TRIP IDEAS fact! Romans called this region Vallis Aurea (the Golden Valley) TZ PSZ The Golden Valley – heaven for food and wine lovers With more than 30 wineries and forts. There are numerous legends prov- three wine roads, Požega-Slavonia ing that this has been a region rich in County offers a unique wine and wine since the ancient times. There is a story that Veuve Clicquot, the widow food experience that conquered the 19th century world with her champagne, visited Pleter- nica on her way to Petrograd and was Fertile fields of Slavonia have al- so thrilled by the rolling hills she saw, ways fed the inhabitants of Požega- that upon her return to Champagne she Slavonia County, and as early as the sent vine roots to the people of Pleter- TZ PSZ Roman times it got the name of Val- nica. She was later honoured by having lis Aurea or the Golden Valley. This not only local wines named after her - a Aurelius’ wine, found in what used to be County is a must visit place for the lov- Riesling, which is a graševina coupage, Roman woods. ers of wine, especially graševina. More a white pinot, and local grappa, but also This region, however, is not famous only than 30 wineries and three wine roads a hill. They are called Klikun, the name for its wine – the food is exquisite as (Požega – Pleternica Vineyards, Kutje- similar to the way locals pronounced the well, and you will not stay hungry. Pre- vo Vineyards and Pakrac Vineyards) widow’s last name Clicquot. In Kutjevo pare to be seduced by smells and tastes of are connected into a unique experience, you will hear a story of a passionate love home-made bread, pork greaves, smoked thanks to the County’s tourist board ef- affair between the empress Maria The- bacon, ham, smoked kulen and kuleno- resa and count Franjo Trenk, who spent va seka, švargli, fish and pepper stew seven days in 1741 in a cellar in Kutjevo, and čobanac stew, as well as sweet del- enjoying the power of love in his wines. icacies such as salenjak, or poppy seed Legend has it that a dent in the middle of and chestnut cakes… With the idea of the stone table, which can still be found preserving as many traditional dishes in this oldest cellar in Croatia built in as possible, Ethnological Department 1232, is a result of their passion. In Pa- of Požega City Museum has developed krac and Lipik you will find out that the a project called Museum in a Pot, with tradition of growing vines goes back traditional Slavonian 19th and early 20th more than two thousand years. There century dishes, such as the vineyard TZ PSZ is a 4th century crown cup for emperor ćevap, wine soup, Požega drunkards... 28 Istria&KvarnerTIMES THURSDAY / 28 SEPTEMBER / 2017 PAKRAC A small town of knights with the youngest museum PLUS A small, knights’ town of Pakrac had a turbulent past, but ALSO VISIT... today it attracts tourists and travellers. This city is most famous for the mint where money was made between 1256 and 1260, which was then moved to Zagreb. Pakrac mint is one of the oldest such mints in Croatia, famous TZ PSZ for the Slavonian banovac. It is believed that Slavonian banovac was the predecessor of the Croatian currency ACTIVE HOLIDAY kuna. Pakrac is also known for its preserved 18th century Janković estate. One of the youngest museums in Choose among 44 cycling Croatia, Pakrac City Museum, is in Janković Small Castle in the heart of the town. Pakrac is also known for the and 67 hiking paths Museum of Military and War History, which contains Whether you are a recreational or a professional cyclist artefacts from all historical periods, from the Templars, THE ROAD OF ROSES or hiker, you are sure to find what suits you best among the times of the Turks’ conquest, to Trenks’ panduri. AND WINE 44 bicycle and 67 hiking trails in the Požega-Slavonia There is a special place in the museum for documents VINEYARDS WITH County. There are three areas where you can enjoy riding from the Homeland War and other objects from the BLOSSOMING ROSES, or hiking: Pakrac - Lipik with 17 cycling and 23 hiking modern Croatian Army and the Police. GRAŠEVINA AND PINOT GRIS trails, Požega-Pleternica with 19 cycling and 10 hiking WINES trails, and Velika - Kutjevo with 8 cycling and 34 hiking PAPUK trails. In Požega-Slavonia County you may be surprised to see that not entire Slavonia is a vast plain. There are NATURE PARK UNDER THE PROTECTION OF UNESCO five mountains - Psunj, Papuk, Krndija, Dilj gora and AND THE FIRST GEOPARK IN Požeška gora - attracting hikers of all categories and CROATIA ages. Creeks, rivers and lakes, all surrounded by the peaceful greenery, are the oasis of peace and relaxation, KUTJEVO especially for fishing fans. You will find plenty of fish THE MOST AWARDED in even the smallest of streams, and here some of the CROATIAN WINE REGION biggest trout spawn. VIDIKOVAC VILLA VINKOMIR PAKRAC MUSEUM OF MILITARY AND WAR HISTORY TZ PSZ MOUNTAIN HUT AND EXCURSION SITE OMANOVAC POŽEGA VIŠKOVCI The heart of the County (PLETERNICA) THE FIRST CROATIAN MAIZE LABYRINTH TZ PSZ and of the Golden Valley TASTE OF GOLD PLETERNICA Museum SLAVONIA In the 19th century Požega was named Slavonian STANDARDS Athens, due to its great cultural and economic Home to protected TRADITIONAL FOOD AND importance. The most beautiful part of the town is the HOSPITALITY FACILITIES bećarac folk song unique baroque Square of the Holy Trinity, with arches HOLDERS Numerous pilgrims come to Pleternica when they and and a 1749 monument to plague, church of St. Laurence go to pray in the Shrine of Our Lady of Tears, the only with 14th century frescoes, the Jesuit buildings, and LIPIK such shrine in the world, along with Italian Siracusa. This the first 18th century Gymnasium building. The most HOME TO LIPIZZAN HORSES shrine receives most pilgrims at the time of the novena, beautiful view of Požega and its valley stretches from from 23 to 31 August. A path descends from the shrine Sokolovac, a famous hill where father Luka Ibrišimović down the hill, to the Road of Roses and Wine, offering a Sokol chased the Ottomans away from Požega. combination of culture, enology and natural beauty. It is 3.5 kilometers long, with grapevine and roses along the way. In addition to the shrine and the rose and wine road, at 347 meters on Starac top there is a St. Peter’s Chapel, a place of prayer and peace. But not everyone is quiet in Pleternica - you are most likely to hear locals sing bećarac. This traditional folk song the heart and soul of the Slavonian customs, especially in Pleternica, which was a frontier area, and which is home to more than a hundred bećarac songs. The uniqueness of bećarac has been acknowledged by UNESCO, which For more information visit: included it in the list of intangible cultural heritage in 2011. The Bećarac Museum will soon be opened in WWW.TZZPS.HR Pleternica’s main square. TZPSZ WWW.CROATIA.HR THURSDAY / 28 SEPTEMBER / 2017 Istria&KvarnerTIMES 29.