ivana Meštrovića]], [[Novi grad, Osijek|Novi Grad]] and [[Jug II]], which were built in the 20th century. The city's geographical riverside location, and noted cultural and historical heritage – particularly the [[baroque]] Tvrđa, one of the most immediately recognizable structures in the region – facilitated the development of tourism. The Osijek oil refinery was a [[Strategic bombing during World War II|strategic bombing]] target of the [[Oil Campaign of World War II]].<ref name="Raiford2004">{{cite book|last=Raiford|first=Neil Hunter|title=Shadow: a Cottontail bomber crew in World War II|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V6nuRQp1LzQC&pg=PA181|access-date=15 October 2011|date=October 2004|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-1906-7|page=181}}</ref>
After the war, the local German-speaking populace [[Germans of Yugoslavia|was expelled]]. The daily newspaper ''[[Glas Slavonije]]'' was relocated to Osijek and has been printed there ever since. A history archive was established in the city in 1947 and GISKO (city library) in 1949. A [[children's theatre]] and an [[art gallery]] were open in 1950. As a continuation of the tradition of promoting national heritage, especially in music, society of culture and art, "[[Pajo Kolarić]]" was established on 21 March 1954.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
Osijek has been connected with the Croatian republic's capital [[Zagreb]] and the previous federal capital [[Belgrade]] by a modern paved road since 1958. The new Drava bridge to the north was built in 1962.
The first faculty opened in Osijek was Faculty of Economy (in 1959 as Centre for economic studies of the Faculty of Economy in Zagreb),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efos.hr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=258&Itemid=152|title=Ekonomski fakultet u Osijeku &#124; EFOS – Povijest fakulteta|publisher=Efos.hr|access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref> followed immediately by a high school of agriculture, later renamed as Faculty of Agriculture<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pfos.hr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=19|title=Poljoprivredni fakultet u Osijeku|publisher=Pfos.hr|access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref> and Faculty of Philosophy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.ffos.hr/?id=4 |title=Filozofski fakultet u Osijeku|publisher=Web.ffos.hr|access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref> The Faculty of Law was established in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravos.hr/english/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=1|title=Faculty of Law in Osijek – Content|publisher=Pravos.hr|date=26 November 2007|access-date=16 September 2011|archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721101754/http://www.pravos.hr/english/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> thus becoming the first new member of newly established [[University of Osijek]].
As part of further development as a regional food industry and agricultural centre, a major (working) collective for agriculture and industry was established in 1962. During the 1980s, a new pedestrian [[suspension bridge]] over the Drava was built. A regional centre of National Television [[Yugoslavian Radio Television|JRT]] was also opened.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
====Croatian War of Independence====
{{main|Battle of Osijek}}
[[File:TrgJug2Osijek.JPG|thumb|left|[[Croatian War of Independence|War of Independence]] memorial]]
[[File:Osijek - panoramio (13).jpg|thumb|right|''Crveni fićo'' installation]]
During the [[Croatian War of Independence|war in Croatia]], from 1991 to 1995, the city sustained damage by [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA) and local [[Serbs in Croatia|Serbs]], especially to the centre and [[Osijek Co-cathedral|Co-cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul]]<ref>[http://www.svpetaripavao.hr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6&Itemid=9 Župna crkva Sv. Petra i Pavla Apostola u Osijeku]</ref> and to the periphery. About 800 people were killed in the shelling of the town from August 1991 to June 1992.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jegen| first=Mary Evelyn| title=Sign of Hope: the Center for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights in Osijek| publisher=Life & Peace Institute|location=Uppsala, Sweden|year=1996|isbn=978-91-87748-34-9| page=14}}</ref> Overall, a total of 1,724 people from Osijek were killed over the course of the war, including 1,327 soldiers and 397 civilians.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=HRT|url=http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=ispis&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=171136&cHash=b345b2a205|first=Bajto|last=Amoreta|title=Dan osječkih branitelja: "Opća opasnost" večeras|date=28 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130114424/http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=ispis&tx_ttnews%255Btt_news%255D=171136&cHash=b345b2a205|archive-date=30 November 2013|access-date=4 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> At least five Croatian officials were condemned for war crimes against Serb civilians in Osijek, including General Branimir Glavaš.<ref>[http://www.seebiz.eu/hr/politika/branimir-glavas-osuden-na-deset-godina-zatvora-(2),44769.html&#93 ''Former war mayor Branimir Glavas is sentenced on 9 years of jail and he is war criminal fugitive now. Osječka Hvidra osudila uhićenje svojih članova'']{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, seebiz.eu; accessed 20 January 2016. {{in lang|hr}}</ref>
== Climate ==
Osijek has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb'').
{{Weather box
| location     = Osijek (1971–2000, extremes 1899–2014)
| metric first = Y
| single line  = Y
|Jan record high C = 19.0
|Feb record high C = 23.0
|Mar record high C = 26.9
|Apr record high C = 30.9
|May record high C = 36.0
|Jun record high C = 39.6
|Jul record high C = 40.3
|Aug record high C = 40.3
|Sep record high C = 37.1
|Oct record high C = 30.5
|Nov record high C = 25.8
|Dec record high C = 21.3
|year record high C = 40.3
| Jan high C = 3.3
| Feb high C = 6.5
| Mar high C = 12.3
| Apr high C = 17.2
| May high C = 22.6
| Jun high C = 25.6
| Jul high C = 27.6
| Aug high C = 27.5
| Sep high C = 23.4
| Oct high C = 17.4
| Nov high C = 9.4
| Dec high C = 4.7
|year high C = 16.5
|Jan mean C = −0.2
|Feb mean C = 1.8
|Mar mean C = 6.4
|Apr mean C = 11.2
|May mean C = 16.7
|Jun mean C = 19.7
|Jul mean C = 21.3
|Aug mean C = 20.8
|Sep mean C = 16.5
|Oct mean C = 11.0
|Nov mean C = 5.1
|Dec mean C = 1.2
|year mean C = 11.0
| Jan low C = -3.3
| Feb low C = -2.1
| Mar low C = 1.3
| Apr low C = 5.5
| May low C = 10.5
| Jun low C = 13.6
| Jul low C = 14.8
| Aug low C = 14.5
| Sep low C = 10.8
| Oct low C = 6.1
| Nov low C = 1.6
| Dec low C = -1.7
|year low C = 6.0
|Jan record low C = −27.1
|Feb record low C = −26.4
|Mar record low C = −21.0
|Apr record low C = −6.8
|May record low C = −3.0
|Jun record low C = 1.0
|Jul record low C = 4.7
|Aug record low C = 5.1
|Sep record low C = -1.2
|Oct record low C = −8.6
|Nov record low C = −15.7
|Dec record low C = −23.2
|year record low C = −27.1
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 41.4
| Feb precipitation mm = 35.1
| Mar precipitation mm = 40.5
| Apr precipitation mm = 51.0
| May precipitation mm = 59.2
| Jun precipitation mm = 82.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 65.4
| Aug precipitation mm = 61.9
| Sep precipitation mm = 51.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 56.6
| Nov precipitation mm = 61.7
| Dec precipitation mm = 49.1
|year precipitation mm = 654.9
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 11.3
| Feb precipitation days = 10.6
| Mar precipitation days = 11.2
| Apr precipitation days = 13.0
| May precipitation days = 13.3
| Jun precipitation days = 13.4
| Jul precipitation days = 10.6
| Aug precipitation days = 9.9
| Sep precipitation days = 9.4
| Oct precipitation days = 10.5
| Nov precipitation days = 11.7
| Dec precipitation days = 12.3
|year precipitation days = 137.2
|unit snow days = 1.0&nbsp;cm
|Jan snow days = 10.3
|Feb snow days = 7.8
|Mar snow days = 2.1
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 2.2
|Dec snow days = 6.5
|year snow days = 28.9
|Jan humidity = 87.5
|Feb humidity = 81.9
|Mar humidity = 74.1
|Apr humidity = 71.3
|May humidity = 70.1
|Jun humidity = 70.9
|Jul humidity = 69.6
|Aug humidity = 71.8
|Sep humidity = 76.2
|Oct humidity = 79.2
|Nov humidity = 86.1
|Dec humidity = 88.5
|year humidity = 77.3
|Jan sun = 58.9
|Feb sun = 96.1
|Mar sun = 145.7
|Apr sun = 171.0
|May sun = 217.0
|Jun sun = 231.0
|Jul sun = 260.4
|Aug sun = 251.1
|Sep sun = 189.0
|Oct sun = 142.6
|Nov sun = 69.0
|Dec sun = 55.8
|year sun = 1887.6
|Jan percentsun = 20
|Feb percentsun = 34
|Mar percentsun = 42
|Apr percentsun = 45
|May percentsun = 52
|Jun percentsun = 55
|Jul percentsun = 60
|Aug percentsun = 61
|Sep percentsun = 53
|Oct percentsun = 44
|Nov percentsun = 25
|Dec percentsun = 21
|year percentsun = 45
| source 1 = [[Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service]]<ref name=normals>{{cite web|url=http://klima.hr/k1/k1_2/osijek.pdf|title=Osijek Climate Normals|access-date=2 December 2015|publisher=Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service}}</ref><ref name=monthlyvalues>{{cite web|url=http://klima.hr/klima.php?id=k1&param=srednjak&Grad=osijek|title=Mjesečne vrijednosti za Osijek u razdoblju1899−2014|language=hr|access-date=3 December 2015|publisher=Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service}}</ref>
}}
==Population==
{{Historical populations
| title   = Historical population<br /> of Osijek
| shading = off
| source  = Naselja i stanovništvo Republike Hrvatske 1857–2001, DZS, Zagreb, 2005
|1880 |25260
|1890 |27801
|1900 |33407
|1910 |40106
|1921 |42930
|1931 |51871
|1948 |58046
|1953 |66073
|1961 |84652
|1971 |109189
|1981 |123944
|1991 |129792
|2001 |114616
|2011 |108048
|2021 |96848
}}
[[File:Osijek-Tvrdja DSC 0144 999.jpg|thumb|left|Osijek Old Town, [[Tvrđa]]]]
[[File:(Z-1252) Crkva Sv. Mihaela.jpg|thumb|left|[[Church of Saint Michael, Osijek|Church of Saint Michael]]]]
[[File:Osijek mirno naselje.jpg|thumb|Suburban houses]]
According to the 1910 census, the city had 31,388 inhabitants. The official Austrian census lists 12,625 as [[Croats]], 11,269 as [[Germans]] or [[Danube Swabians]], 3,729 as [[Hungarians]], 2,889 as [[Serbs]] and 876 others. According to religion, there were 24,976 [[Roman Catholics]], 2,943 [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christians]], 2,340 [[Jews]], 594 Reformed (Calvinists), 385 [[Evangelicals]], 122 [[Greek Catholics]] and 28 others.<ref>László Zentai and Pál Kósa (eds.) [http://www.talmakiado.hu/ Talma Kiadó Atlas and Gazetteer of Historic Hungary 1914] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114044438/http://www.talmakiado.hu/ |date=14 January 2017 }}, Talma Kiadó, 2001</ref><ref>[http://www.omm1910.hu/?/de/datenbank Statisztikai közlemények, 42. kötet (új sorozat), Budapest, 1912] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529164005/http://www.omm1910.hu/?%2Fde%2Fdatenbank |date=29 May 2013 }}</ref> After [[World War II]] a large part of the [[Danube Swabian]] population were expelled as a revenge for their presumed participation in [[German occupation of Yugoslavia]]. Their property has become publicly owned and redistributed to the World War II victims.
According to the 1981 census, the total population of the city had reached 104,775, including 63,373 (60.48%) Croats, 13,716 (13.09%) [[Serbs]] and 1,521 (1.45%) [[Hungarians]].<ref>Stanovništvo prema nacionalnom sastavu i tipu naselja, popis 1981.</ref>
Prior to the Croatian War of Independence, the 1991 census recorded a total population of 165,253, composed of 110,934 (67.1%) Croats, 33,146 (20.0%) Serbs, 3,156 (1.9%) [[Hungarians]], 276 (0.16%) [[Germans]], and 17,741 (10.7%) people categorised as Yugoslavs or 'others'.<ref>Popis stanovništva 1991, Republički zavod za statistiku – Zagreb</ref>
According to the census of 2001, the total population of Osijek dropped to 114,616. Croats made up the majority of Osijek's citizens, comprising 86.58 per cent of the city's population. Other ethnicities include 8,767 (7.65%) Serbs, 1,154 (1.01%) Hungarians, 480 (0.42%) [[Albanians]], 211 (0.18%) [[Bosniaks]], 175 (0.15%) [[Montenegrins (ethnic group)|Montenegrins]], 178 (0.16%) [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonians]], 124 (0.11%) [[Romani people|Romani]], and others including 24 Jews.<ref name="Census 2001 ethnicity">{{Croatian Census 2001|E|14|access-date = 13 January 2008}}</ref>
Osijek's population in 2001 included 96,600 (84.28%) [[Roman Catholics]], 78 (0.07%) [[Eastern Rite Catholic Churches|Eastern-rite Catholics]], 8,619 (7.52%) [[Eastern Orthodox|Orthodox Christians]], and 966 (0.84%) [[Muslims]] and others.<ref name="Census 2001 religion">{{Croatian Census 2001|R|14|access-date = 13 January 2008}}</ref>
In the census of 2011, the following [[Settlement (Croatia)|settlements]] were recorded:<ref name="census2011">{{Croatian Census 2011|S|14|3123}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Brijest]], population 1,187
* [[Briješće]], population 1,318
* [[Josipovac]], population 4,101
* [[Klisa, Osijek-Baranja County|Klisa]], population 324
* [[Nemetin]], population 139
* '''Osijek''', population 84,104
* [[Podravlje]], population 357
* [[Sarvaš]], population 1,884
* [[Tenja]], population 7,376
* [[Tvrđavica]], population 578
* [[Višnjevac, Osijek-Baranja County|Višnjevac]], population 6,680
{{div col end}}
{{Croatian population data graph |popisi=HRV |upisano=2022-06-04 |područje=City of Osijek |p1857=20858 |p1869=24863 |p1880=25260 |p1890=27801 |p1900=33407 |p1910=40106 |p1921=42930 |p1931=51871 |p1948=58063 |p1953=66073 |p1961=84652 |p1971=109189 |p1981=123944 |p1991=129792 |p2001=114616 |p2011=108048 |p2021=96313}}
The city's population is divided into the following units of local administration:<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.osijek.hr/mjesna-samouprava/mjesni-odbori-i-gradske-cetvrti/ | language = hr | title = Mjesni odbori i gradske četvrti | publisher = City of Osijek | access-date = 8 October 2024 }}</ref>
* Local board ({{lang|hr|mjesni odbor}}):
** [[Josipovac]]
** [[Višnjevac, Osijek-Baranja County|Višnjevac]]
** [[Cvjetno]]
** [[Brijest]]
** [[Osijek lijeva obala]]
** [[Tenja]]
** [[Klisa, Osijek-Baranja County|Klisa]]
** [[Sarvaš]]
* City neighbourhood ({{lang|hr|gradska četvrt}}):
** [[Retfala]]
** [[Gornji grad, Osijek|Gornji grad]]
** [[Industrijska četvrt]]
** [[Tvrđa]]
** [[Novi grad, Osijek|Novi grad]]
** [[Jug II]]
** [[Donji grad, Osijek|Donji grad]]
==Institutions and industries==
[[File:Neboder_Eurodom_Osijek.jpg|thumb|right|[[Eurodom Osijek]]]]
[[File:Portanova panorama.jpg|thumb|right|[[Portanova (Osijek)|Portanova Shopping Center]]]]
Major institutions in the city include the [[Josip Juraj Strossmayer]] [[University of Osijek]] (established in 1975), the [[Croatian National Theatre in Osijek|Croatian National Theatre]], the [[Museum of Slavonia]] (established in 1877), and the [[printing house]] dating to 1735. The city also has several [[gymnasium (school)|gymnasiums]], the oldest of which dates to 1729, a drawing school from the 19th century, a [[zoo|zoological garden]], a centre for the promotion of livestock breeding, and an institute for [[sugar beet]] farming.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
The ''Saponia'' chemical factory is the largest factory in the Osijek area. It is a major producer of detergents, soap and cosmetics whose products are recognized throughout the region as being of quality.<ref name="Sharma1997">{{cite book|last=Sharma|first=Soumitra|title=Restructuring Eastern Europe: the microeconomics of the transition process|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mt5qCckuwd0C&pg=PA144|access-date=15 October 2011|year=1997|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|isbn=978-1-85898-576-3|page=144}}</ref> It is by far the largest exporter in the city area. Other industries include a regional brewery, the Pivovara Osijek (first Croatian beer), a sugar processing plant, as well as a candy factory [[Kandit]]. The ''Niveta'' brush factory founded as ''Siva'' in 1922 still operates.
The Osijek area used to be much more industrialised and a broad range of goods and products were being manufactured there. One of the earliest factories was the ''Drava'' [[match]] factory, established in 1856, which no longer exists.<ref name="Jugoslavije1985">{{cite book|author=Yugoslavia. Komisija za Ekonomsku Historiju Jugoslavije|title=Acta historico-oeconomica Iugoslaviae: časopis za ekonomsku povijest Jugoslavije|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F-TsAAAAMAAJ|access-date=15 October 2011|date=1 January 1985|publisher=Komisija za ekonomsku historiju Jugoslavije}}</ref>
Other industries included production of synthetic materials, agricultural machinery, metal furniture, wood and timber, textiles, footwear, and silk, as well as metal processing and printing. However, the 1990s saw most of these industries decline and in some cases close completely. However, the city remains at the centre of an important agricultural region.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
==Politics==
[[File:Županijsko poglavarstvo Osijek 2.jpg|thumb|left| Normann Palace, today seat of the government of the [[Osijek-Baranja County]]]]
[[File:Općinski i županijski sud Osijek.jpg|thumb|left| Osijek Municipal and County Court]]
At the November 2007 elections, no party held a majority, which is not unusual for Croatia as local elections have [[proportional representation]]. However, the three mathematically possible coalitions had political problems that made coalition building unusually difficult. The November elections were early (izvanredne) elections caused by the breakdown of the coalition of the two main parties, the [[Croatian Party of Rights]] (HSP) and the [[Croatian Democratic Assembly of Slavonia and Baranja]] (HDSSB). The cause of the breakdown was disagreement over the building of a new sports stadium.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://vijesti.hrt.hr/content/view/42334/10/ |title=Šutnja u Osijeku |access-date=10 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309002312/http://vijesti.hrt.hr/content/view/42334/10/ |archive-date=9 March 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=Newelections>{{cite news|url=http://www.vlada.hr/en/naslovnica/novosti_i_najave/2008/sijecanj/vlada_izbori_u_osijeku_9_ozujka|title=Government calls early elections in Osijek for 9 March|publisher=Government of the Republic of Croatia|date=24 January 2008|access-date=10 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213114408/http://www.vlada.hr/en/naslovnica/novosti_i_najave/2008/sijecanj/vlada_izbori_u_osijeku_9_ozujka|archive-date=13 February 2008|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
At the elections held on 25 November 2007, the HSP and the HDSSB gained 7 seats each, the [[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|Social Democratic Party]] (SDP) 6 seats, the [[Croatian Democratic Union]] (HDZ) 4, and the [[Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats]] (HNS) 1.<ref name=HRT>[http://vijesti.hrt.hr/ShowArticles.aspx?ArticleId=38288 Osijek: Pokušaj riješavanja krize]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Hrvatska radiotelevizija, 26 December 2007; accessed 13 January 2008</ref>
A possible coalition between HDSSB and SDP provoked criticism of the Social Democrats for lack of principle such as from [[Damir Kajin]], who called it a 'sellotape coalition', alluding to the charges of war crimes that the HDSSB leader [[Branimir Glavaš]] is facing.<ref>[http://izbori.hrt.hr/content/view/2299/29/ IDS osuđuje trgovinu Vlade i Osijeka]{{Dead link|date=September 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Hrvatska radiotelevizija, 21 December 2007; accessed 13 January 2008</ref> After the parties failed to agree on a coalition, the Croatian government called new elections for the city.<ref name=Newelections/> These elections took place on 9 March 2008 and gave the HSP 9 councilors, the HDSSB 6, HDZ, 5, SDP, 3 and a coalition of HNS and two smaller parties 2. [[Anto Đapić]] has expressed his hope for a coalition with the HDZ.<ref>[http://vijesti.hrt.hr/content/view/42374/10/ HSP najjači u Osijeku] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311131310/http://vijesti.hrt.hr/content/view/42374/10/ |date=11 March 2008 }}, vijesti.hrt.hr; accessed 20 January 2016.{{in lang|hr}}</ref>
===Minority councils===
Directly elected minority councils and representatives are tasked with consulting tasks for the local or regional authorities in which they are advocating for minority rights and interests, integration into public life and participation in the management of local affairs.<ref name="T-Portal">{{Cite web |url=https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/manjinski-izbori-prve-nedjelje-u-svibnju-krecu-i-edukacije-20230313 |title=Manjinski izbori prve nedjelje u svibnju, kreću i edukacije |date= 13 March 2023 |author= |publisher=[[T-portal]] |access-date=2 May 2023}}</ref> At the [[2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives elections]] [[Albanians of Croatia|Albanians]], [[Hungarians of Croatia|Hungarians]], [[Germans of Croatia|Germans]], [[Slovaks of Croatia|Slovaks]] and [[Serbs of Croatia]] each fulfilled legal requirements to elect 15 members minority councils of the City of Osijek while [[Bosniaks of Croatia|Bosniaks]], [[Macedonians of Croatia|Macedonians]], [[Montenegrins of Croatia]] elected individual representatives.<ref name="OBŽ-Manjine-2023">{{cite web | url=https://www.izbori.hr/site/UserDocsImages/2023/Manjinski%20izbori%202023/Rezultati/Z14_OSJECKO_BARANJSKA_ZUPANIJA.pdf | title=Informacija o konačnim rezultatima izbora članova vijeća i izbora predstavnika nacionalnih manjina 2023. XIV. OSJEČKO-BARANJSKA ŽUPANIJA | date=2023 | author= | publisher=Državno izborno povjerenstvo Republike Hrvatske | pages=15–18 | language=hr | access-date=3 June 2023 | archive-date=3 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603101819/https://www.izbori.hr/site/UserDocsImages/2023/Manjinski%20izbori%202023/Rezultati/Z14_OSJECKO_BARANJSKA_ZUPANIJA.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Society and culture==
{{more citations needed section|date=January 2016}}
[[File:Europska avenija Osijek 1.jpg|thumb|[[European Avenue]]]]
[[File:Interijer HNK Osijek.jpg|thumb|[[Croatian National Theatre, Osijek]]]]
===Cultural events===
Numerous events take place in the city throughout the year. The most important of them are the Croatian [[Tamburica|Tambura]] Music Festival (in May), attended by tambura orchestras from all over Croatia and the ''Osijek Summer Nights'' (during June, July and August), a series of cultural and entertainment programs in the open, accompanied by food and fairs. The Day of the City of Osijek is celebrated with a cultural and artistic activities and exhibitions.
The surroundings of Osijek provide opportunities for hunting and [[angling]] on the Drava river and its backwaters. Hunting in the area known as [[Kopački Rit]] (in [[Baranja region|Baranja]]) is famous beyond the borders of Croatia.
===Cuisine===
The abundance of game and agriculture has made Osijek the country's semi-official gastronomical capital. Local dishes include traditional Slavonian-style specialities ([[kulen]], paprika-flavoured sausage, other kinds of sausages, [[ham (meat)|ham]], bacon, dairy products), as well as [[Knödel |boiled dumplings]], [[venison]], [[Shepherd's stew|slavonski čobanac]] and fish dishes such as the famous [[Fish soup|riblji paprikaš]] (fish stew made with [[paprika]]). The two brands of beer brewed in Osijek are Osječko and Esseker.
===Sport and recreation===
[[File:Pampas_Stadium_032023.jpg|thumb|left|[[Opus Arena]]]]
[[File:Dvorana Gradski Vrt Osijek.jpg|thumb|left|[[Gradski vrt Hall]]]]
The recreational and sports centre ''Copacabana'', opened in 1980, on the left bank of the Drava river, provides opportunities for various water sports (outdoor [[swimming pools]] and a sand beach with various facilities) during the summer months. The city offers various playgrounds: [[association football|football]], [[team handball|handball]], basketball, tennis courts, etc. [[NK Osijek]] are the city's main football team, which are followed by their supporters group called [[Kohorta Osijek]], playing in the [[Prva HNL|Croatian First League]] at [[Gradski vrt]] stadium. The city is also home to a number of smaller teams including NK Grafičar Vodovod and [[NK Metalac]]. Before the [[Second World War]], the city's most successful club was [[Slavija Osijek]], which collapsed in 1941.
A [[motorcycle speedway]] stadium existed in City Garden, immediately adjacent to the Gradski vrt, on the north side. The Gradski stadion opened in October 1953 and closed in September 1987,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.glas-slavonije.hr/275913/9/Mnogima-se-od-nas-ispunio-veliki-san |title=For many of us, a big dream has come true |website=Glas Slavonije |access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref> and staged a qualifying round of the [[Speedway World Championship]] in 1955, 1979 and 1982<ref>{{cite web | title = History Speedway and Longtrack | publisher = Speedway.org | url = http://www.speedway.org/history/ | access-date = 11 January 2024 }}</ref> and a round of the [[1977 Speedway World Team Cup|1977 World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/wtc1.htm|title=1977 World Team Cup |website=International Speedway|access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref>
A new sports hall ([[Dvorana Gradski vrt]]) was built as the [[2009 World Men's Handball Championship]] venue. Osijek hosts an extreme sports contest called the "Pannonian challenge", which features competitions in [[skateboarding]], [[Aggressive inline skating|inline skating]], [[freestyle BMX]] and [[Mountain bike racing|MTB dirt racing]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=100819|first=Karmen|last=Horvat|title=Osijek sports hall construction contract signed|publisher=Javno.com|date=23 November 2007|access-date=20 January 2016|archive-date=8 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208202826/http://www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=100819|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Osijek hosted the [[2017 Davis Cup World Group]] between [[Croatia Davis Cup Team|Croatia]] and [[Spain Davis Cup Team|Spain]] at the [[Gradski vrt Hall]] in February 2017.
The new [[Opus Arena]] stadium, with a capacity of 13,005 spectators, was opened on July 22, 2023 with the official match of the first round of the Croatian First League between the [[NK Osijek]] and [[NK Slaven Belupo]].
===Tourism, sights and attractions===
[[File:Hotel Osijek 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Hotel Osijek]]
Osijek remains a popular domestic tourist destination for its [[Baroque]] style, open spaces and ample recreational opportunities. The most important sights in the city include the main square, [[Ante Starčević Square]], [[Tvrđa]] the 18th century Baroque citadel, the promenade along the Drava ("promenada"), and the suspension [[Pedestrian bridge (Osijek)|pedestrian bridge]] toward [[Baranja region|Baranja]].{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
The Municipal Park of [[List of rulers of Croatia|King]] [[Petar Krešimir IV of Croatia|Petar Krešimir IV]] and the [[King Tomislav|Tomislav]] Park date from the beginning of the 20th century, and are protected national landmarks. Osijek is also home to one of the few Croatian zoological gardens, along the Drava river. The city is home to a monument to Ante Starčević.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.osijek.hr/nastavak.aspx?id=8339 |title=Osječani rekli "Da" spomeniku Ocu Domovine – na glavnom trgu otkriven spomenik dr. Anti Starčeviću |publisher=City of Osijek |date=13 June 2007 |access-date=28 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026001607/http://www.osijek.hr//nastavak.aspx?id=8339 |archive-date=26 October 2007 }}</ref>
The [[Osijek Co-cathedral|Co-cathedral of St. Peter and Paul]] is a [[Gothic Revival architecture|Neo-Gothic]] structure with the second highest tower in Croatia after the [[Zagreb Cathedral]]. The tower measures {{convert|90|m|2|abbr=on}} and can be seen from throughout Osijek. Because of its size most locals refer to it as the cathedral but it is only a parish church. The Church of St Peter and St Paul was designed by [[Franz Langenberg]] and contains 40 stained glass windows, although they are not all intact after the bombing in the 1990s. The church also contains sculptures by Eduard Hauser.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
{{wide image|OS-Most-na-dravi.jpg|900px|align-cap=center|A panoramic view of the pedestrian bridge over the [[Drava]]}}
=== Festivals and Events ===
Osijek has become home to several large festivals and events that are now well-attended and enriching the city and its culture. These events have brought a vibrant atmosphere to Osijek, attracting visitors from all over the region and beyond. By offering a diverse range of cultural experiences, these festivals have contributed to the city's growing reputation as a cultural hub.
* [https://pannonian.hr/?lang=en Pannonian Challenge]
* [https://tzo-bilje.hr/etno/slama-land-art-festival/ Slama Land Art]
* [https://headoneastcroatia.com/ HeadOnEast]
* First Croatian Beer Days ([http://www.osijek031.com/osijek.php?najava_id=99641 Dani prvog hrvatskog piva])
* [https://www.osijek.hr/kultura/kulturne-manifestacije/ Osijek's Summer of Culture, Theathre Marathon and others...]
==Transport==
[[File:Most Drava.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Osijek cable-stayed [[Drava Highway Bridge]], the [[List of bridges in Croatia |longest bridge]] in [[Croatia]]. (81 metres longer than the [[Pelješac bridge]]).]]
{{See also|Osijek tram system}}
Transport links to and from Osijek include major railway and highway junctions, a [[river port]], and [[Osijek Airport]]. International flights from the airport to [[Cologne/Bonn Airport]] in Germany commenced in March 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.osijek-airport.hr/en/novosti/danas-polijecemo.html|title=First international flight departs from Osijek International Airport|publisher=Osijek Airport|date=14 March 2008|access-date=23 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520120418/http://www.osijek-airport.hr/en/novosti/danas-polijecemo.html|archive-date=20 May 2008}}</ref> A four-lane highway, part of the Pan-European [[Corridor Vc]], linking Osijek to the rest of the Croatian modern highway network, was completed and opened in April 2009. From Osijek, it is possible to take the train and bus to numerous destinations including [[Zagreb]], [[Rijeka]], [[Požega, Croatia|Požega]], [[Virovitica]], [[Našice]], [[Slavonski Brod]], [[Erdut]], [[Vrpolje]], [[Dalj]] and [[Đakovo]].{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
A small tram network runs through the city, which has been in continuous operation since 1884 and is the only tram network still in operation in Croatia outside of Zagreb. The network is currently being completely overhauled and more than doubled in length, and the city's old trams have been thoroughly modernized.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
==Notable people==
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2011}}
{{main|List of people from Osijek}}
Notable people who were born or have lived in Osijek include [[Matija Petar Katančić]], an 18th-century Croatian writer, professor of [[archaeology]], translator of the Bible into Croatian, and author of the first paper on archaeology in Croatia, [[Josip Juraj Strossmayer]],<ref name=Notable-people>{{cite web|author=T.M. |date=2022-08-02 |title=Notable people |url=https://sib.net.hr/lifestyle/ostalo-lifestyle/4265228/vida-mandzo-sovagovic-znate-li-tko-je-najpoznatiji-u-vasem-slavonskom-mjestu/ |publisher=SiB.hr |agency=[[RTL (Croatian TV channel)]]|location=Zagreb|language=hr|archivedate=2022-08-03 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803123005/https://sib.net.hr/lifestyle/ostalo-lifestyle/4265228/vida-mandzo-sovagovic-znate-li-tko-je-najpoznatiji-u-vasem-slavonskom-mjestu/ |accessdate=2022-08-04}}</ref> a Croatian Maecenas bishop, [[Franjo Šeper]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zagreb|Archbishop of Zagreb]] from 1960 to 1968, and Prefect of the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] from 1968 to 1981, [[Francis, Duke of Teck]], a German prince, sculptor [[Oscar Nemon]], painters [[Adolf Waldinger]] and [[Bela Čikoš Sesija]], [[musicologist]] [[Franjo Kuhač]], violinist [[Franjo Krežma]], musicians [[Miroslav Škoro]], [[Branko Mihaljević]] and [[Krunoslav Slabinac]], historian [[Ferdo Šišić]], [[linguist]] [[Snježana Kordić]],<ref name=Notable-people/> TV journalist [[Vladimir Herzog]], Hollywood producer [[Branko Lustig]],<ref name=Notable-people/> footballers [[Davor Šuker]], [[Franjo Glaser]] and [[Borna Barišić]], sport shooter [[Jasna Šekarić]] and tennis players [[Jelena Dokić]] and [[Donna Vekić]]. Nobel Prize winners [[Lavoslav Ružička|Lavoslav (Leopold) Ružička]] and [[Vladimir Prelog]] also lived in the city, as did [[meteorologist]] and [[seismologist]] [[Andrija Mohorovičić]], mathematician and [[climatologist]] [[Milutin Milanković]], and {{ill|Mijo Kišpatić|hr}}, famous Croatian mineralogist and petrologist, first doctor of science (Ph.D.) in the field of [[natural science]]s at the [[University of Zagreb]]. Pedagogue and university professor [[Ante Vukasović]]. The Croatian singer [[Mia Dimšić]] also comes from Osijek.
==Acknowledgements==
===Honorary citizens===
* 1994: [[Siegbert Frank]], [[Ćiril Kos]], [[Vladimir Prelog]]
* 1995: [[Hans Dietrich Genscher]], [[Bernard M. Luketich]]
* 1996: [[Geza Jeszenszky]], [[Alois Mock]]
* 2001: [[Julije Knifer]]
* 2004: [[Branko Lustig]]
* 2008: [[Davor Šuker]]
* 2012: [[Ante Gotovina]], [[Mladen Markač]]
* 2013: [[Jacques Paul Klein]], [[Ive Mažuran]]
* 2016: [[Vladimir Šeks]]
* 2020: [[Lőrinc Mészáros]]
<small>Source<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.osijekexpress.com/2020/12/02/svi-pocasni-gradani-osijeka-od-preloga-preko-sukera-do-meszarosa-a-imamo-i-neke-do-80-godine/|title=Svi počasni građani Osijeka, od Preloga, preko Šukera, do Mészárosa… A imamo i neke do '80. godine…|website=osijekexpress.com|last=Srčnik|first=Alan|date=2020|access-date=29 June 2023|language=hr}}</ref></small>
==International relations==
===Twin towns – sister cities===
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Croatia}}
[[File:Twin_towns_sign,_Osijek.jpg|thumb|Twin towns sign]]
Osijek is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Gradovi prijatelji|url=https://www.osijek.hr/gradska-uprava/gradski-uredi-odjeli-i-sluzbe/ured-gradonacelnika/medunarodna-suradnja/gradovi-prijatelji/|access-date=2022-05-30|website=Grad Osijek|language=hr|archive-date=17 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817074852/https://www.osijek.hr/gradska-uprava/gradski-uredi-odjeli-i-sluzbe/ured-gradonacelnika/medunarodna-suradnja/gradovi-prijatelji/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[13th district of Budapest|Budapest XIII]], Hungary (2001)
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[City of Canada Bay|Canada Bay]], Australia (2018)
*{{flagicon|ALB}} [[Elbasan]], Albania (2015)
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Huanggang]], China (2017)
*{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Lausanne]], Switzerland (1997)
*{{flagicon|SVN}} [[Maribor]], Slovenia (1995)
*{{flagicon|BIH}} [[Mostar]], Bosnia and Herzegovina (2022)<ref>{{cite web|title=Osijek i Mostar postali gradovi prijatelji|url=https://www.osijek.hr/osijek-i-mostar-postali-gradovi-prijatelji/|website=osijek.hr|publisher=Osijek|language=hr|date=2022-05-26|access-date=2022-05-30|archive-date=26 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526113151/https://www.osijek.hr/osijek-i-mostar-postali-gradovi-prijatelji/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
||
*{{flagicon|SVK}} [[Nitra]], Slovakia (1997)
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Pécs]], Hungary (1972)
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Pforzheim]], Germany (1994)
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Ploiești]], Romania (1996)
*{{flagicon|KOS}} [[Prizren]], Kosovo (2010)
*{{flagicon|SRB}} [[Subotica]], Serbia (2004)
*{{flagicon|BIH}} [[Tuzla]], Bosnia and Herzegovina (1996)
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Vicenza]], Italy (2014)
|}
===Partner cities===
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|SRB}} [[Novi Sad]], Serbia (2002)
|}
==References==
===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last1=Cresswell|first1=Peterjon|last2=Atkins|first2=Ismay|last3=Dunn|first3=Lily|title=Time Out Croatia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VZweAAAACAAJ|access-date=10 March 2010|date=10 July 2006|publisher=Time Out Group Ltd & Ebury Publishing, [[Random House|Random House Ltd.]] 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SV1V 2SA|edition=First|location=London, Berkeley & Toronto|isbn=978-1-904978-70-1}}
{{Refend}}
===Notes===
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Osijek}}
{{Wikivoyage|Osijek}}
* [http://www.osijek.hr/ Official web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926091259/http://osijek.hr/ |date=26 September 2007 }} {{in lang|hr|en}}
* [http://www.osijek031.com Osijek 031 city portal] {{in lang|hr}}
* [http://www.osijek-online.com/ Osijek Online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911123126/http://www.osijek-online.com/ |date=11 September 2007 }} {{in lang|hr}}
* [http://www.tzosijek.hr Osijek tourist information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626042948/http://www.tzosijek.hr/ |date=26 June 2007 }} {{in lang|hr|en}}
{{Osijek}}
{{County seats of Croatia}}
{{Croatian cities}}
{{Osijek-Baranja}}
{{Illyrians}}
{{Authority control}}
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