Elevation 183 m (600 ft) Area code(s) +385 33 Area 123.9 km² Local time Sunday 4:47 AM | County Virovitica-Podravina Postal Code 33515 Vehicle registration NA, SL Population 5,304 (2011) | |
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Weather 5°C, Wind NW at 10 km/h, 82% Humidity Governing parties Croatian Democratic Union, Croatian Social Liberal Party | ||
Orahovica is a town in Slavonia, Croatia. It is situated on the slopes of the mountain Papuk and positioned on the state road D2 Varaždin-Koprivnica-Našice-Osijek.
Contents
- Map of Orahovica Croatia
- Economy
- History
- Population
- Notable sights
- Education
- Tourism
- Notable natives and residents
- References
Map of Orahovica, Croatia
Economy
Orahovica has a well-developed industry (tile production, panel-parquet, wine production, fruit and vegetables processing, metal processing...). Agriculture plays an important role for the town economy (crop and livestock farming, fresh water fish, fruit and vineyards).
History
The name Orahovica is derived from the word orah, meaning a walnut tree.
Orahovica was first officially mentioned in the year 1228, in a historical document issued by king Andrew II. Ružica fortification, not far from Orahovica, was first mentioned in the year 1357 as a royal estate. In the 15th and the first half of the 16th century the town was a thriving community owned by various patricians Nikola Kont, Lovro Iločki, Ladislav More etc.
Suleiman II, in his 1542 campaign, conquered Orahovica. It was renamed as "Rahoviçe" and initially was kaza centre in Sanjak of Pojega, which initially part of Budin Eyalet (1542-1580), later in Bosna Eyalet (1580-1600) and finally in Kanije Eyalet. It became a notable sanjak centre in Kanije Eyalet in 1601. The Turkish rule lasted till the year 1687. After the liberation, and up until the end of the 19th century many prominent noble families, like the Pejačević family, and the Mihalović family, owned the town.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Orahovica was part of the Virovitica County of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia.
In the 20th century the town was a centre of a large municipality with a well-developed industry, and agriculture.
During the Croatian War of Independence Orahovica suffered from a number of shell attacks that caused certain material damage.
It received the status of a city (grad) in 1997.
Population
In the 2011 census, the total population of the administrative area of Orahovica was 5,304, distributed in the following settlements:
In 2011, 87% of the population were Croats.
Notable sights
Education
Tourism
Orahovica became one of the most popular tourist destinations in Virovitica-Podravina County and Slavonia. Its culture, events, beautiful nature, sports and lake attract more and more tourists every year. The Spring of Orahovica, an annual cultural and tourist festival, is held since 1957.
The nearby Orahovica Lake offers various forms of recreation, especially during the warm season of the year. Fishing opportunities are offered on the nearby fishpond Grudnjak.