Meet the PlaceCRAFT Regions l Baranja - Croatia

A PlaceCRAFT series introducing the five pilot regions and the activities taking place within them.

Across the Danube Region, PlaceCRAFT works with five pilot communities, each shaped by its own history, culture and challenges. In this series, we take a closer look at these places: their landscapes, communities and heritage, and the range of activities, from workshops to cultural and touristic initiatives, being carried out to support their revitalization.

Baranja Microregion - Croatia

About the Region

Baranja is a microregion nestled between the Danube and the Drava rivers, characterized by wetlands, vineyards and forests. The town of Beli Manastir sits at its centre, surrounded by a network of smaller villages across the countryside.

Croatian, Hungarian, Serbian and German communities have shaped this area for centuries, and that multicultural heritage is still present today in local food, folk traditions, tamburica music, festivals and the rural landscape itself. Among the region's best-known assets are the Kopački Rit Nature Park, the wine cellars of Zmajevac and the Baranja wine routes, alongside traditional dishes such as fish stew and kulen, and events like the Paprika Fest, Wine and Walk, and the Wine Marathon.

Tourism in Baranja is growing, driven by gastronomy, wine culture and nature-based experiences, but much of the potential in the region's smaller settlements remains untapped.

The Pilot Focus

The PlaceCRAFT pilot in Baranja is focused on Šećerana, a small settlement whose name means "Sugar Factory," after the industrial complex that once shaped it. The factory itself is gone, but its story remains present in the buildings, the old locomotive, the fences, and the memory of older residents.

The project works to make this industrial heritage visible and usable again, both for current residents and for visitors. In cooperation with local stakeholders, the Academy of Arts and Culture, and the Baranja Tourist Board, associated partners in the project, a series of activities is planned for children and families: a treasure-hunt-style guided tour through the settlement's industrial history, thematic gamification activities, and an artist residency focused on the revitalization of the Lajmir Lake area.