Ilok — the easternmost city of Croatia
Ilok is well-known as the easternmost city in Croatia; it stands on the banks of the Danube River, which is the natural border between Croatia and Serbia. But this is not the only reason that Ilok is famous in Croatia and throughout the region. The real reason is wine: wine is the key.
Ilok lies on the fertile slopes of Fruška Gora Mountain. Due to its natural advantages, Ilok and its wine have been inseparable for more than two millennia. Many different varieties can be found here, but the most famous one is certainly ‘traminac.’ This type of wine was even served at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Some bottles from that same year are still held at old Ilok cellars, which were built by Odescalchi dukes in the 16th century.
I’ve personally been there and seen them, and I must say the feeling is quite indescribable. Standing there in a chilled underground chamber surrounded by barrels of wine and listening to the history of each bottle is truly remarkable. The advantage of this city is that it’s small enough that anywhere can be reached by foot. It is even recommended to walk around simply because a wine cellar can be found on every street. And with residents of Ilok being truly heartwarming hosts, you simply cannot refuse to taste every one of their amazing wines and other homemade products. Due to Ilok’s location on the river, fish specialities are the best things to eat here. Simply put, you will never be thirsty or hungry in Ilok.
One other fascinating thing about this small city is that next to the monastery you can find the remains of a Turkish hammam, a traditional bath. The Ottomans ruled this region for more than a hundred years, and their influence is still vivid in the city’s architecture.
This story was originally published on www.easternchronicles.com.
If you’ve enjoyed this article, please consider recommending/sharing it.
Our latest articles: Banská Bystrica — Slovakia’s pleasant surprise, 1,300 years of Bulgaria: A Controversial Monument in Sofia, The Bells — a communist token of freedom, and Travnik.
Follow Eastern Chronicles on Medium, Facebook, and Instagram.
