January 12, 2024 – Fun fact: it exists for the other 364 (or this year 365) days in the year, not just November 18. Here is a list of just 5 of the many facts about Vukovar that you’re missing.
You might know the mighty Danube as its lifeline, with even the main city square tiled in such a way that it resembles its waves. But did you know that the river also drives tourism in Vukovar? Danube river cruises are becoming more and more popular, and Vukovar is an important stop. In 2023 alone, around 350 cruise ships docked in Vukovar, bringing tens of thousands of tourists from all over Europe, Canada and the United States of America. According to the projections, 2024 seems to be looking even busier.
Our guests love experiencing the vibrant, lively side of the city. Did you know that you can find street art from world-famous artists all over Vukovar? The VukovART project hosted several workshops which left the city with murals and 3D paintings on its bridges and buildings. Connected, they create the perfect walking and cycling routes all through the city.
And what better shoe to wear for such a tour, than the original Borovo Startas? First created in 1976, these iconic shoes quickly made their way into classrooms and onto playgrounds. Recently, they’ve had a real little renaissance and have become famous worldwide, with the Vogue listing them as a must-have in 2015. Borovo keeps updating its collection with new, seasonal and relevant designs, among which everyone can find one for themselves or the perfect souvenir for their loved ones.
Following the street art, you’ll quickly reach a little yellow house just opposite the local theatre. That is where Vukovar’s most famous scientist was born. For his work on polymethylenes and higher terpenes, including the first chemical synthesis of male sex hormones, Lavoslav Ružička won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1939. That was just one of his many scientific achievements, together with various awards, honorary doctorates and memberships in scientific societies. The Vukovar polytechnic now carries his name, along with many streets, institutions and awards in Croatia.
Yasenka is home to more science and a testament to one of the warmest human stories. Born in Aleppo, Syria, Mohamed Radwan Joukhadar made a faithful stop in Zagreb while on his way to study in Italy. In the 1970s he and his wife Jasenka moved to Vukovar for work, deciding to launch a pharmacy wholesale in 1990 despite the threat of war. The operations were, of course, halted during the war, but the products and supplies were all donated to the Vukovar hospital. The Joukhadars then helped rebuild the city by opening the first pharmacy when the locals started coming back. They went on to do more through expansion, employing people and extensive humanitarian work in the area. Fast forward to 2024, the late Radwan Joukhadar’s legacy includes Yasenka, a drug, supplement and cosmetics factory in Vukovar, while his companies and pharmacies all over Croatia employ hundreds of people. Learn more about this extraordinary man here.
