Municipality of Nuštar: Castle History and the Vuka Valley

Churches and Castle History

The parish church of Duha Svetoga tells of different construction phases through its architectural features: its tower dates from 1840, and the nave was built in 1860. Its furnishings include organs by G. Peter Titza, made in Vienna in 1863. Visitors interested in churches and their historical development will find specific points of interest here: the construction history and musical furnishings each belong to a distinct era.

The castle chapel of Uznesenja sv. Križa is also part of local history. It served as the parish church of Nuštar until 1860. The nave of Duha Svetoga was also built in 1860. The history of Dvorac Gosseau-Sandor-Khuen goes back to its oldest Baroque section, built by Count Maximilian Eugen Gosseau d’Heneff.

The newer churches in the municipality include those in Marinci and Cerić. The new church in Marinci, Crkva Male Gospe, was completed and blessed on 8 September 2005. In Cerić, the new Crkva sv. Katarine was completed in 2008, after the earlier church was destroyed in 1993. The two buildings’ histories therefore differ considerably in their time periods.

Archaeological Traces in Nuštar

The Nuštar–Dvorac archaeological site preserves an unusual burial find: a child aged 0 to 5 years was buried with a complete 39-piece belt set. It draws attention to the people whose burials add to the history of the place beyond its churches and castle.

The grave goods from Grave 102 at the Avar archaeological site in Nuštar are also specifically documented: they include ceramic vessels and an iron ring. The site also offers a digital search by grave number. Visitors primarily interested in individual archaeological finds can use it to search for a specific number. The belt set and the objects from Grave 102 offer two different ways to explore the burials in Nuštar.

The Vuka Valley and the Former Estate Grounds

Nuštar lies in the Vuka Valley. A distinctive landscape feature is the former aristocratic hunting ground of Zverinjak: it is located on a large island surrounded by a swampy, old meander of the Vuka. For travellers who consider the landscape as well as culture when choosing where to stay, this is a distinctive feature of Nuštar.

The castle also has an estate park. Almost the entire estate behind the castle was transformed into a large park. The history of individual buildings on the estate is also documented: a former grain store was converted into a stable, and a circular riding practice ground was laid out in front of it. These changes show how the grounds were used in different ways and add to the picture of the castle’s Baroque history.

When to Visit and Where to Stay

Nuštar lies on the Vinkovci–Vukovar road and railway line. Together with its location between the two cities, this provides a clear geographical framework for choosing where to stay, without placing the individual historical and natural attractions on a single route. When looking for a holiday rental, consider whether you would like to focus your stay mainly on the churches and archaeological traces, or on the local history of the castle and the landscape.

A recurring event in the municipality is the Days of Defence and the Days of the Municipality. They are commemorated each year from late September to mid-October with memorial events. If you are interested in the municipality’s recent history, this period offers a specific reason to include Nuštar in your travel plans. For a culturally and historically themed stay, the churches, archaeological sites and estate history offer different subjects, while the Vuka Valley adds a landscape connection.

For the broader travel overview: Vukovar-Srijem.

More Destinations

More places in the same destination:

Municipality of Nijemci, Municipality of Bošnjaci, Vinkovci, Trpinja, Municipality of Ilok, Municipality of Vođinci, Vukovar.