Strossmayer park

Strossmayer Park is a green space in the centre of Đakovo, a small town in Slavonia, in eastern Croatia, and it is named after Josip Juraj Strossmayer, the bishop who shaped the town in the 19th century. Strossmayer, who lived from 1815 to 1905, was Bishop of Đakovo for more than fifty years. He was a patron of education and the arts and a prominent figure in Croatian public life, and he supported the foundation of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zagreb and the revival of the University of Zagreb. In Đakovo, he built the great cathedral that dominates the skyline, restored the episcopal estates and brought a sense of prosperity and culture to a town that had been a provincial centre. The park is a quiet tribute to that legacy.

The park lies in the middle of the town, near Strossmayerov trg and a short walk from the cathedral, and it is open at all hours, with free admission. It is a simple, welcoming green space rather than a showpiece garden, with open lawns, mature shade trees and paths for strolling. Benches are placed where people can stop for a coffee or a picnic, and residents use it for morning walks, for lunch breaks and for evening meetings with friends. Children play on the grass, and older residents sit in the shade and talk. In spring, the trees come into leaf and flowers appear in the beds, in summer the shade is welcome in the hot Slavonian climate, and in autumn the leaves turn golden.

Its location makes it a useful part of a walking tour of Đakovo. The Cathedral of St. Peter, a red-brick neo-Romanesque building completed in 1882, with its two tall towers and richly painted interior, is the main sight, and the old streets around the park contain bishop's palaces, small shops and cafés. The National Lipizzan Stud Farm, where one of the oldest Lipizzaner herds in Europe is kept, is a short distance away, and during the Đakovo Embroidery festival in early July the town fills with costumed riders and carriages. The Papuk Nature Park, with its forests and hiking trails, can be reached by car, and the town has pools and a stadium for sports.

It is a quiet stop and needs only a short time, but it adds to the feel of the town. Bring a drink and a snack, and take the time to sit and watch local life. Accessibility is good, with flat paths.

The park suits families, walkers and anyone who likes unhurried town parks. Visit in the morning or the early evening, when the light is soft and the town is calm.