This small city on the Sava River in eastern Croatia has strong agricultural roots and is known as the birthplace of football in Croatia, dating back to 1880.
Županja lies next to the Sava River in eastern Croatia, linked by bridge to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Stjepan Gruber Native Museum occupies a 19th-century border fort, displaying Ottoman-era coins and military maps. In February, the Sokacko Sijelo carnival fills streets with parades of embroidered costumes and tambura music. Ten minutes east, Bosnjaci village’s Forestry Museum presents axes, saws, and paintings related to oak forest management. Local restaurants serve dishes like kulen sausage and fish stew cooked with red peppers from nearby farms.
Visit the Stjepan Gruber Museum and Bosnjaci Forestry Museum
Begin your visit at the Stjepan Gruber Native Museum, a white stone building originally used by Austro-Hungarian border guards. Inside, glass cases hold fossils, Roman pottery fragments, and handwoven textiles from the 1800s. Upstairs, documents detail trade agreements between Ottoman officials and local farmers. Drive east for 10 minutes to reach Bosnjaci village, where the Forestry Museum sits in a wooden cabin. Guides here demonstrate how workers used iron wedges and horse-drawn carts to harvest oak timber in the early 1900s.
Attend the Sokacko Sijelo Carnival in February
Visit in February to watch the Sokacko Sijelo carnival, which includes folk dances performed in striped wool vests and leather moccasins. Musicians play tambura lutes near stalls selling plum rakija and grilled cevapi sausages. Children carry lanterns shaped like stars during evening processions, and adults compete in skits about historical events like the building of the Sava River bridge. If you miss the carnival, check the town hall schedule for smaller events like blacksmith workshops or lace-making demonstrations.
Walk or Bike Along the Sava River and Spacva Forests
Follow the paved path beside the Sava River to watch boats pass between Croatia and Bosnia. Anglers often cast lines here for catfish and pike, and you can borrow a rod from the tourist office with a deposit. Rent a bicycle to pedal through the Spacva forests, where signs mark trails leading to clearings filled with wild garlic and woodpecker nests. In Bosnjaci, foresters lead two-hour tours explaining how they monitor tree diseases and protect owl habitats. Several wooden cabins near the riverbank provide simple lodging with hammocks and fire pits.
Getting to Županja and Finding Accommodation
Drive to Županja via the highway connecting Zagreb and Belgrade, which takes about 90 minutes from either city. Trains run twice daily from Vinkovci, with connections to Osijek and Sisak. The border crossing to Bosnia remains open all night, useful for visiting markets in Orašje before noon. Guesthouses like Kuća Kod Rive provide rooms with river views, while apartments near the museum often include stovetops and refrigerators. Check the town’s website for free concerts held in July at Gallery Veliki Kraj, a thatched-roof building with benches made from oak logs.
