October the 29th, 2024 – The brand new Osijek promenade totals 13 million euros, and is the longest of its kind in this part of Europe.
Try as it might, Osijek and the entire eastern region of this country remains chronically overlooked by most, but it is slowly but surely emerging from a very tall Dalmatian and Istrian shadow. There’s been plenty of promising news about Slavonia and Baranja of late, be that regarding business, investment or tourism. The brand new 10-kilometre-long Osijek promenade along the banks of the Drava river is yet further encouragement for the east.
As Dnevnik writes, Osijek can now boast of being the home of the longest river promenade in this part of Europe. Stretching along the banks of the mighty Drava for 10 and a half kilometres of landscaped coastline, the shiny new Osijek promenade now connects each part of the east’s largest city.
For the creation of the Osijek promenade as it now stands, it was necessary to construct the last and most demanding section of two kilometres and 700 metres along Donji Grad (Lower Town), for which almost 13 million euros were allocated.
The project was carried out by Hrvatske vode (Croatian water) and the City of Osijek itself, and the joining of the Osijek promenade and its symbolic commissioning was marked by numerous keen walkers.
“On this historic day, I declare the Osijek promenade, the junction of the Upper (Gornji) and Lower (Donji) Towns, open,” Mayor Ivan Radić said when opening it to the public.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that this hundred-year-old dream of the people of Osijek has finally come true. The Upper and Lower towns have now finally been joined together, and here we are as witnesses to it,” said one delighted resident of Croatia’s up and coming eastern city.
“It means a lot to me because I tend to cycle a lot and I’ll now be able to take a slightly longer route by bike”, said another.
“I hope that the young people who have left Osijek in the past will return when they see what a beautiful city we have now. It’s really great. I love Osijek,” concluded the eager residents.
