In the Vukovar-Srijem County, the tracing of a new pilgrimage route has begun, which already bears the epithet of being unique not only in the national, but also in the European context.

 

This is the Vukovar-Srijem County project “Camino Vrata Hrvatska” which is part of the broader Camino Croatia initiative implemented by the Brotherhood of Saint James, with the aim of revitalizing the centuries-old pilgrimage heritage that has existed in this region since the Middle Ages.

 

Namely, Croatian Camino routes date back to the 13th century, when pilgrims from these regions set off towards Santiago de Compostela.

 

The new section of the “Camino Vrata Hrvatska” symbolically begins at the very gates of the country, along the border on the Sava River in Gunja in front of the Church of Saint James and extends towards the border on the Danube from Ilok, Vukovar to Vinkovci, combining nature, spirituality and the strong historical story of the Croatian east.

 

The Camino Vrata Hrvatska is already positioned as one of the most special routes within the entire Camino network. This is the only Camino in Croatia that connects four Marian shrines: the most famous Šumanovci and Ilača, as well as the lesser-known but significant Bapska and Sotin, creating a strong spiritual vertical of the route.

 

At the same time, it is a Camino route that has three churches dedicated to Saint James, the patron saint of pilgrims, on its route, which further emphasizes its authenticity and connection with the original Camino tradition.

 

A special feature of this route is its “Slavonian Meseta” – a section from Ilača to Bapska that passes through vast fields and country roads, and which is also part of the famous Croatian Long Distance Trail. This section provides an experience almost identical to the famous Spanish Meseta, a part of the Camino de Santiago that is under UNESCO protection, and is known for its silence, horizons and deep personal reflection. However, unlike Spain, here these experiences merge with the unique Slavonian landscapes.

 

The route offers not only a spiritual experience, but also exceptional natural and cultural diversity. Pilgrims will pass through the forests of the Spačva Basin, one of the largest preserved lowland forest complexes in Europe, but also through the Adica park-forest, known as the green oasis of Vukovar. The route also includes Suvara in Otok, a uniquely preserved horse-powered mill, a world rarity and a monument of the highest cultural value, and the only such preserved object in Southeast Europe.

 

Additional value to the route is given by archaeological sites such as Vučedol, the cradle of European civilization, and Sopot, which testify to the thousand-year continuity of life in this area.

 

What makes the Camino of the Gates of Croatia completely unique is the strong memorial component of the city of heroes and the creation of the foundations of the Croatian state.

 

This is the only Camino that carries the paths of Croatian defenders: the Corn Path, the Memorial Cemetery, the Ovčara Memorial House, the Vukovar Hospital, the Water Tower, the Relay Race of Death. The route symbolically connects places of suffering and places of rest, turning walking into a deep experience of memory, respect and understanding. This gives the Camino an additional dimension, not only of a spiritual journey, but also of an identity journey.

 

The route officially ends at the county border in Stari Mikanovci, from where it connects to the cathedral in Đakovo on the Camino Slavonia, and the Compostela pilgrim certificates are awarded in Vinkovci, the last city on the route, and also the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe, where the oldest European Orion calendar was found, giving this Camino a strong symbolic ending – a connection between the past, the present and the spiritual journey.

 

In addition, the route includes a number of additional significant sites such as Ilok and the Church of St. John Capistrano, Mohovo and the Valley of the Mammoths, which further enriches the overall experience.

 

The Camino Vrata Hrvatska is not just a pilgrimage route – it is a project that has the potential to transform the perception of eastern Croatia as a destination. By combining spirituality, nature, cultural heritage and authentic stories, this route offers a year-round tourist product, but also a powerful tool for positioning Slavonia and Srijem on the European map of cultural and sustainable tourism.

 

The route is scheduled to open in July, and all details will be available after the routing and marking are complete.