During your stay in eastern Croatia, you will encounter numerous geographical terms, so we have prepared a brief overview of the most important ones to help you navigate them easily.

Pannonian Basin

The Pannonian Basin (or Pannonian Plain) is a vast agricultural and natural region in Central and Southeastern Europe, formed on the site of the ancient Pannonian Sea. It extends across several countries (Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, Romania…), with eastern Croatia forming its fertile southwestern rim. Thanks to its exceptionally fertile soil (chernozem, or black soil, and loess deposits) and moderate continental climate, it is one of Europe’s most vital “breadbaskets”.

Historical and Geographical Regions: Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem

In the eastern part of Croatia, three historical regions intersect, defined by the courses of the Danube, Drava, and Sava rivers:

• Slavonia: The largest historical region in eastern Croatia. It extends from the Ilova River in the west to the Danube in the east, and from the Drava in the north to the Sava in the south.
• Baranja: A historical region divided between two countries—the northern (larger) part is located in Hungary, while the southern part is in Croatia. The Croatian part of Baranja is characterised by a natural “triangle” wedged between the Drava and Danube rivers.
• Srijem (Syrmia): Located furthest to the east, in the area between the Danube and Sava rivers. Western Srijem is located in Croatia, while Eastern Srijem extends into Serbia (Vojvodina).

Osijek-Baranja County

Croatia is divided into 20 counties plus the City of Zagreb. Croatia’s administrative divisions do not always align with the historical boundaries of its regions.

Osijek-Baranja County hosts the Congress and is the largest county in eastern Croatia, with Osijek as its regional centre and the country’s fourth-largest city. According to the 2021 census, the county has a population of 258,026 and covers the entire Croatian part of Baranja as well as the central and eastern parts of Slavonia (south of the Drava River, around Osijek, Đakovo and Našice).

The rest of Slavonia and Srijem is divided among neighbouring counties: Vukovar-Srijem, Požega-Slavonia, Brod-Posavina and Virovitica-Podravina.

Osijek

Osijek is the largest city in eastern Croatia and the university, economic, and cultural hub of Slavonia, situated on the right bank of the Drava River. With a population of just under 100,000, it is well known for its laid-back atmosphere, abundant green spaces, and distinct Art Nouveau (Secessionist) architecture. The city takes pride in Tvrđa – a preserved 18th-century Baroque fortress that forms its historical core. Osijek is also one of Croatia’s “greenest” cities, thanks to its numerous parks, gardens, and landscaped riverfront promenade (Promenada) connecting city neighbourhoods along the Drava.

During the Congress, as well as on the pre- and post-tours, we will visit farmers across six counties: Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem, and Virovitica-Podravina in Slavonia; Varaždin in the northwestern part of the country; and Istria and Zadar counties along the Adriatic coast.